SJC Exchange Library

Destablizing traditional power structures, Why Not Prosper, as part of its SJC Racial Equity Cohort strategies, organized community experts to address the following research questions, among others:

"How can Philadelphia rethink investments in public safety to deliver more equitable
outcomes? How can the Philadelphia criminal justice system reduce the overrepresentation of
Black and Brown people in jail? What policy changes can be made within the Philadelphia
criminal justice system to help keep Black and Brown people out of jail? How might community
services play a role in reducing the overrepresentation of Black and Brown people in jail?"

The process and findings from this participatory action research study, BARBwire–BARB stands for Breaking All Racial Barriers, illustrate both the necessity and the promise of centering those with lived experience with the criminal legal system in any efforts to improve it. Building on the study, Why Not Prosper has launched Straight Outta Trouble, an outreach campaign to identify and support individuals that have absconded from probation. Why Not Prosper's research process resulted in 9 total recommendations, and Why Not Prosper has also elaborated a set of priority actions (focused on investment and policy change) that address the disparate impact of criminal legal systems on Black and Brown people and communities. These recommendations and suggested priority actions hold critical guidance and potential benchmarks toward the elimination of racial inequities within and sustained by local criminal legal systems across the nation and at large.