The debate over criminal justice reform is more contentious than it should be. Americans actually agree on the important questions. Nine in 10 Americans agree on police training. Eight in 10 agree on how to handle drug crimes. Seven in 10 support key sentencing and prison reforms. And nearly 8 in 10 Americans disapprove of “defunding” the police.

Why has criminal justice reform become so contentious? First, how Americans view crime is influenced by how we vote, and that impairs our collective judgment. Second, most of our basic assumptions about crime are wrong. Crime is falling, not rising. “Woke” Blue states spend more on police (and are safer) than Red States. There is no migrant crime wave.

Business leaders can help put criminal justice reform back on track by answering the tough questions their neighbors are asking – and by calling on policymakers to promote the reforms that work.