Record 24 · Guns & public safety
Proposed shifting half of war, prison and policing spending
2022 speech
At a graduation ceremony for incarcerated students, Talarico proposed moving half the spending on wars, prisons and policing into education, health care and jobs, arguing that this could eventually eliminate the need for prisons.
“make prisons obsolete”
The rebranding
- Earlier record
- In a 2022 speech describing a long-term vision, he proposed redirecting half of spending on wars, prisons and policing and said society could make prisons obsolete.
- Campaign message
- In 2026, his campaign says he opposes defunding police and supports law-enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute crime.
Conservative assessment
His earlier proposal called for a sweeping transfer of spending away from policing and incarceration. Today's assurances do not explain that proposal away.
Sources
- Washington Free Beacon, June 24, 2026: excerpts from the speech (opens in a new tab)
- James Talarico: Ferguson Prison Graduation Speech (opens in a new tab)
- Current campaign public-safety platform (opens in a new tab)
Research reviewed September 8, 2026
Related records
- Backed an assault-weapons and large-capacity magazine ban
2020 video; reported July 9, 2026
- Supports marijuana legalization and record expungement
2026 platform; reviewed September 8, 2026