As public safety remains a top concern for many Americans, criminal justice policy received limited attention in 2026 national and state addresses.

At the beginning of each calendar year, national and state leaders deliver important addresses to lawmakers and the public. In the State of the Union and State of the State of the State speeches, they review the past year’s progress and outline their priorities for the year ahead.  These speeches clearly define policy goals, introduce key initiatives, and set the direction for the upcoming legislative session.

Criminal justice challenges and responses have historically played a prominent role in each of these speeches.

  • In 2023, Governors focused on law enforcement workforce challenges and the uptick in violent crime following the pandemic. Many called for more funding for law enforcement and violent crime reduction strategies. The State of the Union similarly reflected these themes and discussed plans to address the COVID-19 crime spike.
  • In 2024, Governors discussed fentanyl and substance/opioid abuse, as well as mental health issues. Many outlined proposals for harsher punishments for fentanyl-related crimes and for increasing behavioral health treatment resources. The State of the Union likewise highlighted the need to invest in communities to give them the tools to specifically address gun crime, retail theft, and carjacking.
  • In 2025, Governors highlighted public safety achievements, including crime reduction, and discussed plans to address youth crime prevention, more drug trafficking enforcement, and more funding of behavioral health initiatives. The State of the Union established a promise to restore faith in the nation’s public safety system through a series of executive orders.

Yet in 2026, national and state addresses deviated from this pattern and omitted criminal justice plans. In fact, just three states mentioned public safety initiatives at all. While crime and safety were commonly mentioned in speeches across the country, they generally highlighted broad crime trends rather than actual proposals to respond to challenges. The State of the Union was no exception to this trend and similarly limited its criminal justice policy discussion to references of recent crime decline.

Most Americans Agree: Real Public Safety Solutions Are Needed More than Ever

This planning oversight illustrates both a departure from public safety as a key component of any national and state policy agenda as well as a gap in responding to the pressing concerns of the public. As the nation enters 2026, criminal justice continues to be a prominent issue of public concern. National reporting notes that issues such as policing, sentencing, and reentry support are top priorities for many state legislatures this year.

Public opinion research also shows broad bipartisan support for federal investment in safety:

  • 79% of voters support reinstating federal grants for things like community violence intervention programs, victim services, and youth outreach.
  • 90% of likely voters approve of federal funding for violence prevention programs and victim services.

These findings from the Alliance for Safety and Justice suggest broad public interest in comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to safety that go beyond enforcement alone.

Compounding Pressures on Justice Systems

Justice systems are navigating multiple challenges at once. The public safety challenges cited in the 2023- 2025 addresses still exist, but prison and jail populations are on the rise, state budgets are shrinking, and behavioral health challenges are rampant. Workforce shortages and aging facilities add further strain.

At the same time, many states face reductions or uncertainty in federal funding streams that have historically supported research-backed interventions. Federal grants have helped fund violence interruption programs, victim services, behavioral health treatment, reentry supports, and opioid overdose prevention initiatives. They have also supported state efforts to build data systems, test innovative strategies, and scale programs shown to improve outcomes.

When these resources decline, states must absorb the cost, reduce services, or delay implementation. The result is added pressure on systems already operating with limited capacity.

In this climate, the void of justice system planning carries greater weight. Now, more than ever, national and state leaders need to act strategically about system efficiencies with data-driven responses and evidence-informed approaches.

Effective Approaches for Justice Systems

Research and CJI’s ongoing work show that coordinated, evidence-informed approaches can reduce crime, improve public safety, and support economic mobility. These strategies go beyond enforcement alone and focus on structural, cross-system interventions.

Key elements include:

  • Cross-agency coordination: Police, courts, corrections, and social services collaborating to provide consistent support.
  • Data-driven decision making: Tracking outcomes to understand what interventions—such as diversion programs, targeted policing, or reentry supports—produce meaningful results.
  • Targeted investment: Funding programs with proven impact, including behavioral health treatment, education, workforce development, and structured reentry programs.
  • Consistent implementation of evidence-informed programs: Diversion, reentry, and community supervision programs improve long-term outcomes for individuals and communities.
  • Performance measurement and accountability: Monitoring and sharing results helps policymakers and communities understand what works.

 

“When justice systems lack coordinated planning and evidence-informed strategies, the consequences ripple beyond courts and prisons. Public health systems absorb unmet behavioral needs. Employers face workforce barriers. Communities bear higher long-term costs.

States that invest in proven, data-driven approaches can change this trajectory to improve public safety, expand economic mobility, and build more resilient systems for the future.”

— Len Engel, Director of Policy and Campaigns

 

Conclusion

As public safety challenges evolve and resources become more constrained, the case for evidence-informed approaches becomes even clearer. Voters across the political spectrum are signaling support for strategies that have been shown to measurably improve safety, strengthen communities, and use public resources wisely.

Proven approaches exist. Data is available. Successful state examples offer practical models.

In an environment of tightening budgets and shifting federal support, the path forward is clear: invest strategically in what works, measure outcomes, and coordinate across systems. Doing so can strengthen public safety, improve health and economic mobility, and ensure justice systems are prepared to meet the challenges ahead.

 

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Sources

 

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