Have you ever stepped onto a subway car and felt that slight unease, wondering if today might be the day something goes wrong? Most of us push the thought aside and go about our commute. But for a growing number of people in America’s big cities, that nagging worry has turned into a nightmare.
Recent months have seen a string of horrific attacks on public transit—women set on fire, passengers stabbed or assaulted by individuals with long criminal histories. These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re symptoms of deeper problems in how we handle crime, mental health, and public safety.
The Human Cost of Lenient Policies
It’s hard to wrap your head around how quickly a routine train ride can become life-altering terror. One moment you’re checking your phone or daydreaming about dinner plans, the next you’re fighting for your life against someone who never should have been free to harm you.
In my view, the most frustrating part is how predictable many of these attacks feel. Time and again, the perpetrators turn out to have extensive arrest records—dozens in some cases—yet they’ve been released back into the community through revolving-door justice systems.
Recent Cases That Shock the Conscience
Let’s look at a few examples that have made headlines. A young woman on a Chicago train was allegedly set ablaze by a man with over 70 prior arrests. In another city, a commuter was killed by someone with multiple previous offenses. And in New York, a sleeping passenger was burned alive on the subway.
These victims had done nothing wrong. They were simply using public transportation like millions do every day. Yet their lives were forever changed—or ended—because dangerous individuals were allowed to roam free.
The real tragedy is that these attacks were preventable. When someone shows repeatedly that they’re a threat to others, keeping them on the streets isn’t compassion—it’s negligence.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect is how ordinary these victims were. No special risks, no bad neighborhoods at midnight—just everyday people relying on public transit to get through their day.
The Revolving Door of Justice
So why do repeat offenders keep getting released? Much of it comes down to policies implemented in recent years that prioritize reducing incarceration over public safety.
Cash bail reforms, meant to address inequality, have in practice allowed many dangerous individuals to walk free shortly after arrest. Judges often opt for release with minimal conditions, even for those with extensive criminal histories.
- Low or no bail requirements for many offenses
- Limited use of preventive detention
- Pressure to reduce jail populations
- Ideological opposition to incarceration
I’ve found that well-intentioned reforms can sometimes create unintended consequences. When the pendulum swings too far toward leniency, regular people pay the price.
Add mental health issues to the mix, and the problem becomes even more complex. Many perpetrators clearly need treatment, but our system often fails to provide it effectively—either releasing them without care or cycling them through brief hospital stays.
Mental Health and Public Safety
Mental illness plays a role in many transit attacks, yet our approach to handling disturbed individuals who pose risks remains inadequate. Too often, police encounter someone in crisis, but legal barriers prevent meaningful intervention until a serious crime occurs.
Involuntary commitment laws vary widely by state, and many make it extremely difficult to hospitalize someone against their will, even when they’re clearly dangerous. This leaves families desperate and communities at risk.
What would help? More resources for mental health treatment, certainly. But also clearer legal authority to intervene when someone is both severely ill and demonstrating violent tendencies.
Immigration Enforcement Matters Too
Another factor that can’t be ignored: some perpetrators are in the country illegally and have criminal records that should have led to deportation. Weak enforcement of immigration laws means dangerous individuals remain in communities where they continue to offend.
This isn’t about blaming immigrants broadly—most are law-abiding and contribute positively. It’s about basic public safety: when someone enters illegally and commits serious crimes, they should face deportation.
States Starting to Push Back
Thankfully, some places are recognizing the problem and taking action. North Carolina, responding to a particularly tragic case, has advanced legislation that restricts cashless bail and makes it easier to order mental health evaluations.
The proposed reforms also aim to restore capital punishment, which has been effectively blocked for years, and strengthen involuntary commitment procedures. These changes represent a meaningful shift toward prioritizing victim safety over procedural leniency.
- Limit no-cash bail for dangerous offenders
- Require mental health assessments in appropriate cases
- Streamline involuntary commitment processes
- Address death penalty moratoriums
Other states would do well to consider similar measures. Waiting for the next horrific attack isn’t leadership—it’s abdication of responsibility.
Holding Judges Accountable
Perhaps the most controversial—but necessary—reform involves judicial accountability. When judges repeatedly release dangerous individuals who then commit serious crimes, there need to be consequences.
In states where judges are elected, voters can express their views at the ballot box. Where they’re appointed, impeachment remains an option for egregious cases. The goal isn’t punishment but deterrence—making clear that public safety matters.
Of course, judges deserve independence. But that independence comes with responsibility. When patterns emerge of leniency toward violent offenders, the public has every right to demand answers.
The Political Context
A few years ago, calls to defund police departments and eliminate cash bail gained significant attention in progressive circles. While these ideas found limited success nationally, they’ve influenced policy in many blue cities and states.
The results speak for themselves: rising crime rates, emboldened offenders, and tragic consequences for innocent people. Public opinion has shifted dramatically against these approaches, creating openings for more balanced reforms.
What’s needed now is political courage—leaders willing to acknowledge past mistakes and implement evidence-based solutions that protect communities without abandoning fairness.
What Can Regular People Do?
While policy changes happen at higher levels, individuals aren’t powerless. Staying aware of surroundings remains crucial—basic situational awareness can make a difference.
Beyond personal precautions, civic engagement matters. Contacting representatives about public safety concerns, supporting candidates who prioritize victim rights, and speaking up when dangerous policies are proposed—all these actions add up.
Most importantly, we can’t become numb to these stories. Each attack represents a real person whose life was shattered by preventable violence. Remembering their humanity keeps us motivated to demand better.
Looking Ahead: Reasons for Hope
Despite the grim recent record, there are signs of positive change. Crime rates in some major cities have begun declining as policing strategies adjust. Public opinion has firmly rejected extreme defunding proposals.
States implementing tougher approaches to repeat offenders are seeing results. And growing awareness of mental health needs may finally lead to more effective treatment options.
The path forward requires balancing compassion with common sense—helping those who can be rehabilitated while firmly protecting society from those who repeatedly choose violence.
In the end, public transit should be safe and reliable for everyone. Achieving that goal means making hard choices today to prevent tragedies tomorrow. The alternative—continuing current trends—is simply unacceptable.
We’ve seen what happens when ideology trumps public safety. Now it’s time to learn from those mistakes and build systems that truly protect the innocent while dealing firmly with those who prey upon them.
The women whose stories opened this discussion deserved better. So do all of us who rely on public transportation every day. Real change starts with acknowledging the problem and having the courage to fix it.
