Fighting to end mass incarceration, protect immigrants’ rights, restore dignity to people behind bars, and build safe and thriving communities.
Joined March 2024
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Vera Action Director Ellen Flenniken spoke on our 40+ rounds of polling that show how the conventional political wisdom on crime is out of sync with what voters want.
In poll after poll, a majority of voters favor a "serious about safety" approach over a "tough-on-crime" one.
Bringing together findings from our extensive polling with the wider body of evidence on public safety, we have developed a "serious about safety" approach that incorporates popular, proven policies to deliver safety, accountability, and justice. veraaction.org/serious-about…
📽️ Ellen sat down for @verainstitute’s "Ask the Expert" series to discuss how a "serious about safety" approach that centers evidence-based solutions to create safe communities and break the cycle of crime is not just good policy—it’s good politics. youtu.be/z5WEjCctiBo?si=bD1D…
Since we began asking the question in 2022, a majority of voters have consistently favored a "serious about safety" approach that champions evidence-based solutions to address the root causes of crime over a "tough on crime" approach.
Learn more: veraaction.org/serious-about…
Vera Action retweeted
If Democrats choose, this can be an election about violence and lawlessness vs. safety and justice. It is their best opportunity to win on an issue that has eluded them for decades.
Understand more about how crime is playing a role in the 2026 elections: veraaction.org/resource/maki…
Voters want fighters, not folders.
Winning candidates showed an ability to confront Trump—especially on threats posed by his abusive immigration agenda—while offering an affirmative safety agenda to counter it.
Making meaning of the role crime played in the 2026 primaries. 🧵
If Democrats don’t own the historic declines in crime, Trump will.
The mayors and governors who helped drive crime declines didn’t look to Trump for inspiration or emulate his messaging—they focused on investments made to address the root causes of crime. forbes.com/sites/richardfowl…
If Democrats choose, this can be an election about violence and lawlessness vs. safety and justice. It is their best opportunity to win on an issue that has eluded them for decades.
Understand more about how crime is playing a role in the 2026 elections: veraaction.org/resource/maki…
📊 POLL: 80% of independent voters believe ICE has used too much force in its nationwide operations.
The Trump administration's ICE-led mass deportation campaign has become a major political liability for Republicans, per our July polling with @YouGov. usatoday.com/story/news/poli…
"An issue that [Republicans] had in previous elections is now working to their disadvantage." -Matthew Grossman, political scientist at @michiganstateu
Here's an opportunity for candidates who are serious about safety, accountability, and justice to offer voters an alternative.
"We must rein in ICE abuses before another life is lost." -Senator @DickDurbin
Voters agree. That’s why Senator Durbin must reject CORCA, a bill which would grant additional enforcement and surveillance powers to DHS and ICE under the guise of fighting organized retail theft.
We have the data: this bill is not popular.
70% of voters, including 62% of independents and 57% of Republicans, want local law enforcement to be most responsible for curbing organized retail theft. Not DHS. veraaction.org/resource/vote…
Vera Action president Insha Rahman joined the Jeff-alytics Podcast to discuss:
🎙️ The state of criminal justice reform
🎙️ Public perceptions of crime vs. reality
🎙️ How polling shows broad support for reform
Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/4H1…
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
Vera Action retweeted
Our first panel of today’s DMA summit is on public safety and how to take a holistic view of public safety with @veraactionorg @LouisvilleMayor Omaha Mayor John Ewing and @Flock_Safety
"Democrats can acknowledge the seriousness of organized retail theft while rejecting the false choice between public safety and civil liberties," Vera Action Federal Advocacy Director Aiden Cotter wrote for @TheHillOpinion. thehill.com/opinion/congress…
Conventional wisdom dictates that crime is a strong issue for Republicans and a liability for Democrats.
While true to some degree, the reality is more complicated—and reveals opportunities for candidates who reject "tough-on-crime" politics. veraaction.org/serious-about…
Polling consistently shows that voters trust Republicans more to handle crime.
But, both parties are generally underwater on crime, and a considerable portion of voters trust neither party, suggesting that voters are not satisfied with either party’s approach.
The message for elections is clear: own a clear and affirmative "serious about safety" message—and talk about it early and often.
For more on how candidates can build trust with voters on safety, check out our latest interactive polling report: veraaction.org/serious-about…