Florida and Utah lead Nation on Public Safety Policy

Devon Kurtz

Issue Areas

For many American cities, 2021 was the most violent year in decades. Ten major U.S. cities experienced the highest number of homicides on record, and a dozen more had homicide rates comparable to those of the 1990s. Aggravated assault, the most common violent crime, rose 12 percent nationwide. State legislators across the country have risen to the challenge by setting sensible policies that will improve offender rehabilitation, get former criminals back to work, and ultimately reduce crime.

This year, legislators in Florida and Utah stood out as national leaders in public safety policy. In Florida, people on probation will soon be able to earn time off of their supervision sentences by completing educational programs or gaining stable employment. On the other side of the country, Utah Rep. Karianne Lisonbee championed an innovative bill that financially rewards probation and parole departments for increasing the number of people who secure steady jobs. Both of these policies target a staggering source of criminal activity: more than one in five people sent to prison committed a new crime while on probation or parole.

Read the full commentary on The Center Square.