Smart on Crime

The vice president and former San Francisco district attorney presents her vision for smart criminal justice and public safety.

Before she became the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris was committed to fighting crime as a prosecutor in San Francisco's Hall of Justice. Originally published in 2009, Smart on Crime shares her insight and offers a new approach designed to end the cycle of repeat offenders.


Harris shatters the old distinctions rooted in false choices and myths. She presents practical solutions for making the criminal justice system truly—not just rhetorically—tough. Smart on Crime spells out the policy shifts required to increase public safety, reduce costs, and strengthen our communities.