Justice Innovation Inc

THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE INNOVATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO CREATE A FAIR, EFFECTIVE, AND HUMANE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND BUILD STRONG, THRIVING COMMUNITIES.WE PLAN, IMPLEMENT, AND OPERATE NEW PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS URGENT ISSUES RELATED TO SAFETY, JUSTICE, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. OUR PROJECTS INCLUDE COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROJECTS, ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, REENTRY INITIATIVES, AND COURT-BASED PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE THE USE OF UNNECESSARY INCARCERATION AND PROMOTE POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY CHANGE. SOME OF OUR PROJECTS ARE BIG, SERVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR. AND SOME ARE SMALL, WORKING INTENSIVELY WITH A FEW DOZEN PEOPLE AT A TIME. CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES, OUR APPROACH IS COLLABORATIVE AND INCLUSIVE; WE SEEK TO INCLUDE THE VOICES OF ALL CONSTITUENCIES IMPACTED BY THE ISSUE OR PROPOSED PROGRAM DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS. THIS MEANS WE ROUTINELY INVITE INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS NOT ONLY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

COURT REFORM PROGRAMS:SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1996, THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE INNOVATION HAS BEEN PIONEERING CREATIVE REFORMS TO MAKE INCARCERATION A LAST RESORT IN NEW YORK CITY AND BEYOND. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW YORK'S OFFICE FOR COURT ADMINISTRATION, THE CENTER RESPONDS TO CRIME WITH ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, SUPERVISED RELEASE, AND SPECIALIZED COURT PROGRAMS. THE CENTER EMPHASIZES AN APPROACH THAT ADDRESSES THE ROOT PROBLEMTHROUGH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT; EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND HOUSING SERVICES; AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICEWE REDUCE THE WELL-DOCUMENTED HARMS OF THE SYSTEM WHILE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR MEANINGFUL, LONG-TERM SAFETY.

CENTER CORE:THE CENTER'S CORE PLANNING AND OPERATIONS STAFF RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR PLANNING ASSISTANCE FROM THE COURT SYSTEM; PROVIDE SUPERVISION AND OVERSIGHT COURT PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY AND STATE; AND DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT FUNDING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT THIS WORK.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & CRIME PREVENTION: TOO OFTEN, INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO ISSUES OF CRIME AND SAFETY ARE PURELY REACTIVE, COMING INTO PLAY ONLY AFTER HARM HAS BEEN DONE. THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE INNOVATION TAKES AN "UPSTREAM" APPROACHPLANTING THE SEEDS FOR GENUINE, LONG-TERM SAFETY AND JUSTICE BY INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES. FACTORS AFFECTING COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING INCLUDE ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY HOUSING, STRONG FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, MEDICAL CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND MORE, AND SO OUR PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS THOSE NEEDS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT RESIDENTS ARE THE EXPERTS ON THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, AND THAT NO DECISIONS ABOUT JUSTICE AND SAFETY CAN BE ADEQUATE WITHOUT INCORPORATING THE PERSPECTIVES AND PARTICIPATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

NATIONAL INITIATIVE: THE CENTER IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN DEVELOPING, STUDYING, AND DISSEMINATING A WIDE VARIETY OF INNOVATIVE JUSTICE MODELS. THROUGH THE CENTER'S NATIONAL INITIATIVES AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT, STAFF CONDUCT MIXED-METHOD, MULTI-SITE EVALUATIONS OF COMMUNITY, COURT, PUBLIC HEALTH, JUSTICE, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS RESEARCH TO PROMOTE NEW THINKING ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT SYSTEMS (E.G., EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE) CAN ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF VIOLENCE, CRIME, AND SAFETY. THE DEPARTMENT'S TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SIDE PROVIDES HANDS-ON, EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO REFORMERS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THROUGH FACILITATING SITE VISITS AT MODEL PROGRAMS; PROVIDING TRAINING ON A RANGE OF TOPICS, FROM COMMUNITY JUSTICE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; MAINTAINING AN ARRAY OF ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES; AND OFFERING INTENSIVE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT TO JURISDICTIONS SEEKING TO LAUNCH NEW MODELS. RESEARCH INFORMS PROGRAMMING, PROGRAMMING INFORMS RESEARCH, AND BOTH RESEARCH AND PRACTICE INFORM OUR EFFORTS TO TRAIN AND ASSIST COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY IN ADOPTING TAILORED REFORMS.