Advancing Racial Equity and Justice

The Trump Administration’s Recent Special Education Layoffs Will Have Major Long-Term Impacts on Disabled Children and Students

The Trump administration unlawful layoffs during the federal shutdown, in coordination with its policy changes and budget cuts, are intended to lead to closure of the Department of Education, leaving disabled children and students with fewer services and protections.

Fact Sheet: Expanding the Public Safety Workforce

Cities across the country are investing in safety by incorporating specially trained professionals such as community responders and community violence intervention professionals into their local public safety workforces.

The Trump Administration’s Plans To Covertly Cut Social Security Disability Benefits

An upcoming regulatory proposal would change the rules of Social Security disability programs to make it harder to qualify, particularly harming older adults.

The Trump Administration’s Campaign To Rebrand Conversion Practices Puts LGBTQI+ Communities at Risk

The Trump administration’s recent attacks on transgender people are the latest effort in a decades-long attempt by the far right to mainstream conversion practices—even though they have been thoroughly discredited.

Expanding the Public Safety Workforce

Cities across the country are exploring innovative ways to incorporate new professionals, such as community responders and community violence intervention professionals, into their existing public safety workforces to improve outcomes for communities.

The Highest Rates of Gun Homicides Are in Rural Counties

Despite media attention on gun violence in large American cities, new analysis of CDC data shows that rural counties persistently have some of the highest rates of gun violence in the country.

Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act Creates an Unaccountable Slush Fund for the Trump Administration’s Deportation Force

The OBBBA pumps $75 billion into ICE with no guardrails, supercharging the Trump administration’s massive, indiscriminate deportation agenda that is operating without accountability and threatening local communities and economies.

Career and Technical Education in Pennsylvania

The Center for American Progress, in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers, hosted an event to highlight career and technical education programs in the Philadelphia region and discuss policy opportunities to expand these programs elsewhere.

Masked and Unidentifiable: The Risks of Federal Law Enforcement Operating Without Identification

Since taking office, the Trump administration has undermined public safety and law enforcement accountability by supporting the dangerous practice of obscuring the identity of ICE and other federal officers.

Hope After Harm: Reimagining Victim Compensation

Join the Center for American Progress for an event discussing CAP and Common Justice’s partnered launch of the “State Victim Compensation Statute Rubric.”

Executive Summary: Hope After Harm

A state-by-state analysis of victim compensation statutes reveals tremendous potential for states to better meet the needs of survivors of violence and to ultimately break cycles of harm.

Resumen ejecutivo: Esperanza después del daño

Un análisis estado por estado de las leyes de compensación para las víctimas revela un tremendo potencial para que los estados satisfagan mejor las necesidades de los sobrevivientes de la violencia y, en última instancia, rompan los ciclos de daño.

Hope After Harm: An Evaluation of State Victim Compensation Statutes

There is tremendous potential for states to reform their victim compensation statutes to better meet the needs of survivors of violence and to ultimately break cycles of harm.

Fighting for the American Dream

Creating and safeguarding an inclusive economy for the Black middle class.

President Trump’s Recent Actions in Washington, D.C., Are an Abuse of Power and Threaten Public Safety for All

Authorizing the deployment of National Guard troops and federalizing the local police force are dangerous political theatrics that threaten democracy nationwide.

Trump’s Agenda Is a Direct Threat to the Black Middle Class

Donald Trump returned to the presidency promising a policy agenda that would help the Black middle class succeed. However, his choices in office and his attacks on diversity and equal opportunity have represented a direct assault on their ability to maintain economic stability.

Nationwide 2024 Crime Data Demonstrate the Value of Violence Prevention and Local Law Enforcement

Recently released 2024 data from the FBI show historic lows in the national murder rate, violent crime rate, and property crime rate.

The Trump Administration’s War on Disability

Executive actions, budget cuts, layoffs, and legislation—all enacted in the Trump administration’s first six months—have curtailed disability rights and services, including access to Medicaid and the right to free, appropriate public education.

The State of Disabled LGBTQI+ People in 2024

New LGBTQI+ Community Survey data from the Center for American Progress and NORC show that disabled LGBTQI+ people experience higher rates of discrimination in public services, education, employment, housing, and health care than their nondisabled LGBTQI+ and disabled non-LGBTQI+ peers.

The Trump Administration’s Budget Will Undermine ATF’s Efforts To Prevent Violent Crime

After passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress is now considering a budget proposal from the Trump administration that reduces ATF’s funding by 29 percent, making communities less safe.

