Future of Public Safety Initiative

John Jay College of Criminal Justice is in a unique position to convene conversations and reimagine solutions related to justice and safety. In the Fall of 2020, we launched the Future of Public Safety Initiative to gain insight on what hasn't been effective in policing and public safety while establishing what it means to be a safe community.

America's moment for transformation is now, and John Jay is forging a path for this critical change.

Our Mission

The mission of the Future of Public Safety Initiative is to help communities across the country reshape safety policy, programs, and budgets to support healthy, safe, and racially just communities.

Our Vision

Driven by an evidence-based, value-centered approach, we envision transforming public safety through:

• Extensive community engagement;
• Expanded investments in social and community programs that reduce violence and crime,
• Healing of deeply-rooted racial divides;
• Experimentation with new ways of addressing crime and safety; 
• Collaborative and rigorous research that identifies what works to create safe communities and reforms to law enforcement operations, culture, and accountability;
• Shrinking and reforming the criminal legal system; and
• Shifting the national and local narrative around public safety (from a punitive and punishment approach to equity and healing).