With two months until Election Day, crime and criminal justice have emerged as core issues for campaigns up and down the ballot. Candidates across the political spectrum are eager to present themselves as tough on crime, particularly in the presidential election. 

Last month, former President Donald Trump vowed to “make America safe again” through an increase in policing and the use of the death penalty, while Vice President Kamala Harris has honed a stump speech that positions her as a tough prosecutor who has made a career of holding “convicted felons” accountable.   

With campaign rhetoric dominating the news cycle, it can be hard to tell which tactics will lead to real results. But it is clear that people want action: A recent Gallup poll indicates that 79 percent of Americans worry about crime and violence, and the majority of Americans believe our justice system is not tough enough. 

Even though violent crime rates have fallen back to their pre-pandemic levels, lawmakers are under pressure to help their constituents feel safe — so jurisdictions from San Francisco to Louisiana are rolling back reforms and increasing sentences.  

Instead of ineffective policies, policymakers who are serious about public safety should look at evidence-based solutions rooted in decades of data, which emphasize economic stability, early intervention and community involvement. These options are our best opportunity for long-term community safety.    

Read full op-ed at The Hill.