Hoja informativa: Un marco de inmigración que garantizará el orden en la frontera, mantendrá seguros a los estadounidenses, aumentará el crecimiento económico y nos fortalecerá

Estas reformas ofrecen una estrategia ordenada y eficaz que protege a las comunidades estadounidenses y defiende los valores de la nación, a la vez que satisface las necesidades económicas del país.

A New Immigration System To Safeguard America’s Security, Expand Economic Growth, and Make Us Stronger

America needs a new immigration system that protects our security, grows the economy, reflects our values, and benefits all Americans.

Fact Sheet: An Immigration Framework That Would Ensure Order at the Border, Keep Americans Safe, Increase Economic Growth, and Make Us Stronger

These reforms offer an orderly and effective approach that protects American communities and upholds American values while meeting the nation’s economic needs.

The Truth About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare

The Center for American Progress and The Arc break down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, exposing how its deep cuts to Medicaid and Medicare will lead to benefit losses, increased paperwork requirements, and rural hospital closures that will hurt Americans—especially people with disabilities.

State Voting Rights Acts: Language Access

This is the fifth video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

‘Life After’: A Reel Progress Screening

Join CAP and DC/DOX for the Washington, D.C. premiere of "Life After," an investigative documentary that exposes the tangled web of moral dilemmas and profit motives surrounding assisted dying.

New Survey Shows Abortion Bans’ Unique and Chilling Impact on LGBTQI+ People

Findings reveal that after Dobbs, LGBTQI+ people are struggling to find doctors and choosing not to start or expand their families.

The Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Cuts to DOJ Grants Undermine Public Safety

Sweeping cuts to federal investments put critical government and community-based safety programs and initiatives at risk.

Trump’s DOJ Prioritizes Gun Lobby Profits Over Reducing Violent Crime

The Trump administration is undermining public safety by failing to enforce gun laws and reversing popular reforms.

Closures of Head Start Regional Offices Jeopardize Critical Services for Children and Families

A new CAP interactive shows the states affected by recent closures of Head Start regional offices, which play a critical role in administering grants and overseeing the delivery of early childhood services.

CAP Comments on the Census Bureau’s Proposed Race-Ethnicity Code List for the ACS and the 2030 Census

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the U.S. Census Bureau regarding the proposed changes to the race/ethnicity code list for the American Community Survey and the 2030 census.

3 Reasons Charitable Bail Funds Are Safer, More Just, and More Beneficial to Communities Than Commercial Bail Companies

States and localities should protect the operation of charitable bail funds who are facing attempts from the commercial bail industry to restrict their operations nationwide.

Medicaid made my brother’s final weeks more peaceful

In an op-ed published by NC Newsline, Mia Ives-Rublee describes her family’s experience with Medicaid, which helped provide critical care for her brother during his final months.

How DC’s Local Leaders Are Keeping Residents Safe

Washington, D.C., is seeing results from its efforts to address the public safety challenges it faces, but interference from federal lawmakers is threatening to undo progress.

Effective Public Safety Messaging Strategies for Local Leaders

Join the Center for American Progress for an event with public safety and communications leaders about effective messaging on public safety and challenges in communicating crime data to the public.

Effective Public Safety Messaging Strategies for Local Leaders Convening

Join the Center for American Progress for an event with public safety and communications leaders about effective messaging on public safety and challenges in communicating crime data to the public.

By Cutting Support for Trans Health Care, the VA Saves Merely Pennies per Veteran

If the VA follows through on severing access to gender-affirming services for veterans, Secretary Collins would save very little—but the cost to transgender veterans will be steep.

International Program Demonstrates How Centering Human Dignity in Reentry Improves Public Safety

In Brazil, a prison-based reentry program known as APAC centers human dignity in its efforts to reintegrate individuals fully back into society, serving as a model that U.S. leaders and policymakers alike should consider expanding to improve reentry and public safety outcomes.

COVID-19’s Impact on Gun Violence in America

Five years since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, there are several theories surrounding why gun violence spiked in the United States during the pandemic’s first year.

State Voting Rights Acts: Racial Vote Dilution

This is the second video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Mexico’s Lawsuit To Hold U.S. Gun Manufacturers Accountable Will Affect Public Safety in Both Countries

The Supreme Court’s decision in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos will either hold U.S. gun manufacturers accountable for fueling gun violence in Mexico or empower an unchecked firearm industry to break the law without consequence.

