Our Team

Bethany Young is a lawyer, sociologist, and policy strategist committed to building a safer, more just DC through community-rooted, people-led advocacy.

Bethany began her career in capital defense, representing clients on death row at the Equal Justice Initiative and the Center for Death Penalty Litigation. At the Urban Institute, she advanced national efforts to embed lived experience and equity in justice system research and reform. She later served as executive director of the D.C. Police Reform Commission, where she led a diverse body toward over 100 consensus recommendations to transform public safety. Following that work, Bethany joined DC Justice Lab as Deputy Director, helping to shape the organization’s policy strategy and expand its community engagement and legislative impact.

Most recently, Bethany led statewide criminal justice policy in Maryland through Governor Wes Moore’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. Her work focused on preventing harm before it occurs and improving coordination when it does, connecting behavioral health, public safety, and community-led solutions to strengthen wellbeing across systems.

Bethany holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from Duke University, a J.D. from George Washington University Law School, and a B.A. in English from Spelman College.