UNBUNDLE POLICING: REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGEHow can we decrease unnecessary and adverse law enforcement encounters in order to promote community health and well-being in the US? ~ Challenge Overview: Are you passionate about improving public safety and the role of policing in the United States? Apply for the three-month Stand Together Ventures Lab Unbundle Policing Incubator to develop and strengthen solutions, receive expert instruction and mentorship, and meet potential team members. You'll also have access to in-kind resources, including cloud services platforms (AWS Activate credits), project planning, product design (Adobe Creative Cloud licenses), collaboration software, and impact consulting services. Ultimately, the Incubator program will prepare teams to submit their solution to the six month Accelerator program in Fall 2021. The Unbundle Policing Accelerator program is a six-month wraparound support program that will provide an immediate $50,000 per accepted team to deploy or scale much-needed solutions that reduce adverse law enforcement encounters across the United States. Select teams may receive additional funding or investment post-Accelerator from the over $1 million available. TIMELINE: * Accepting Applications * Incubator Applications Open April 28, 2021 * Incubator Application Submission Deadline July 19, 2021 * Refining Applications Incubator [September 7 - November 19] September 7, 2021 * Evaluating Applications * Accelerator Applications Open October 1, 2021MIT SolveMITSLV_8c88564e-cd45-11eb-b5c5-5cdc1383ea00Stand Together Ventures LabIn partnership with MIT Solve, Stand Together Ventures Lab is launching the Unbundle Policing: Reimagine Public Safety Challenge – an Incubator and Accelerator for social ventures focused on decreasing unnecessary law enforcement encounters and resulting adverse outcomes. By launching this Challenge, Stand Together Ventures Lab aims to accelerate a range of better alternatives for point of crisis situations otherwise likely to result in an unwarranted police encounter, emergency room visit, incarceration, injury, or death.An effective criminal justice system_93a0d280-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00To accelerate better alternatives for point of crisis situations_93a0d3ac-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00EffectivenessWhy Unbundle Policing? An effective criminal justice system protects people and preserves public safety, respects human dignity, provides restorative justice for victims and perpetrators, removes barriers to opportunity for people with criminal records, and ensures equal justice for all under the law.SafetyHuman DignityRestorative JusticeEqualityInputProtecting public safety also requires input from and partnership with community members.PartnershipTrustHowever, the current approach to policing in the US often breaks down trust and imposes harm, especially for people of color.TrainingCommunities and lives are harmed when police engage in situations they are not trained for or that could be better addressed by alternative solutions.CollaborationTo unbundle the all-encompassing nature of policing, we need collaborative, community-based alternatives developed, strengthened, and adapted nationally for a more comprehensive approach to public safety and well-being.CommunityComprehensivenessWell-BeingIncidentsDevelop alternatives to deploying police response_93a0d438-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea001Alternatives to deploying police response to 911 calls or traffic enforcement that don’t require armed responses, whether a noise complaint, car accident, or other incident;_93a0d50a-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00SanctionsDevelop alternatives to police-enforced legal sanctions_93a0d654-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea002Alternatives to police-enforced legal sanctions, particularly those related to mental illness or substance use disorders;_93a0d71c-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00Goals & FunctionsIncrease transparency, public input, and evaluation of police goals and functions_93a0d7b2-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea003Increased transparency, public input, and evaluation of police goals and functions within a community;_93a0d848-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00Recruitment, Training, Evaluation & SupportImprove recruitment, training, evaluation, and support of police officers_93a0d8d4-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea004Police OfficersImproved approaches to recruiting, training, evaluating, and supporting police officers in their roles;_93a0d96a-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00CoordinationImprove coordination between police, healthcare, and community-based organizations_93a0da00-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea005Police OrganizationsHealthcare OrganizationsCommunity-Based OrganizationsBetter coordination between police, healthcare, and community-based organizations;_93a0da8c-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00Focus & RisksIdentify alternatives to reduce the number and risk of adverse encounters and/or support the ability of police to focus on core threats to public safety_93a0db22-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea006Other alternatives or approaches that help reduce the number and risk of adverse encounters and/or that support the ability of police to focus on core threats to public safety._93a0dbc2-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea00Methodologies_93a0dc58-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea007Solutions should:Data & TechnologyUtilize data and technology to better understand and divert unnecessary law enforcement encounters_93a0dcf8-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea007.1EngagementEngage diverse stakeholders such as law enforcement, justice-involved individuals, and community-based organizations_93a0dd98-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea007.2Law EnforcementJustice-Involved IndividualsCommunity-Based OrganizationsConflict ResolutionIncorporate conflict resolution, mediation, and trauma-informed approaches_93a0de2e-cd4a-11eb-a57e-c8b21683ea007.32021-04-282021-07-192021-06-14https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/unbundlepolicing#challenge-subnav-offsetOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net