Rigorous & Relevant

Through our collaboration with a broad, intersystem network of partners, we promote evidence-informed decision-making and ensure our work reflects the diverse needs, perspectives, and lived experiences of the communities we serve.

National Thought-leaders

With nationwide reach, we help implement and evaluate efforts to promote positive youth development, physical health, and well-being.

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Non-partisan, Evidence-driven

We apply evidence to support efforts to prevent crime and violence, increase safety, improve justice systems, and enhance public health by preventing substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors.

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The Justice & Prevention Research Center at WestEd focuses on safety, justice systems, and public health. We are a non-partisan source of rigorous and policy-relevant research, evaluation, and implementation support for government leaders, policymakers, foundations, researchers, media, and community-based leaders.

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Our Focus Areas

School Safety

Our team leads technical assistance, research, and evaluation to improve school safety in partnership with schools, districts, and communities across the country.

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Justice Systems

We are a source for research, evaluation, and evidence-informed technical assistance that emphasizes equity and the value of lived experience to guide research and systems improvement efforts.

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Violence Prevention

We aim to solve today’s pressing challenges by working to reduce current violence, prevent future violence, and co-create sustainable systems that improve outcomes for communities.

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Public Health

We bring deep expertise in areas related to substance abuse prevention and other public health issues including the prevention of teen pregnancy and risky sexual behavior, and mental and behavioral health challenges.

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Featured Work

Violence Prevention

The Violence Prevention Navigation Framework

The JPRC’s Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF) helps states and communities prevent gun violence through comprehensive data analysis, community input, and evidence-informed recommendations, enabling leaders to create sustainable strategies that improve community safety and well-being.

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Justice Systems

Correctional Education

JPRC and WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility support federal, state, and local agencies with expertise in adult and postsecondary education and workforce training, helping correctional systems expand economic opportunities for people, families, and communities nationwide.

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Public Health

Substance Misuse Prevention

Providing states and communities with evidence-based support for substance misuse prevention, the JPRC delivers expertise in treatment, recovery, harm reduction, research and evaluation, technical assistance, and policy development.

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School Safety

School Safety Projects and Supports

The JPRC provides research and evaluation on school safety and student well-being, with work spanning state school safety centers, school police reform, behavioral threat assessment, SRO training, and firearm-safety communication. Our evidence supports the adoption of effective, prevention-focused strategies for safer and more supportive schools.

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Rigorous & Relevant

National Thought-leaders

Non-partisan, Evidence-driven