"Defund the police" means reducing funding for police departments and reallocating that money to other community services like education, mental health care, housing, and social programs. We need to address the root causes of crime and rely less on policing for issues that other services might handle more effectively. It doesn’t mean completely removing police funding but shifting priorities to improve public safety through different approaches.

The Transformative Justice Community Restoration Program (TJCRP) aims to facilitate community-driven dialogue about the implications of defunding police departments while exploring alternatives to traditional law enforcement.

Defunding the police is all about rethinking how we handle safety and justice in our communities. It’s not just about cutting police budgets—it’s about taking a step back and asking, "What really keeps people safe?" A lot of the time, issues like poverty, mental health struggles, and lack of resources are at the root of crime, and throwing more police at the problem doesn’t fix that. Instead, the idea is to shift some of the money toward things like affordable housing, mental health programs, and better schools—things that can actually prevent problems before they happen. Of course, it’s a controversial idea, and some people worry it might leave gaps in dealing with crime.