The 20th Anniversary of the Center for Court Innovation

You could look at the growth in our size—we’ve gone from a team of a few dozen to an organization of several hundred staffers. You could look at the expansion of our reach—starting with a single project in one neighborhood, we now run programs in all five boroughs that touch the lives of tens of thousands of New Yorkers each year. You could even look at the awards we have won, including the Innovations in American Government Award and the Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation.

But what we are perhaps most proud of is the reputation we have built over the past two decades. We have managed to forge partnerships with key decisionmakers at all levels of government—federal, state, and local. Just as important, we have developed relationships with dozens of community groups and neighborhood service providers.

At a time of growing concern about the gulf between the justice system and local communities, the Center for Court Innovation is serving as bridge, helping to bring people together to achieve complicated goals like reducing incarceration, preventing crime, and aiding victims. Researchers have documented the concrete results of our efforts, which include reducing recidivism and improving public trust in justice.

To honor our 20th anniversary, we have tried to spell out our core values. One of the most important is a belief that small changes can sometimes make a big difference. We see this each and every day as we combat violence and disorder in neighborhoods across New York City. A smile from a social worker, eye contact by a judge, the wording of a flyer—in the real world, these details can sometimes be the difference between success and failure.

Thanks as always for your time, your interest, and your support.