Vera's new brief: A vision for safer, more just policing in NYC

Five priorities the Mamdani administration can act on now.

Dear Pamela,   For years, New York City has debated the role of policing in public safety. Mayor Mamdani came into office promising a different approach to public safety—and his administration has made real progress. A new Office of Community Safety is taking shape. The path to closing Rikers Island is clearer than ever. But that progress is threatened.    A "quality-of-life" policing strategy rooted in failed broken windows philosophy—one that prioritizes arrests for minor offenses—is overwhelming a criminal justice system already under strain. Research is clear: arresting people for minor offenses does little to prevent serious crime—and it pulls police away from the work only they can do.  Last week, Vera released a brief with an affirmative vision for what policing in New York City should look like. We're calling on the Mamdani administration to adopt five priorities:  Focus on serious crime. 96 percent of NYC 911 calls in 2025 didn't involve violent crime. Police should be focused on responding to and solving violent offenses—not on low-level arrests that don't make communities safer. Use evidence-based tactics. Strategies that pair law enforcement with community services are proven to reduce crime without the racial disparities caused by broken windows policing. Train differently. Rigorous de-escalation training leads to an up to 40 percent drop in use-of-force incidents by police. These skills need to be taught, modeled, and reinforced.  Protect officer well-being. NYC should reform shift scheduling, address gaps in mental health support, and build a culture in which officers can seek care without stigma.  Build the civilian safety workforce. NYC must invest in trained civilian responders to handle calls that don't require a police response—and pay them a living wage. Communities deserve safety, and the city should be pursuing strategies proven to deliver it. Read Vera's full brief and share it with your networks. In solidarity, Vera Institute of Justice © 2026 Vera Institute of Justice. All Rights Reserved.   Vera Institute of Justice 34 35th Street | Suite 4-2A | Brooklyn, NY 11232 (212) 334-1300   Privacy Statement | unsubscribe