Rights and Justice

Public Safety

Protecting people from crime is one of the government’s most fundamental and urgent responsibilities. However, the current reality is that too many crimes go unsolved and too many victims lack justice. The Center for American Progress is committed to advancing evidence-based policies that keep individuals safe by solving crime when it happens, ensuring swift and certain accountability for those who harm others, and preventing crime in the first place.

People march for the third day since the release of the grand jury report on the death of Breonna Taylor on September 26, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Getty/Michael M. Santiago)

What We're Doing

Delivering accountability

We advocate for policies that strengthen law enforcement’s capacity to solve crimes, deliver swift and certain justice, and increase public trust.

Recruiting additional first responders

We are calling for increased investments in community responder models and other programs that deploy specially trained professionals as first responders in behavioral health and quality-of-life emergencies to prevent escalation and reduce the burden on police by giving them more time to focus on deterring and solving crime.

Preventing gun violence

We can save lives by strengthening gun laws, holding the gun industry accountable, preventing gun trafficking, and increasing investments in community violence intervention programs.

Increasing accountability for police policy and practice

Everyone deserves to be protected from crime and violence—without sacrificing their civil liberties, their privacy, or the rule of law. We are fighting to ensure law enforcement at every level maintains high standards and strong safeguards against practices that violate civil liberties.

The Public Safety team focuses on developing policies to shrink the justice system’s footprint, improve public health and safety, prevent gun violence, and promote equity and accountability.

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Recent Work

Latest

Compact View

Gun Violence in Rural America Is the Forgotten Public Health Epidemic Report
Silhouetted student in classroom beneath American flag

Gun Violence in Rural America Is the Forgotten Public Health Epidemic

Rural American communities are facing a growing crisis involving gun homicides and suicides that has long been ignored as narratives around gun violence have disproportionately and unjustly focused on urban communities.

Chandler Hall

Delivering Accountability: Stopping Crime in Our Communities Past Event
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Delivering Accountability: Stopping Crime in Our Communities

Join the Center for American Progress for a panel discussion on stopping crime with Mayors Jane Castor (Tampa) and Brandon Scott (Baltimore), as well as Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, moderated by CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden.

Center for American Progress & Online | 1333 H St. NW Washington DC 20005

Community Violence Intervention: Maiya Shackelford Shares Heartfelt Story of 1 Gunshot Survivor’s Journey to Thriving Video

Community Violence Intervention: Maiya Shackelford Shares Heartfelt Story of 1 Gunshot Survivor’s Journey to Thriving

Maiya Shackelford shares how coaches at the community violence intervention program READI Chicago support program participants to rebuild and have autonomy over their lives.

‘Pieces of the Puzzle’: A Reel Progress Film Screening Past Event

‘Pieces of the Puzzle’: A Reel Progress Film Screening

Join the Center for American Progress for a Reel Progress screening of "Pieces of the Puzzle."

Center for American Progress (in-person only) 1333 H St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

11th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit (Registered Attendees) Past Event

11th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit (Registered Attendees)

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

Center for American Progress (1333 H St. NW Washington DC 20005) & Online

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