Safety Gaps – Scaling Safety

Information on Safety Gaps

The Alliance for Safety and Justice and the National Coalition for Shared Safety conducted a 2020 Survey of likely voters across the country about their experiences with and preferences for public safety policy.

The results showed strong support for investing in new preventive and public health-focused safety measures among voters across the political spectrum and across cities, suburbs, and rural areas.

When asked, “when it comes specifically to public safety, which two of the following are most important to fund?”

Mental Health Care

0 %

Job Training

0 %

Violence Prevention

0 %

Trauma Recovery

0 %

Jails or Prisons

0 %

Through surveys, focus groups, and community conversations about the drivers of crime and what communities need to prevent them, we find core unaddressed issues that contribute to the cycle of crime.

Any attempt to improve safety must take these safety gaps into account.

Not enough help for victims in the aftermath of harm

Too many people who become victims of crime do not get help to recover, whether that is real-time financial support or ongoing mental health support, contributing to instability and repeat victimization.

Not enough programs to prevent vulnerable people from engaging in violence

Too often preventable violence erupts when conflicts emerge among people who do not have stable support. Too many youth lack safe spaces to participate in activities that are enriching.

Lack of mental health and substance abuse care

Not enough accessible programs for people experiencing psychiatric crisis, especially when combined with housing instability and substance use disorder.

Not enough pathways for people leaving the justice system

Thousands of people leave the justice system each year, only to face exclusions from employment and housing, among other exclusions. These barriers prevent stability.