Who We Are
Behind the Cycle is a multi-disciplinary network of individuals and organizations united by common concerns about the disproportionate impact of America’s criminal justice system on the poor and people of color, and by a common vision of safe, fair, and equitable communities in which all are able to thrive.
We share the belief that profound connections exist between incarceration and inadequately addressed social and economic conditions, and that investing in the healthy development of individuals, families, and communities – particularly those at greatest risk for court involvement – will more effectively achieve public safety goals.
What We Do
» Convene advocates, researchers, service providers, academics, and policymakers to break out of disciplinary silos, share information, and develop collaborative strategies.
» Promote a more integrative approach to justice.
» Inform policy discussions with research and information from multiple fields.
» Focus on the front end of the criminal justice continuum – before a person becomes court-involved – where social and economic issues converge to increase risk and to fuel intergenerational cycles of incarceration.
What We Can Achieve
Working together, we will:
» Build a multi-disciplinary network with the expertise and opportunity to inform public policy discussions.
» Re-frame the political debate about public safety to prioritize an integrative approach to social, economic, and criminal justice issues in the U.S.
» Expand policymaker support for increased public investments in educational, social, and human services.
