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 over 20 years, I conducted more than 1,000,000 court-based public record searches. During this time, it became clear that many criminal justice policies and practices were producing unsustainable outcomes. Criminal record data was increasingly automated from systems never designed for that purpose, resulting in incomplete or inaccurate case information being widely distributed across secondary databases. At the same time, systemic inequities within the criminal justice system, along with employment and education barriers, kept many justice-involved people caught in cycles they were actively trying to leave.
I returned to school to better understand how outcomes could be improved and recidivism reduced. During my master’s program in criminal justice, I learned that effective, evidence-based interventions exist but often lack coordinated support and practical pathways to scale. Today, my work is grounded in the belief that lasting change requires collaboration. I seek to serve both the need for fair and just accountability and the pathway to meaningful second chances, supporting organizations that recognize progress happens when sectors work together toward shared goals.
Research builds the bridge. Hope lights the way.
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