Public safety isn’t complicated, but we’ve made it that way.

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It means making sure law enforcement has the resources to do their job the right way. It means holding people accountable when harm is done. And it means being honest about what actually keeps communities safe over the long term.

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Because safety doesn’t start after something goes wrong.
It starts before that.

 

Since 1980, the number of people in jail and prison has grown from about 500,000 to nearly 2 million nationwide. Here in South Carolina, more than 25,000 people are in jails or prisons, and most of them will eventually return home.

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The real question is simple. What happens when they do?

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Right now, too many people come home without the support, structure, or opportunity to succeed. No real pathway to employment. Limited access to mental health care. Few opportunities to rebuild. And then we act surprised when the cycle continues.

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In South Carolina, nearly 1 in 4 people released from prison return within three years. At the same time, we’re spending about $25,000 a year to incarcerate one person. We’re paying for a system that isn’t delivering better outcomes.

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Research shows incarceration alone does not significantly reduce violence in our communities. If we want safer neighborhoods, we have to focus on what actually works.

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That means making sure law enforcement is supported.
And it also means investing in prevention.

Mental health care.
Housing support.
Addiction treatment.
Youth services.

 

That’s not being soft on crime. That’s being smart about it.

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Too often, these conversations turn into sides. People argue, nothing changes, and the same communities keep dealing with the same problems.

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I’m not interested in that.

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I’ve worked in communities where safety is a real concern, not a political talking point. I’ve sat with people trying to navigate a system that doesn’t always work for them. And I’ve seen what happens when we focus on solutions instead of labels.

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That’s how we move forward.

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Public safety and justice go hand in hand. We shouldn’t have to choose between the two.

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If we get this right, we don’t just respond to crime.
We reduce it.

                                        

What I will work on in the State House: 

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• Smarter sentencing
  Take a serious look at overly lengthy sentencing practices and ensure our system is focused on accountability, not excess.

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• Strengthening probation and parole
  Invest in more and better-trained probation officers. They are on the frontlines preventing repeat offenses and helping people successfully reintegrate.

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• Real second chances
  Strengthen reentry programs so individuals returning home have access to jobs, housing, and support.

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• Investing in prevention
  Support nonprofits and community-based programs focused on violence prevention, youth engagement, and neighborhood stability.

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• Using data, not politics
  Push policies that are proven to reduce recidivism, improve safety, and be responsible with taxpayer dollars.