Center for Justice Innovation

It’s no secret that funding public defense systems has been a challenge for communities across the country in the 60 years since the Supreme Court’s landmark Gideon decision. Understanding the role of defender fees in that problem, and the harms they cause for the people who need public defense the most, is a critical first step towards making sure everyone gets access to the representation they deserve. https://lnkd.in/eHP3ukbS

We had a great time at Brooklyn Org's Spark Prize breakfast this morning! Congratulations to Good Call for winning the 2025 Prize. 🏆 🎉

For Black History Month, our staff are reflecting on the wisdom of Black changemakers from bell hooks to Toni Morrison. Gina Bijou, one of our case managers for the Supervised Release Program at Brooklyn Justice Initiatives, reflects on this quote from novelist and Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, who said, “If you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.” Read Gina's full reflection here: https://lnkd.in/ejitZUx5

As use of AI continues to spread, how can we make sure courts and justice systems use it responsibly? Our new policy brief makes the case for drawing “a line in the sand” when it comes to using AI in decisions that could impact people’s liberty or cause serious harm. Read more: https://lnkd.in/er3-kr5v

Our CEO Courtney Bryan is proud to be a member of the Council on Criminal Justice's Women's Justice Commission. Learn more about Courtney and her role here. ⤵️

The idea behind Manhattan’s Felony ATI Court is simple: what if the justice system could help people address the core life issues that led to an arrest in order to prevent it from happening again? By linking participants to help in their communities under careful monitoring, the Court, which our Manhattan Justice Opportunities operates in partnership with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Office, holds people accountable in a way that sets them up for better lives and reduces the likelihood of recidivism. Since its launch in 2019, more than 274 people have graduated from the Felony ATI Court better equipped to lead safe, responsible lives in their communities. Read more today: https://lnkd.in/eNJydRMd

Our teams traveled to Albany at the weekend for the 54th annual New York State Association of Black Puerto Rican Hispanic and Asian Legislators Inc. Conference, where we hosted a reception to honor our community justice partners and showcase innovative approaches to building safe and thriving communities. We celebrated community justice champions from across the city, including: 🏆 Bronx County District Attorney Office Darcel D. Clark 🏆 Office of the New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams 🏆 Assembly Member Latrice Walker 🏆 Council Member Crystal Hudson 🏆 Council Member Kamillah M. Hanks 🏆 Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson 🏆 Assembly Member Chantel Jackson 🏆 Assembly Member Brian-Christopher Cunningham 🏆 Angelina Rosado, Founder and CEO of Sisters In Purple 🏆 Lisa George, Senior Deputy Chief of Staff, New York State Senate Young people from across our programs also attended the conference’s youth symposium, where they shared their insights on issues affecting their local communities. Let's give it up for our community justice partners! 🎉

“What is the root cause of the conflict?” Anthony Rowe, project director at our Neighbors in Action, asks when discussing conflict mediation with WTTW/Chicago PBS. “Is it economic? Is it poverty? Is it food insecurities? Housing insecurities? Most people don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘I want to be angry and I want to commit a crime.’” ⤵️ Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eykFavMt

The Manhattan Felony Alternative to Incarceration Court is one of the first courts in the country that addresses not only the root cause of an arrest, but also offers an alternative to incarceration for people facing charges involving violence who present with more complex needs. For Jessie, who was referred to us while in custody on Rikers, this meant an opportunity to get substance use and mental health treatment, go to support groups, and get his own apartment. Watch our latest video to learn how the program helped Jessie succeed, how it works, and hear from partners including the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Office as they share how this approach ends the cycle of harm, reduces recidivism, and helps achieve lasting public safety and community wellness. With 274 graduates, this program has prevented nearly 400 collective years of incarceration to-date. ⤵️

How can we forge a fair and sustainable path forward for Family Court in New York State? In response to documented challenges facing Family Court in New York State, the Family Justice Initiative is a collaborative approach that prioritizes areas for improvement, identifies promising programs, and explores new ideas to strengthen families, reduces unnecessary system involvement, and breaks intergenerational cycles of trauma. In partnership with the New York State Unified Court System, and the Office of the Governor of the State of New York, our role is to develop a broad vision for what makes an effective family-serving system and lead the process to create a comprehensive plan to support that vision. This new report lays out the initial recommendations for a path forward for Family Court and its system partners to better serve all New Yorkers. ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eJgE8r3Y