Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform

Before I was elected to the Senate, I served for eight years as the chief prosecutor for Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis and 45 suburbs. I know firsthand the vital role that law enforcement and public safety officers provide in keeping our citizens safe and we must give them the resources and support they need to do their jobs. Our justice system must also be based on the principles of fairness and equality under the law and must continue to address issues in policing and criminal justice.
As tragically brought home by the heartbreaking murders of public safety officers in Burnsville, Minnesota, first responders have incredibly dangerous jobs and we must support our police and firefighters who protect us.
In recent years, we have placed ever greater responsibilities on our police officers, firefighters, and first responders, who have been expected to significantly expand their abilities to respond to crises—while public safety budgets have been stretched increasingly thin. We must ensure that local, state, and federal first responders have the resources they need to do their jobs and purchase vital equipment, train law enforcement personnel, and modernize their information technology systems. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I believe we owe it to our first responders to make sure they have the technologies, tools, and training they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Ensuring that our law enforcement officials have the resources needed to do their work is a critical part of combating crime. That is why I have long led reauthorizations of the COPS Hiring Program and have prioritized both the funding of local police officers across the country as well as the U.S. Capitol Police. In addition, our country has faced a rise in domestic terrorism in recent years. When I served as Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, I led a bipartisan effort to find out what happened with regard to security planning in the lead-up to and during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and we made necessary public safety changes.
At the same time, we must administer justice fairly. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, I worked with my Senate colleagues on police reform measures focused on holding officers who break the law accountable for misconduct, increasing transparency in police practices, and improving police conduct and training. I have also long supported reforms to help ensure that our justice system works for everyone. That includes sentencing reforms, such as an increased use of drug courts. Drug courts help keep non-violent offenders out of prison and are one of the most effective ways to reduce recidivism while providing access to treatment.
As Minnesota’s U.S. senator, I will continue to focus on these priorities:
As Minnesota’s U.S. senator, I’ve been fighting to strengthen our commitment to public safety: