Contact: media@vera.org 

New York, New York – Today, Vera Institute of Justice and Dream.org announced the launch of the “Serious About Safety Majority” campaign to promote evidence-based solutions for public safety in the midterm elections and stop reckless “tough on crime” legislation. The campaign, in partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus, is the result of a broad coalition of advocates, policymakers, and criminal justice reform groups urging Democratic leaders to set a proactive policy agenda to address public safety.

At the direction of President Trump, Republicans in Congress are making “tough on crime” legislation a fear-mongering midterm strategy by pushing multiple bills: a package of DC crime bills, opioid legislation, and an expected carjacking bill that will dramatically increase incarceration. In response, the campaign recently launched an initial effort to educate the public about the latest crime bill, the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act or “CORCA,” a harmful piece of legislation that funnels Americans data to the Department of Homeland Security. Public pressure resulted in 10 House Democratic co-sponsors shifting their support away from CORCA during roll call, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Rep. Seth Moulton, as well as fierce backlash from several Democratic primary challengers such as Brad Lander in New York. Now, with the bill heading to the Senate, the campaign is planning a six-figure ad spend across social media, digital, and streaming.

“A clear majority of Americans–including Independents–prefer leaders who are “serious about safety” not “tough on crime” by a 60-40 margin. This is why we are launching the Serious About Safety Majority. Preventing crime before it happens and keeping communities safe means strong, accountable policing, ending the overdose crisis, supporting mental health treatment, tackling gun violence, and a fairer and more accountable justice system. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress continue to support bills that won't prevent crime and break its cycle but only ratchet up incarceration. Enough is enough,” said Vera Institute of Justice President and Director Insha Rahman. 

“Nobody is made safer by tearing apart families and locking up immigrant children. Meanwhile, this administration has made massive cuts to programs that prevent crime before it occurs. This threatens the progress that has been made to public safety due to community violence intervention programs, addiction treatment, affordable housing, and access to other supportive services, largely led by mayors and local leaders,” said Dream.org Chief Advocacy Officer Janos Marton.

“As a proud leader of the Community Safety Caucus, I’m committed to embracing approaches to safety that prevent violence and harm before it occurs, and to supporting culturally congruent care and equitable responses to behavioral and addiction crises. Congress' current​ “tough on crime” approach is failing families, our children, and communities across the country. It’s time we backed evidence-based solutions and rejected fear as a public safety policy,” said Rep. Summer Lee, PA-12.

“Donald Trump and his lawless administration have shown they don’t care about public safety, they care about cruelty, division, and grandstanding. And because of Trump’s cuts to health care, food assistance, and violence prevention programs, families across America are less safe and secure. It’s time to have an honest conversation about what strengthens our communities–not “tough talk” and scare tactics but more federal dollars going to local crime prevention programs, which we know deliver real safety,” said Rep. Shontel Brown, OH-11.

The campaign will focus on two core priorities through the end of the year: defeating dangerous crime legislation in Congress and ensuring voters can clearly identify which candidates and elected leaders are truly “serious about safety.” Through strategic coalition-building, aggressive grassroots organizing, targeted digital amplification, and high-impact earned media, the campaign will drive accountability, shape the national conversation, and elevate leaders who are serious about keeping communities safe.

The Vera Institute of Justice works to end mass incarceration, protect immigrants’ rights, ensure dignity for people behind bars, and build safe, thriving communities.

Serious About Safety Majority is a Vera initiative committed to defeating harmful crime legislation and promoting a serious safety agenda.