New Report Empowers States to Reduce Violent Crime
ALEC Offers Blueprint for States to Keep Communities Safe.
ARLINGTON, VA. – The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released a first-of-its-kind report, Addressing Violent Crime: A Guide to Advancing Community Safety, showing how state-led strategies are reducing violence while promoting rehabilitation and accountability.
Following a nationwide spike in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic — including a nearly 30% rise in homicides in 2020, the largest annual increase in U.S. history — many states have implemented targeted reforms that emphasize deterrence, rehabilitation, and accountability.
Addressing Violent Crime identifies these proven, evidence-based strategies:
- Fund, equip, and train law enforcement to keep communities safe
- Focus police resources on violent crime where it matters most
- Target violent crime hotspots through smarter policing
- Reform justice systems to deliver better outcomes and reduce recidivism
“The goal is far from being softer on violent crime, but rather targeting it with higher precision,” said Nino Marchese, Director of the Judiciary Task Force and author of the report. “By focusing on precision, we can reduce violence by addressing the core conditions that allow it to persist.”
The report spotlights successful reforms in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Texas, where these strategies have led to safer, more prosperous communities.
Addressing Violent Crime provides policymakers with a results-driven roadmap for sustaining recent progress in public safety while promoting fairness and accountability in the justice system.
“Safe neighborhoods don’t happen by accident,” said ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson, “By supporting law enforcement and following these proven strategies to reduce violent crime, we can keep American communities strong.”