Beyond Bars
Addressing youth violence through prevention, policy, and systemic change.
PREVENTION · POLICY · SYSTEMIC CHANGE
Young people deserve futures beyond the justice system.
Beyond Bars works to keep young people out of prison by promoting prevention, accountability, and community-based solutions. We center lived experience in conversations about justice and public safety, challenge harmful narratives that normalize incarceration as the default response, and build pathways for youth, families, and communities to thrive beyond the justice system.
Volunteers in more than 10 countriesAddressing youth violence through prevention, policy, and systemic change.
OUR MISSION
Prevention, accountability, and community-based solutions.
Through storytelling, education, and advocacy, we seek to influence culture, policy, and practice. Our work centers lived experience and challenges the idea that incarceration should be the default response to youth violence.
Prevention
Promote approaches that help keep young people out of prison.
Lived experience
Center the knowledge of people affected by youth violence and the justice system.
Systemic change
Use storytelling, education, and advocacy to influence culture, policy, and practice.
OUR WORK
Four projects. A shared purpose.
Our projects approach youth justice through lived experience, legislative information, data visualization, and youth-led global research.
1000 Stories Project
Documents the lived experiences and knowledge of people affected by or involved with youth violence and the justice system.
Explore project ↗ 02 / POLICYDigital Policy Tracker
Monitors legislative developments related to prisons, systemic violence, and youth justice.
Explore project ↗ 03 / DATAData Visualization
Aggregates, analyzes, and maps data to make patterns and systemic trends more accessible.
Explore project ↗ 04 / GLOBAL RESEARCHYouth Justice Index
A youth-led data collection initiative assessing access to justice, legal systems, and rights for young people worldwide.
Explore project ↗BE PART OF THE WORK
Help build pathways beyond the justice system.
Beyond Bars brings together volunteers working across more than 10 countries. Learn about the projects and find a way to contribute.
Find a way to contribute