DC Justice Lab
Developing smarter safety solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, and racially just. linktr.ee/dcjusticelab
Yesterday, we held our 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Trivia Night, featuring questions all about DC and bringing together volunteers, staff, and supporters for an evening of fun, connection, and friendly competition. We believe in taking the time to acknowledge the individuals who support this work behind the scenes.
Our work toward a safer, freer DC is made possible by people who give their time - lawyers, advocates, researchers, and community members who contribute their skills and energy without compensation or recognition because they believe in the work.
This work is collective, and so is the responsibility to sustain it.
Thank you to all of our volunteers for the time, expertise, and commitment you bring to this work.
Watch highlights from our Volunteer Appreciation event.
06/01/2026
This week, we celebrate 6 years of DC Justice Lab.
For six years, we have worked to transform the District's approach to public safety through solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, and racially just. We have researched, organized, advocated, and partnered with communities to advance a vision of a safer, freer, and more equal DC.
Our work is grounded in the belief that sustainable change must be shaped by those most impacted and we must continue reimagining systems that have failed far too many for far too long.
To our staff, board, partners, funders, advocates, and community members—thank you for being part of this journey. We are proud of what we've built together and energized for the work ahead. 💖
05/26/2026
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're highlighting what effective crisis response actually looks like and pushing back on one of the most persistent misconceptions in public safety: that more police equals better crisis response.
Not every 911 call requires an armed officer. Many involve someone experiencing a mental health crisis, substance use issue, or acute emotional distress. These are situations where behavioral health expertise matters more than a badge and a gun.
The data backs this up. In Albuquerque, the Community Safety Department has handled over 120,000 calls since 2021 with officers called for backup less than 1% of the time. In Durham, the HEART program has responded to more than 42,000 calls, freed up over 8,000 hours of police time in a single year, and is associated with lower arrest rates and more people connected to community-based services.
This is about building a response system sophisticated enough to meet the need. Georgetown Law’s Center for Innovations in Community Safety () published a report this month that further explains alternative first response and provides a blueprint for what that could look like in the District.
Read “Our Neighborhoods, Our Safety: A Blueprint for a Unified Public Health Approach to Community Safety in Washington, DC” at the link in our bio.
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