Policy Brief by INEQUALITY & Stop the Cradle to Prison Algorithm Coalition
Communities, families, and those who work with youth have long known that strengths-based, front-end supports are exponentially more effective than criminal justice responses, which are expensive, ineffective, and socially destructive with life-long consequences.
Defeating the JPA:
A story of community empowerment through education & coalition building
How it all began
In the wake of multiple news reports about violence in schools, the Ramsey County
Prosecutor's office formed a two-pronged community response, the first a Safety Task Force to
look for new solutions. This involved inviting people from the community to provide input and
ideas to increase supports for students in need and thereby reduce conflicts in schools.
The second a series of community engagement sessions targeting impacted communities.
The County convened a mix of community engagement activities between 2015 and 2017.
