2022 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Crime
Mike DeWine:
Create permanent funding for on-going police training
Some years, the State funds police training. Most years, we don't. Professional development training, year after year, is something that every single police officer wants, and it directly benefits the public. In last year's budget, you created a
Commission to study this problem. I am asking you simply to adopt the recommendations of the Commission that you created. These recommendations will create a permanent funding source for on-going training.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Ohio legislature
Mar 23, 2022
Mike DeWine:
Get tough on convicted violent offenders who use guns
We must strengthen our laws to deal with violent offenders who have lost their legal right to possess a firearm, but still carry and use weapons to commit violent crime. Now, it's a small group, but we must target them, and we must remove them from
society! There is a bill that achieves this goal by increasing penalties on these dangerous felons. We need to get tough on the convicted violent offenders who carry and use weapons in violation of the law.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Ohio legislature
Mar 23, 2022
John Bel Edwards:
Need to do more to hold few bad police officers accountable
The overwhelming majority of our law enforcement officers work hard every day to protect and serve. We need to do more to hold the very few officers who violate that trust accountable. I intend to support several bills including a package bill
that would clarify the criminal law of malfeasance in office to apply to violations of constitutional civil rights and to provide for revocation of POST certification if an officer is found to have committed such an offense.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Louisiana legislature
Mar 14, 2022
Chris Sununu:
Ensure violent criminals don't automatically go free on bail
Despite our ranking as the Number One State for Public Safety in the United States--we know there is still more work to do to keep our communities safe. I was grateful to see that just yesterday the Senate passed SB 294--which will ensure violent
criminals do not automatically walk free on bail. This law is critical in protecting victims of domestic violence--attackers shouldn't be able to continue to prey on their victims.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to New Hampshire legislature
Feb 17, 2022
Doug Burgum:
North Dakota has been backing the blue, not defunding
Living in the land of the free and the home of the brave is something for which I know that we're all grateful. In North Dakota, we value and respect police officers who enforce the law, and we value and respect military service members who defend our
most cherished freedoms. As some states, and some of the iconic major cities of our nation, in the last 2 years have somehow chosen to tolerate lawlessness, they've chosen to defund their police, North Dakota and our cities, we've been backing the blue.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to North Dakota legislature
Feb 16, 2022
Asa Hutchinson:
Build new 498 inmate prison because we have a growing state
Our law enforcement is underfunded, underpaid, and underappreciated. The actions of this General Assembly will send the unmistakable message that we support and value our law enforcement partners. While some across the country advocate for reducing
police funding, we are doing the opposite. We are increasing support and affirming that the first duty of government is public safety. I also challenge our counties and cities to do more. Police funding must be a priority at every level.
Currently, we have a record back up of state prisoners in our county jails. This limits the counties and cities in their capacity to enforce local laws. This backlog must be remedied and for that reason, I recommend another one-time investment from our
surplus to fund a new 498 inmate prison facility. Let me emphasize that this need for a new facility is not a reflection of a change in incarceration policy. It is simply the fact that we have a growing state.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Arkansas legislature
Feb 14, 2022
Gavin Newsom:
Bolster police, more prosecutors, get guns off the street
Governor Newsom's Blueprint includes his Real Public Safety Plan, which focuses on three key areas to fight and prevent crime:- Bolstering law enforcement and local response to stop and apprehend criminals.
- More prosecutors to hold perpetrators
accountable.
- Getting guns and drugs off our streets--creating a new statewide gun buyback program, holding the gun industry accountable with nation-leading legislation, and intercepting drugs at the border.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to California legislature
Feb 10, 2022
Ned Lamont:
Larger and more diverse police force, speed up prosecution
I want more cops on the beat. Our ten largest cities and towns are training and hiring nearly 400 new cops in the next two years. As I have done with our state police, they are adding more female recruits and creating a more diverse police force.
