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A Public Health Approach to Addressing Prison Harms
Transforming prisons and jails from institutions of isolation and punishment to centers of rehabilitation, health, and humanity.
We take action to reduce harm in prisons today, while working to fundamentally transform the US justice systems of tomorrow.
The current US prison system shortens lives, spreads trauma, and weakens communities.
Incarcerated people and prison staff suffer from disproportionately high rates of chronic illness, depression, and suicide, while facing constant threats of violence. This reality constitutes a public and occupational health crisis that directly impacts families, communities, and public safety.
We offer evidence-based solutions for sustainable prison reform.
We draw on public health, occupational health, and international best practices to improve outcomes for everyone who lives and works in US jails and prisons. We take a multidisciplinary approach to program development, direct staff training, change management, advising policymakers, and academic research.
Our goal is to create the necessary conditions for transformative correctional culture change, from the top down and the ground up.
We inspire and support immediate changes in prison environments, policies, and daily interactions. We engage with the people who shape, run, and live in prisons to rethink the purpose, culture, and everyday conditions of incarceration – and to make change sustainable.
What We Do
We work to improve the safety, health, and well-being of people who live or work in prison, while cultivating leaders who are dedicated to improving the conditions and culture in their own prison system. Learn more about our key initiatives:
Global Learning Experiences
We lead a robust set of immersive international exchange programs designed to foster a global community of culture change leaders dedicated to placing health, healing, and rehabilitation at the center of prison policy and operations.
System & Prisonwide Transformation
We provide strategic consultation and technical assistance to help government and prison system leaders translate their aspirations for transformative change into sustainable, actionable plans through proactive, effective change management.
Leadership Exchanges for Action & Dignity
We create project-based LEAD Networks to connect correctional leaders, staff, policymakers, and incarcerated people with counterparts in other systems to advance innovative work, build professional identity, and provide and receive mentorship across state and national borders.
Eliminating Solitary Confinement
We train and support prison staff to achieve rehabilitative outcomes with high-needs, high-risk individuals by setting goals for behavior change, increasing meaningful out-of-cell time, reengaging with mental health professionals, and supporting transitions to lower-security settings.
Professional Development & Training
We equip correctional leaders and staff with the knowledge, skills and professional identity they need to actualize living and working environments that are more safe, healthy, and humane.
Policy Advancement
We provide evidence-based recommendations to align correctional policies with operational standards and procedures rooted in humanity, accountability, safety, and excellence in care.
Stay informed
Read our latest articles and impact stories to learn more about our programs and our progress.
