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The safety of our communities begins with an investment in their well-being.
Our criminal legal system functions under the assumption that police, punishment and imprisonment are the only ways to keep communities healthy and safe. Yet, research shows that healthy, safe communities are defined by the quality and accessibility of the resources they provide—such as healthcare and comprehensive mental health support, adequate housing, education and employment offerings.
Black, brown and low-income communities face higher levels of criminalization while simultaneously lacking sufficient investment in robust public services. These communities also experience economic instability, discrimination and concentrated poverty that drive complex challenges like community violence. When we recognize that these underlying issues are public health challenges, it becomes clear that relying on law enforcement alone is insufficient and can, at times, escalate violence and perpetuate harm.
It is time to re-imagine how to achieve community safety without solely relying on the criminal legal system. We invest in communities that are leading the way with new approaches focused on community health and restoration rather than criminalization. We support partners that develop, test and scale nonpunitive community violence interventions, restorative justice models and alternative first-response systems. These efforts help to increase community safety and ensure families and communities can thrive.
21-38%
The percentage of emergency calls routed to police involving low-risk situations that could be successfully managed by community responders. (Source)
30-50%
The rate of violence reduction reported in multiple cities following the implementation of Community Violence Intervention strategies and programs like street outreach, hospital-based violence intervention, life-coaching, and more. (Source)
21.6x
The rate at which Black males aged 10–24 are victims of gun violence homicides, compared to white males of the same age. (Source)
2:1
The ratio at which victims of violence prefer investment in prevention, crisis assistance and community development over more spending on arrests and punishment. (Source)
Our Approach
We invest in efforts to scale community-centered responses to health and safety needs that do not rely on the criminal legal system.
Scaling new approaches to public safety
We support communities and local governments building public safety ecosystems that can prevent and intervene to stop gun violence and address the harm to survivors, particularly in Black and brown communities.
We support the Coalition to Advance Public Safety (CAPS), a collaboration of organizations building national capacity for community-based violence intervention. CAPS includes CBPS Collective, Cities United, The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) and The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR).
Creating better alternative-response systems
We support efforts to build robust crisis response ecosystems that respond effectively to community needs without relying solely on law enforcement and emergency medical teams.
Our Grantees
Our grantees build bold solutions to address community needs, advance critical policy reforms and elevate the voices and experiences of communities directly impacted by the health and safety structures they seek to change.
View more grantees in our Criminal Justice Grantmaking portfolio
Combating Community-Based Violence
Equal Justice USA works at the intersection of criminal justice, public health and racial justice to break cycles of trauma by promoting and strengthening alternative responses to violence.
Improving Crisis Response
The University of Chicago Health Lab is evaluating two alternative crisis response strategies in Chicago and Washtenaw County, Michigan. These evaluations will provide a systematic way to capture insights about the programs while collecting valuable information on how each program is functioning and can be improved.
Addressing Violence Without Incarceration
Common Justice operates locally and nationally to build practical strategies that hold people accountable for harm, break cycles of violence, and secure safety, healing and justice for survivors and their communities.