Community policing that is of, by, and for the communities they serve. Those preventive measures only work if the Judicial Branch continues to speed up criminal cases so people who pose a risk to the community and themselves are kept off the streets.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Connecticut legislature
Feb 9, 2022
Kevin Stitt:
Oklahoma is a proud law and order state, we back the police
I've directed our law enforcement to crack down hard on the black market. Agents have been in the field making arrests. Let me be clear: drug cartels, organized crime and foreign bad actors have no place in Oklahoma. We will find them, and we will bring
them to justice! Oklahoma is a proud law and order state. As other states and cities are still defunding their police, we have a chance to stand apart. Brave men and women who put their lives on the line deserve leaders who will have their back.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 7, 2022
J.B. Pritzker:
If we want to reduce crime, we have to solve crimes
If we want to reduce crime, we have to solve crimes. That's why I reestablished the Division of Criminal Investigations. It's why we are building a new, state-of-the-art crime lab near Joliet and opening another in Decatur. My proposed budget continues
to increase the number of Illinois State Police forensic scientists and evidence technicians. We're already succeeding in one important arena--we've substantially reduced the backlog of DNA and other analyses on evidence in sexual assault cases.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 2, 2022
Larry Hogan:
Increase penalties for using guns to commit violent crimes
On behalf of all the people who are sick and tired of all of the senseless violence, I'm calling on the leaders in both parties, in both houses, to immediately pass and send to my desk the Violent Firearms Offender Act to increase penalties for those
who use guns to commit violent crimes, and the Judicial Transparency Act, because the public has a right to know about the sentences judges are giving or not giving to the most violent offenders.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Maryland legislature
Feb 2, 2022
Bill Lee:
Respect rule of law; reject defund the police movement
We will commit more than $150 million directly into law enforcement agencies to create safer neighborhoods through the violent crime intervention grant fund. We are proposing more than $350 million that will support a new law enforcement training
academy to ensure we have the most professional force in the country. Our funding commitment shows a respect for the rule of law but a rejection of the defund the police movement that we have seen across the country.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Jan 31, 2022
Mike Dunleavy:
Ending catch-and-release policies has made Alaska safer
Regarding crime, thanks to the repeal of Senate Bill 91, Alaskans are safer today than we have been in decades! Three years ago, I declared war on criminals and asked for the Legislature to repeal and replace the catch-and-release policies in SB 91.
We've seen our overall crime rate decline by 10% in 2019 and another 18.5% in 2020! Never again can we put criminals ahead of victims, or social engineering ahead of public safety.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Alaska legislature
Jan 25, 2022
Tate Reeves:
Educational opportunities for prisoners is a wise investment
Some of you may be asking yourself, why should we be offering these types of opportunities to those who have been convicted of a crime? Why should we allocate funds towards educational opportunities for those who are incarcerated?
The answer is actually pretty straightforward--because it's a wise investment. In 2020, the general recidivism rate in Mississippi was 37.4%. The recidivism rate for those who have completed re-entry and vocational training is less than half that.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to MIssissippi legislature
Jan 25, 2022
Tate Reeves:
Target violent felons for prosecution and conviction
Capturing violent criminals does nothing if our justice system puts them right back on the streets. I am eager to work with the legislature to develop resources for targeted prosecution and conviction of violent felons here.
Catch and release has caused nothing but record crime and chaos. We need to find those who are leading the efforts to flood our capital with illegal drugs and guns--and put them behind bars where they belong.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to MIssissippi legislature
Jan 25, 2022
Mike Parson:
In Missouri, we DEFEND law enforcement, not defund them
Missourians respect law and order, but as a former Sheriff it alarms me to see some of the attitudes toward those who have taken an oath to defend our communities and keep us safe.We must work to strengthen our communities by supporting our men and
women in law enforcement. AND learn from the failed policies in other cities and states to never allow anti-law enforcement measures to take hold in this state. In Missouri, we DEFEND law enforcement, not defund them.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Missouri legislature
Jan 19, 2022
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
We need tougher penalties for the worst of the worst
We need tougher penalties for the worst of the worst, the repeat offenders and those who have proven themselves to be a danger to our communities; I support rehabilitation and this administration has done a lot of good work in that area, but I stand
with the families and communities who have been victimized unnecessarily by the violent criminals that this system needs to secure. The worst offenders, the most serious and dangerous criminals in our state, need to be behind bars, simple as that.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 18, 2022
Glenn Youngkin:
Return respect to those who wear the uniform
We will comprehensively fund higher salaries, better training, investments in equipment. We will protect qualified immunity for law enforcement. We will invest in community policing programs to build trust between law enforcement
and the communities they serve and protect.We will return respect to the men and women who wear the uniform all law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and first responders who take an oath to keep us all safe.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 15, 2022
Jared Polis:
Make Colorado one of the 10 safest states over next 5 years
We are going to make our communities safer by focusing on training and recruiting efforts for police, supporting community policing models, increasing access to mental health services, offering early intervention grants, increasing support for domestic
violence victims, and making safety improvements in our schools and on our streets. We owe it to the people of Colorado to improve safety and make Colorado truly one of the ten safest states in the nation over the next five years.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Colorado legislature
Jan 13, 2022
Jared Polis:
As long as I'm Governor, Georgia will always back the blue!
