Safety and justice are fundamental to the health and vitality of communities. For 25 years, LISC has been the only community development financial institution (CDFI) with a dedicated safety and justice program—investing in equity-driven programs run by community-based organizations, working to keep young people, particularly people of color, from getting ensnared in the criminal justice system, and engaging community residents in developing partnerships with law enforcement to address crime. We spearhead initiatives to support individuals as they return from incarceration, helping them to better connect to the larger society and economy. Our ability to show results in local communities and neighborhoods has relied heavily on leveraging federal resources to scale, replicate, and evaluate promising approaches. Federal investments are an essential component of any intersection of places, people, and systems, and are the cornerstone of safety and justice agendas.
Download the entire overview of our Safety & Justice Policy Priorities.
Safety is a critical component of a vibrant community, as important as quality affordable housing, good jobs, and high-performing schools.
Justice reform and reinvestment constitute a social, moral, and economic issue at the heart of forging an agenda that promotes racial equity.