Building Safety Through Resources recommends that local D.C. leaders take a public safety approach centered on prevention and support, instead of over-relying on policing and jails. The report aggregates social science and neuroscientific research and pairs it with an analysis of effective programs in D.C. and around the country that take a preventive and holistic approach to public safety.

The report recommends that D.C. lawmakers:

• Support families through a child tax credit and subsidized childcare because child poverty in the District of Columbia is higher than it is for the nation, at 17.1 percent versus 13.7 percent;
• Support young people by increasing funding to youth programs that provide for their social and economic needs and that allow them to take safe and healthy risks;
• Support people returning to our communities after reincarceration by increasing funding to holistic reentry programs that provide support and necessities including housing, mental health support, and employment training.

As many people face uncertainty during these turbulent economic, political, and social times, it is crucial that the people of D.C. can rely on our local leaders to act with our best interests in mind.