Dc Justice Lab

SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTION OF MISSION

RESEARCH: THIS YEAR, DC JUSTICE LAB EXPANDED ITS RESEARCH METHODS BEYOND LEGAL ANALYSIS AND LISTENING TO COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, TO ALSO INCLUDE FACILITATING CONVENINGS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE EXPERTS AND REVIEWING AND ANALYZING DATASETS. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH STUDENTS PURSUING DEGREES IN LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY.WE CHAIRED COMMITTEES ON THE D.C. POLICE REFORM COMMISSION AND THE DISTRICT TASK FORCE ON JAILS AND JUSTICE, EACH OF WHICH PUBLISHED A BLUEPRINT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH A HARM-REDUCTION APPROACH. OUR RESEARCH FIGURED PROMINENTLY IN THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO INVEST IN NON-POLICE ALTERNATIVES TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES; TO STRENGTHEN D.C.'S SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND DECRIMINALIZE POVERTY; TO EXPAND COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO GUN VIOLENCE; TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM STATE VIOLENCE; AND TO INCREASE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT. WE PROVIDED THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ON AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED.

ADVOCACY: DC JUSTICE LAB TOOK THE LEAD ON TURNING PROTESTS INTO PROPOSALS AND TURNING PROPOSALS INTO POLICIES. LAWMAKERS SOUGHT OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WRITTEN PUBLICATIONS, AND ORAL ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE PROVIDED LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING TO SUPPORT REVISING THE DISTRICT'S CRIMINAL RECORD SEALING SCHEME, PROTECT CHILDREN DURING WARRANTLESS SEARCHES AND INTERROGATIONS, AND PLACE SENSIBLE LIMITS ON CAR CHASES. DC JUSTICE LAB CONVENED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS TO COORDINATE ADVOCACY AROUND THESE BILLS AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIES. OUR MEDIA STRATEGY HELPED CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE DISTRICT. WE WERE SELECTED TO LEAD THE UNLOCK THE BOX CAMPAIGN TO END SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND THE DECOLONIZING WEALTH PROJECT'S CASE FOR REPARATIONS IN D.C. WE PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN PREPARING WITNESSES TO TESTIFY ON THE DISTRICT'S COMPREHENSIVE CRIMINAL CODE REVISION EFFORT. AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WEIGHED IN ON FEDERAL POLICY, BY JOINING AN AMICUS BRIEF AND A COMMENT ON A PROPOSED CHANGE TO RULES FOR THE BUREAU OF PRISONS.

TRAINING:DC JUSTICE LAB WAS A SOUGHT-AFTER PRESENTER TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, FAITH-BASED COALITIONS, AND STUDENTS THIS YEAR. WE TRAINED LAWYERS, FELLOWS, AND RETURNING CITIZENS ON SPECIFIC AREAS OF SUBSTANTIVE LAW AND ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT MORE BROADLY. DC JUSTICE LAB STAFF CREATED LESSON PLANS, TALKING POINTS, AND PRESENTATIONS TO SUPPORT ADVOCACY FOR EACH TOPIC. AND, WE PROVIDED SMALL-GROUP COACHING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LEARNING TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES IN LAW.