Building a Bridge to the Future
Progress takes time and perseverance. Change within the justice system is challenging because long-held beliefs move slowly, and public buy-in is hard-won. And the voices of those directly affected are often overlooked in the data meant to represent them.
Leaders in this space know what needs to change, but they run into familiar barriers. Limited staff. Limited time. Unclear funding pathways. An overwhelming landscape of reports, policies, and research. And the challenge of proving impact when the work is complex and results may take time to show.
We exist to support this work. We bring evidence that respects lived experience, research that strengthens your case, and funding insight that helps bridge understanding and action. Our role is to help you navigate barriers and make informed decisions while maintaining momentum when the goals are larger than the resources available. We believe all meaningful change involves this tension, and you do not have to navigate it alone.
Explore our services to see how we support the work at every stage.
Our Work
About Wendy Davis
Founder & Principal Researcher, Rethink Research
For more than twenty years, my work focused on court-based public records research, reviewing thousands of case files and watching the same patterns repeat. I saw how difficult it was for people to break cycles of criminal behavior, even when they wanted to change. And I saw how data gaps and missing context often created additional problems for the people whose records I was searching.
Witnessing these cycles repeatedly led me back to school to pursue an advanced degree in criminal justice and forensic psychology. I wanted to understand what could be done to truly reduce harm, improve outcomes, and support people on a different path. Research shows that evidence-based programs can change lives, but they often lack public support, funding, or clear implementation strategies.
Today, my work focuses on closing these gaps. Through Rethink Research, I help justice-focused organizations access reliable data, secure funding, and build strategies informed by evidence and lived experience. My goal is simple: to support leaders working toward long-term, generational change, one step at a time.
Research builds the bridge. Hope lights the way.
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