DC Justice Lab

Team Leader

Patrice Sulton

Application - Solution Overview + Alignment

Solution Name

DC Justice Lab

One-line solution summary:

Targeting and saturating communities that are in need with the resources that promote true public safety.

What specific problem are you solving?

Here at DC Justice Lab, we are officially committed to aiding in the complete transformation of the criminal justice system. From policing, to prosecution, to incarceration, we believe that these systems need to be rewired and created to truly focus on public safety and wellbeing.

The global problem that we are now facing is policing. Unfortunately, we have seen time and time again how policing is ill-equipped to deal with many of the issues that are tasked to handle. Police officers are given a crude set of tools to deal with sociological ills that they have no business trying to solve.

By decentering police from public safety, communities can address the contributing factors to violence and begin to focus on creating a truly safe community that is dedicated to the wellbeing of its residents.

Pitch your solution.

Through the MIT Incubator, we have formulated the DC Justice Lab Government Responder Taskforce (GRT). The solution meets the needs of the customer, which is the community. The model proactively provides our communities with government services before there is a need or a crisis occurs. Our solution targets communities in need. The results of our project can be measured in reduction of violent crimes, overdose deaths, calls of service, 311 (non-emergency) requests, citizen complaints, and overall satisfaction with government services. The positive impacts have already been seen through a DC Justice Lab staff member's work in Ward 8 of Washington, D.C. from years 2019-2021 during his time as a metropolitan police officer.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

Our solution is in the growth stage because the pilot operations were completed from Spring of 2019 to Spring 2021. The project operations were conducted within the Ward 7 and Ward 8 communities of Washington, D.C. The operations saw various successes on all levels: the reduction of violent crimes, calls for services, and use of police resources in several locations. For example, the 4300 block of Wheeler Road SE, the 2200 Block of Savannah Street SE, 3500 Block of Wheeler Road, and the 4200 block of 6th Street SE to name just a few.

Our solution's stage of development:

Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in one or, ideally, several communities, which is poised for further growth

Where are you based?

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Solution Team:

Patrice Sulton
Executive Director

Evan Douglas