2023 marks the 30th anniversary of our Midtown Community Court, which started as an experiment in a new, more human approach to justice. Today, that approach hasn’t just survived: it has even outgrown the walls of the courthouse.
Sixty years after Gideon v. Wainwright, in which the Supreme Court ruled that anyone facing the threat of incarceration is entitled to a lawyer regardless of their ability to pay, the right to counsel remains an unfulfilled promise for many. What would change if everyone, no matter their income, got the minimum that all people deserve: someone with the time, resources, and training to defend them effectively in court?
With the launch of the Lippman Commission 2.0, New York City has taken a decisive step towards closing Rikers Island. Much is at stake, first and foremost the lives of the people detained in the jail complex. In these five episodes of our New Thinking podcast, we take a closer look at the human cost of Rikers through the testimony of advocates, researchers, and—most importantly—those who have experienced the harms of Rikers Island firsthand.
A source of beauty and hope and an instrument of change, art holds a mirror up to our society, casting light on injustice while bringing a better world into view. Take a look at some artwork and murals that our teams have recently brought to life to build community, encourage healing, and make justice a reality.
Domestic violence goes to the heart of the challenge of building safe and just communities, and demands that we listen deeply to the needs of survivors and others who have experienced harm; that we involve the community intimately in decisions about safety and accountability. This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, learn how we at the Center for Justice Innovation put these ideas into action.
We are excited to announce that the Center for Justice Innovation has received an $8 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott—the largest single gift in our history!
The overdose crisis has affected millions of our friends, family members, and neighbors. To save lives and build safer communities, we have to offer people low-barrier, meaningful services no matter where they are in their journey.
From a small pilot program to a citywide model for reform, Project Reset’s growth stands as a powerful example of how modest experiments can turn into lasting changes.