I'm proud to say that my budget proposal will include a $5,000 raise for state law enforcement and other state employees. These brave men and women have been on the front lines of a truly unprecedented time in our state's history--from civil
unrest to a global pandemic--and we couldn't be more appreciative of all they do to keep our families and communities safe. As long as I'm Governor, Georgia will always back the blue!
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Georgia legislature
Jan 13, 2022
Peter Ricketts:
Fully fund replacement of Nebraska State Penitentiary
We must fully fund the replacement of the Nebraska State Penitentiary. The existing penitentiary was built over 150 years ago. Its walls are crumbling, and its infrastructure is aged beyond simple repair. For those wishing to pursue criminal justice
reform, this should be a no-brainer. A modern facility will give our inmates a better quality of life. Modernizing our State Penitentiary will allow us to offer enhanced services and programming to prepare these men for life after time served.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Nebraska legislature
Jan 13, 2022
Kim Reynolds:
In Iowa police receive the respect and support they deserve
When officers are treated like villains and other jobs are plentiful, it's no wonder that applications nationally are down and resignations are up. It's no wonder that our young people are saying "no thanks" to a career in public safety.
While we can't fix attitudes in other states, we can certainly let our officers--and officers across the country--know that in Iowa, they're welcome and will receive the respect and support they deserve.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Iowa legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Kristi Noem:
We recruited law enforcement officers to move to our state
When the riots and violence started across the country months and months ago, we launched a nationwide campaign to recruit law enforcement officers to move to our state. Hundreds of law enforcement officers responded to our invitation.
And we are so proud to be known as a state that stands and defends the people who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Ron DeSantis:
Florida is a law and order state
We also will continue to honor our commitment to safe communities. Florida is a law and order state. We will not allow law enforcement to be defunded, bail to be eliminated, criminals to be prematurely released from prison or prosecutors to ignore the
law. These soft-on-crime policies have been tried in communities throughout the country to disastrous results: crime has skyrocketed, morale for police officers has plummeted and quality of life has been destroyed.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Brad Little:
Idaho is a state that openly values its police officers
My Leading Idaho plan also makes other key investments to support law enforcement, our veterans, our valued members of the Idaho National Guard, and safe and secure elections.
I want to add more than $60 million to address needs within the Idaho State Police. Idaho is a state that openly values its police officers. While others seek to "defund the police," Idaho DEFENDS the police. Idaho truly is a state that "backs the blue."
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
Jan 10, 2022
Doug Ducey:
Attacks on law enforcement and rising crime rates correlated
If you are an elected official charged with overseeing a police department and you don't believe there's a correlation between the attacks on law enforcement and rising crime rates nationally, you need a reality check because you're putting public
safety and human life at risk. We intend to keep Arizona a place where we honor and value our cops and all of law enforcement, including correctional officers and first responders. A place where public safety matters. No riots. No smash and grab.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 10, 2022
Kathy Hochul:
Jails-to-Jobs: get incarcerated people training for jobs
We know that incarcerated people who participate in correctional education programs are far less likely to reoffend and 13 times more likely to obtain employment after returning home. So today I'm announcing a new "Jails-to-Jobs,"
initiative, so incarcerated people with have the support they need to find employment during re-entry. We're also going to restore the Tuition Assistance Program for incarcerated people-ending a 30-year ban.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the New York legislature
Jan 5, 2022
Page last updated: Apr 04, 2022
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