Baby Bonds: A Worthwhile Step To Reduce the Racial Wealth Gap

Baby bonds build intergenerational wealth for households that often have not had access to economic opportunities, mobility, and security.

Hundreds of LGBTQI+ Resources Censored by the Trump Administration

According to new analysis by the Center for American Progress, more than 350 LGBTQI+ pages, policies, and guides have been removed from the websites of the White House and federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Recovery From COVID-19 Pandemic Gun Violence

In an article published by Vital City, Chandler Hall and Nick Wilson from the Center for American Progress along with Alex R. Piquero explain trends in gun violence in U.S. cities since the COVID-19 pandemic.

CAP Submits Comments Supporting Proposed Section 14(c) Rule To End Subminimum Wages for Disabled People

The Center for American Progress submitted comments in support of the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s new proposed rule to phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, ensuring disabled workers are no longer paid subminimum wages.

Gun Violence Trends in US Cities During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a research letter published in JAMA Network Open, Chandler Hall and Nick Wilson of the Center for American Progress, along with Alex R. Piquero, examine whether there was variation in gun violence trends in U.S. cities during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate Must Fix the Laken Riley Act Before Voting on It

As drafted, the Laken Riley Act violates due process and risks setting a problematic precedent that could upend the enforcement of federal laws.

‘Patrice: The Movie’: A Reel Progress Screening

Join the Center for American Progress for a special screening and discussion on a documentary rom-com about the next phase of marriage equality: disability.

Community Violence Prevention Programs Remain a Wise Investment

In an op-ed published by Governing, Nick Wilson writes about the effectiveness of community violence intervention programs in curbing gun violence.

The Far-Right Campaign To Regulate Gender Harms All Americans

Project 2025 continues the alarming trend of enforcing strict definitions of gender that would not only harm transgender Americans but all Americans as well.

Project 2025’s Distortion of Civil Rights Law Threatens Americans With Legalized Discrimination

Far-right extremists have a plan to dismantle many civil rights protections that have advanced equality in America over the past 60 years.

Expanding Access to Basic Reentry Services Will Improve Health, Well-Being, and Public Safety

Improving access to health care for individuals rejoining their communities after incarceration is a critical strategy for reducing crime, improving community health, and bettering overall public safety.

6 Ways Cities and Counties Can Reduce Gun Violence

Cities and counties across the country are taking meaningful steps toward reducing gun violence by implementing a set of accountability and prevention strategies capable of healing communities while breaking cycles of violence.

In Wake Of Tyre Nichols Verdict, States And Localities Must Act To End Racialized Violence During Traffic Stops

In an op-ed published by Talking Points Memo, Rachael Eisenberg and William Roberts emphasize the need for systemic justice to curb racialized police violence during traffic stops.

Prosecutors Improving Safety Through More Effective Accountability

Ramsey County District Attorney John Choi describes how his office is collaborating with law enforcement and community members to improve public safety.

Progressive Prosecutors Were Not Responsible for Increases in Violent or Property Crime Before, During, or After the COVID-19 Pandemic

A newly released report finds no evidence that prosecutors of any type are responsible for increases in crimes in their jurisdictions, concluding instead that hyperlocal social, environmental, and economic conditions are much more likely to drive crime trends.

East Baton Rouge Parish Puts Peace Over Everything When Improving Public Safety

Leaders in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, are working together with community partners to take an ecosystem approach to addressing violence and make their community safer.

2024 Sees Smallest Summer Surge in Gun Violence Rates in 6 Years

Gun violence rose less in the summer of 2024 than in years past—another promising sign that the nation is getting safer—but work still needs to be done.

10th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit (Online)

Join CAP for a summit featuring speeches and discussions by leading advocates of the gun violence prevention movement.

10th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Join CAP for a summit featuring speeches and discussions by leading advocates of the gun violence prevention movement.

Illinois Continues To Lead Nation With Pretrial Policies That Center Safety and Justice

With the implementation of the Pretrial Success Act in 2025, Illinois will move another step closer to true pretrial justice by expanding access to vital community-based services.

Project 2025 Policies Would Make Schools Less Safe for All Students

New analysis from the Center for American Progress shows how anti-LGBTQI+ school policies could increase risks of school bullying.

Investing in GEAR UP To Advance College and Career Readiness: Pathways to Success

Access to higher education remains strongly divided by race and socioeconomic status; programs such as GEAR UP that increase college readiness and enrollment for underrepresented groups are more important than ever.

