This evaluation of the Driver Accountability Program—an alternative sentencing program for people arraigned on driving-related charges—finds that the program has both improved street safety and cut back on the harms of the criminal legal system.
The Center for Justice Innovation is driven by a singular idea: local communities are critical to transforming justice. We believe the only way to create safe, flourishing neighborhoods is with a full-spectrum approach we call Community Justice, one that runs from communities to systems and back again. This guide outlines five key actions to drive community-led, evidence-based change in communities of all shapes and sizes.
Despite the devastating impact intimate partner violence has on communities, responses to people who cause harm have evolved little over the past few decades. This article, originally published in Families in Society, outlines New York City’s comprehensive approach to engaging people who cause harm in intimate relationships, featuring real examples from our court- and community-based programs.
New York City courts have been applying some of the principles of harm reduction to increase access to substance use treatment. But how much can they incorporate an approach which views individual wellness and avoiding coercion as axiomatic? NYC RxStat, an interdisciplinary group of public health and safety experts, partnered with us to facilitate an event on this question and more. This report documents the day's major themes.
The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice in partnership with communities, courts, and the people most impacted. We have worked for nearly 30 years to build safe, thriving communities by creating and operating innovative programs, conducting field-leading research, and sharing what we learn with justice systems and communities across the country.
At its most basic level, a domestic violence court is a dedicated docket that schedules all domestic-violence-related cases involving intimate partners on the same days and times. In doing so, courts recognize that domestic violence cases involving intimate partners are high-risk and present unique safety concerns. Hearing these cases at the same time allows courts to efficiently dedicate staff and resources to ensure better and safer outcomes.
Language is central to our experience, and should be an ongoing focus for anyone implementing new approaches in the criminal justice system. The way treatment court practitioners speak to and about court participants can impact their success. Research shows that language has the power to exacerbate or lessen stigma, change participants' perceptions of court and treatment, and even affect the quality of the treatment provided. Examining how team members speak to and about participants is a best practice for all treatment courts.
Public defense attorneys have a crucial role to play in addressing racial inequities in the justice system, while often feeling the effects of those inequities themselves. This report—based on a survey of 690 public defense attorneys from across the country—aims to inspire deeper reflection within public defense agencies by shedding light on how attorneys think about their role in combating racial injustice and the impact of their own identities on their work.
Public housing meets a critical need for stable, affordable homes. But for many NYCHA residents, renewing a lease or making sure you’re not overpaying can be complicated—and failing to do so can put you at risk of losing your home. This illustrated guide—created in partnership with the Center for Urban Pedagogy, designer Bo-Won Keum, and illustrator Mark Nerys—walks New Yorkers living in public housing through the steps they need to take to keep their rent affordable.
The Staten Island Justice Center (SIJC) seeks to reduce crime and incarceration by providing court-involved participants with supportive services and by engaging the community in prevention programs. The Justice Center offers a range of programs for local youth and young adults on Staten Island, with a specialized focus on those with or at risk of justice involvement.
