A: The problems and inequalities in the U.S. Criminal Justice system result from failures in multiple systems, from schools and social services to law enforcement and the courts. Most importantly, the community’s voice is frequently absent from discussions on how to repair these systems and ensure that they don’t continue to cause harm. A problem with this much complexity and reach needs the coordinated efforts of everyone involved to find effective solutions. Collaboration can mean working with unexpected, even uncomfortable partners. Still, it is the only way to truly change the system so that fewer people enter the system and those who do have the support they need to stay out.
How do you envision collaborative work improving our impact?
Collaborative work will save money and improve efficiency by reducing duplication and improving communication between systems. Most importantly, when systems coordinate, the right people can respond to an issue or concern. For example, we can eliminate unnecessary calls to the police in situations where social services are the most appropriate choice. This type of collaborative decision-making and agreed-upon processes can prevent entry into the criminal justice system, connect people to the right services, and avoid the cascading challenges that result from incarceration.