Building for Our Future

A Black Agenda for 2025 and Beyond

Counterpoint: There’s an Equality Issue in Women’s Sports — and It’s Not About Transgender Women

In an op-ed published by DC Journal, Cait Smith debunks the toxic conservative arguments against transgender women being included in women’s sports.

Sonya Massey’s Memory Should Spur Federal Action To Meaningfully Change Policing

The killing of Sonya Massey at the hands of police should motivate federal policymakers to finally take action that will create real accountability and deliver lasting safety for people of color.

Project 2025’s Elimination of Title I Funding Would Hurt Students and Decimate Teaching Positions in Local Schools

Project 2025 would decimate more than 180,000 teacher positions and negatively affect the academic outcomes of 2.8 million vulnerable students across the country.

Project 2025 Would Increase Gun Violence, Reversing Historic Declines

The far right’s new authoritarian playbook would invalidate state laws on concealed carry, making it so almost anyone can carry firearms in public—from Times Square to the National Mall.

Project 2025 Compels Local Prosecutors To Enforce Extreme Right-Wing Laws

Project 2025 seeks to impose a right-wing policy agenda by threatening federal legal action against local officials who refuse to enforce abortion bans.

What Are Community Violence Intervention Programs?

In this video, community violence intervention leaders explain how their approach to preventing gun violence can transform communities—one person at a time.

In U.S. v. Rahimi, Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Domestic Violence Survivor Safety but Upholds Problematic Bruen Framework

On June 21, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that a sensible and effective gun violence prevention law protecting domestic violence survivors remains constitutional; however, the fact that survivor safety was compromised because of the politicization of the judiciary—and could be again in the future—should not be forgotten.

Montgomery Leaders Reduce Violence by Investing in Community-Led Safety Strategies

Montgomery leadership is focused on making the city safer by building community partnerships.

The Impacts of U.S. Gun Violence in Black, Latino, and Indigenous Communities Town Hall

Join the Center for American Progress for a town hall that provides a binational perspective on the gun violence prevention movement, highlighting the efforts of U.S.-based and Mexico-based leaders.

Dispatching Community Responders to 911 Calls

This video compares three principal models cities are using for community responder dispatch and shares lessons learned from successful programs in Atlanta, Denver, and Austin, Texas.

Early 2024 Data Show Promising Signs of Another Historic Decline in Gun Violence

U.S. gun homicides are declining dramatically, down 13.1 percent since 2023 and 16.4 percent since 2021.

CAP and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Author Letter to National Institute of Justice Addressing Use of AI in the Criminal Justice System

The Center for American Progress and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law co-authored a sign-on letter to the National Institute of Justice that addresses law enforcement’s use of artificial intelligence and outlines recommendations.

Community Violence Intervention: Sustainable Funding for Generational Work

In this video, community violence intervention leaders Juan Avila, Denise Villamil, Melvyn Hayward, Susan Lee, and Chris Edge discuss how long-term investments in CVI programs can have long-term benefits.

In Pursuit of Justice: Fulfilling the Promise of Brown v. Board of Education

If we hope to produce an active and diverse citizenry committed to advancing democratic principles, our students must be able to learn with and from peers of different races, ethnicities, languages, faiths, and economic status.

Improving Safety Through Better Accountability and Prevention: Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson describes the city’s approach to crime reduction and public safety.

Executive Summary: Improving Public Safety Through Better Accountability and Prevention

This fact sheet summarizes a Center for American Progress report highlighting ways to build lasting public safety through more effective and targeted accountability and greater investments in proven prevention strategies.

Improving Public Safety Through Better Accountability and Prevention

Improving public safety requires a comprehensive set of accountability and prevention strategies that seek to change behavior while addressing the conditions giving rise to crime.

The Pretrial Fairness Act: Why It Is Needed and How It Will Improve Pretrial Safety and Justice in Illinois

The implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act has ushered in a new pretrial process, marking an important step toward making Illinois’ system safer and more equitable.

American politicians forget: disruption and disorder are the point of protests

In The Guardian, CAP CEO Patrick Gaspard writes about the ongoing campus protests.

Community Violence Intervention Success Stories

In this video, community violence intervention leaders Raymond Solorzano, Denise Villamil, and James Timpson share examples of what success looks like in their efforts to reduce gun violence.

