Center for Justice Innovation

Rikers is an "incubator of misery" that must close—and a new report from the Independent Rikers Commission shows how. Read the latest recommendations from the Commission, which our CEO Courtney Bryan serves on: https://lnkd.in/gdskwiZN

“When we join together, we can overcome together,” says Michelle Horne-Findley, LMSW, SIFI, MS / NYS Reg. Lobbyist, one of our Manhattan Justice Opportunities social workers.? Check out highlights from the New York State Association of Black Puerto Rican Hispanic and Asian Legislators Inc. conference in Albany last month, where we joined policymakers, community members, and our many other partners working to build coalitions, invest in communities, and put residents at the center of decisions that impact them. Hear from leaders like the Office of the New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, Assembly Member Brian-Christopher Cunningham, and Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson on how our programs like the Queens Community Justice Center are bringing people together to make change in communities across New York.

?? Calling all criminal court practitioners!??? Experiences of trauma are nearly universal in the criminal justice system. According to some estimates, more than 90% of incarcerated people have suffered from traumatic experiences, often starting in childhood. Contact with the justice system—getting arrested, going to court, or spending time in jail or prison—can put someone at risk of even more trauma. With support from the State Justice Institute, the Center for Justice Innovation has developed the Trauma-Informed Practice Strategy (TIPS) Lab to help criminal courts better respond to trauma. The TIPS Lab is currently accepting applications for no-cost, intensive training and technical assistance for criminal courts across the country seeking to implement trauma-informed approaches and prevent further harm for people navigating the justice system. ?? APPLY by April 7, 2025: https://lnkd.in/eVyHFuhV?

Today marks 62 years since the Supreme Court guaranteed the right to an attorney for those who can’t afford one. But did you know that public defense attorneys still often come with a price? A recent national survey we conducted explores how public defense attorneys see defender fees impacting their communities. https://lnkd.in/eHP3ukbS

The Red Hook Community Justice Center is home to a courthouse, but it’s also much more than that. It's a hub for support and community for residents in need, whether they have a court case or not. In amNewYork, read the story of the Red Hook Community Justice Center and hear from its staff and Judge Devin Robinson about how we're transforming what justice looks like for those in Red Hook and beyond. https://lnkd.in/ewrD3TAT

There are more than 7,500 municipal courts across the country, handling millions of cases each year. These courts pose distinct challenges, but their position within local communities also gives them the potential to serve as bridges between government and residents. ?? Join the second webinar in our five-part series on March 27 to hear from Professor of Law Justin Weinstein-Tull, Judges Andra Sparks and Jennifer Howson, and advocate Jake Faleschini on the unique role of municipal courts in local democracy and governance. ?? Register to attend here: https://lnkd.in/e_Mm4uM3?

These local courts are often the site of “revolving door justice”—people cycling in and out of the system with little meaningful change. Even a minor encounter with the justice system can threaten a person’s job, housing, and immigration status, potentially exacerbating the issues that brought them into court in the first place. But municipal courts also have the flexibility to deliver justice in ways that respond to deep-seated needs of the community. On The Arc, we examine the often overlooked impacts of municipal courts and explore how programs like our Newark Community Solutions are reimagining them to repair, not expand, the harms of the system. https://lnkd.in/egtyMvq6

“As we move forward in this year’s Inside Literary Prize, the voices of these incarcerated judges will ring out louder than ever. Their insights matter. Their stories matter. And through this journey as they cast their votes to declare a winner, their voices will not just be heard, they will be impossible to ignore,” writes Freedom Reads Communications Manager Steven Parkhurst in a recent post about meeting this year’s Prize judges.??? ?? Read today to discover more about the Inside Literary Prize: https://lnkd.in/eAhzdtPH National Book Foundation, Presenter of the National Book Awards

Meet Women’s Justice Commission member Courtney Bryan,?attorney and executive director of the?Center for Justice Innovation since 2020. As the center’s leader, Bryan oversees nearly?900 employees who conduct and analyze research and partner with communities, courts, and individuals to advance justice and make communities safer. ? Bryan’s career reflects a deep commitment to criminal justice reform, from her days as a public defender to her work as a staff attorney at the NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR THE DEFENSE OF BATTERED WOMEN and later as a leader at the JP Morgan Chase & Co. Foundation, where she helped launch the Second Chance Opportunities initiative to expand economic support for people with criminal convictions. She also served as the primary coordinator for the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform, which successfully argued for closing the jails on Rikers Island. As a current commissioner on the new Independent Rikers Commission, she is working to ensure the city carries out its plan to close Rikers Island and move incarcerated New Yorkers to smaller, more humane, borough-based jails.?

Last Friday, Amanda Berman, Senior Director of our Court Reform Programs, testified in front of the New York City Council Criminal Justice Committee to reflect the Center’s full spectrum approach to justice, and the need for funding to better serve clients and reduce the footprint of the justice system. Watch the full testimony here: https://lnkd.in/evpt5szc