Principles for Universities Responding to Campus Protests Over Gaza

In their response to student protests over the war in Gaza, colleges and universities must prioritize free speech, while ensuring that the safety of all students is protected.

Summit on Education: Reset. Reframe. Reform.

2024 Summit on Education: Reset. Reframe. Reform.

Film Screening: ‘The 50’

A documentary film about a groundbreaking mental health program in a California prison, told by the program’s first 50 participants. The film will be followed by a discussion with the film's director and subjects.

Film Screening: ‘The 50’ (Online)

A documentary film about a groundbreaking mental health program in a California prison, told by the program’s first 50 participants. The film will be followed by a discussion with the film's director and subjects.

Voting Rights in Alabama

The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, the Battle Against Voter Suppression Today, and the Need for Federal Solutions

Barriers to Employment for LGBTQI+ People Who Are Affected by the Criminal Legal System

It is crucial for states and the federal government to pass protections that support equitable access to employment for LGBTQI+ people with records.

The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and the Continued Fight for Rights

A conversation with Sen. Doug Jones and civil rights attorney Fred Gray

CAP Changemakers: The Intersectionality of Black Maternal Health Care and Abortion Access

This conversation with Sabrina Talukder and Dr. Jamila K. Taylor highlights the vital intersection of Black maternal health care and abortion access, advocating for equitable policies and dignified care for marginalized communities.

Film Screening: ‘Columbine 2024: 25 Years of Trauma’

A documentary film that follows two survivors of the Columbine Shooting Massacre, followed by a panel discussion with the film's director and survivors.

25 Years After Columbine: A Father’s Journey To Honor His Son and End Gun Violence

Tom Mauser, father of Columbine High School shooting victim Daniel Mauser and gun safety advocate, shares how his son continues to inspire his fight to end gun violence 25 years after Columbine.

CAP Joined by Gun Violence Victim Advocates To Comment on OVC’s Proposed Rules on Victim Compensation Grant Program

The Center for American Progress, along with 47 organizations, submitted a comment letter advocating on behalf of victims to the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime on the agency’s proposal to replace the existing Victim Compensation Grant Program guidelines and clarify program requirements.

Securing Environmental Justice for All

The Biden administration has launched the most ambitious climate and environmental justice agenda in history to ensure that every community has clean air and water, can access living-wage jobs and affordable clean energy, and is protected from climate change threats.

4 Ways the Department of Transportation Can Combat Racially Biased Police Traffic Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Transportation has an opportunity to take swift and concrete steps to improve the physical and psychological safety of Black drivers on the nation’s roadways.

Community Violence Intervention: James Timpson and Roca’s Use of CBT

James “JT” Timpson explains how the Roca Impact Institute uses a cognitive behavioral theory approach to empower individuals to de-escalate dangerous situations and make safer decisions.

A Guide to the Application Process for U.S. Department of Justice Grants

To ensure that federal investments support community-based approaches to safety, the Center for American Progress has developed a guide to support applicants as they apply for U.S. Department of Justice grants.

Debunking the ‘Guns Make Us Safer’ Myth

Despite arguments from the gun lobby and its allies, guns used for self-defense are not common, beneficial for society, or efficient in deterring mass shootings or criminal victimization.

In 2023, Gun Violence Trended Down Across the Country

Rates of U.S. gun violence decreased in 2023—but not all states and cities experienced equal public safety gains.

Debunking CVI Myths: CVI Is Only Street Outreach

In this video, Susan Lee, chief of strategy and policy at Chicago CRED, shares how community violence intervention work has evolved over time to provide more holistic and evidence-based approaches to violence prevention.

Debunking CVI Myths: Frontline Workers Are Not Professionals

In this video, community violence intervention leaders Juan Carter, Melvyn Hayward, and Susan Lee push back on common misconceptions about frontline workers and discuss the unique expertise required to do this lifesaving work effectively.

2023 Progressive Wins

This year saw protections for transgender rights, women's rights, the environment, and U.S. democracy overall, as well as strides in building the economy and keeping communities safe.

Fact Sheet: Dispatching Community Responders to 911 Calls

Cities nationwide are using three principal models to effectively dispatch community responder teams.

Dispatching Community Responders to 911 Calls

This report compares three principal models that cities are using to dispatch community responder teams, answers frequently asked questions, and shares lessons learned.

20 Years of Fighting for Our Democracy

For 20 years, CAP has been fighting to preserve our democracy and support working families across the country.