Center for Justice Innovation

In partnership with the New York State Unified Court System and the Governor’s Office, we have been at the forefront of developing a comprehensive plan to build a more fair and effective family-serving court system. Revisit the preliminary recommendations we developed for charting a path forward in New York family courts: https://lnkd.in/erFSkjM5

Thanks to Office of the Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for coming out to visit Queens Community Justice Center’s location in Far Rockaway yesterday to learn more about some of their programs. 🧡

Thriving families are the foundation of strong communities. But historical inequality has left many families—especially families of color—with little support for critical needs, while punitive court policies can make it even harder for them to recover. Discover how we’re helping families resolve their court cases, find stability, and cultivate more connected, resilient, joy-filled relationships. ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ehx2Aynv

Did you know there’s a potential return of $2.30 to $3.14 for every dollar invested to provide a right to counsel in eviction proceedings in New Jersey? ACLU of New Jersey and Seton Hall University School of Law Center for Social Justice just released a report on the financial benefits of ensuring Eviction Right to Counsel. The report shows that providing an attorney and social service assistance to households facing eviction makes both human and financial sense for New Jersey. We’re grateful to the ACLU of New Jersey, Seton Hall University School of Law, and Stout Risius Ross, LLC for inviting our team at Newark Community Solutions to participate in the process and contribute our experiences providing eviction prevention services to our community on the ground. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eT-QUpUB

Our Data Analytics and Applied Research team travelled to Washington DC last week to attend the 80th American Society of Criminology annual meeting. ⤵️ The team was excited to explore their work with fellow researchers dedicated to building a fairer and more equitable justice system across the country. Our researchers discussed:  ⚖️ How bench warrants can cause confusion and stress for clients in New Jersey, and how procedural changes can minimize this unnecessary limbo. ⭕ Why holistic intervention and programming is needed to address people’s unique challenges.  💻 How flexibility and access is best practice for program participation, with our researchers finding no difference in program completion based on virtual, in-person, or hybrid models.  💙 The success of our misdemeanor mental health courts in serving higher-needs participants.  🗽 Improved compliance in our Supervised Release Program after the opening of our new East New York office to bring services directly to where people need them. Stay up to date with our research and resources to find out more about our community-centered approach: https://lnkd.in/eGk7rS6G

What would happen if all of our policies and practices paid closer attention to what parents and children really need, opening doors to vital resources and helping them live lives of joy and fulfillment? For millions of families, the legal system is one of many institutions that falls short of providing the support they need. With collaboration and care, we can transform that system in ways that are responsive to the unique needs of each family. And we can invest in new approaches that address those concerns before parents and their children come into the system in the first place. Learn more about Family Justice Initiatives at the Center for Justice Innovation in this new video, from the Strong Starts Court Initiative across New York State, to our Family Functional Therapy operating out of Queens Community Justice Center, to the Parent Support Program. ⤵️

“Although gun violence and intimate partner violence often are seen as separate issues, they are overlapping and interdependent.” Thank you to the MacArthur Foundation for supporting our RISE Project’s work addressing the complex intersection of intimate partner and gun violence. Learn more about this work here: https://lnkd.in/eZ6M9jq5

Did you know that low-level misdemeanors make up over 80% of cases in the justice system? Yet evidence shows that prosecuting people for nonviolent misdemeanors may make us less safe in the long run, increasing the chances someone will come into the system again. Drawing on insights from a working session with practitioners from around the country, our recent policy brief highlights ways to help people charged with low-level offenses resolve their case and get back on their feet as quickly as possible. That, in turn, frees up resources to focus on the needs of the small number of people repeatedly cycling through courts and jails. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ebGY6MZY

People with mental health needs are vastly overrepresented in prisons and jails. But many of those needs go undetected, leaving people struggling with treatment plans that aren’t suited for them—or shut out from support altogether. Implementing more thorough psychological assessments can help connect people in the justice system to individualized care and increase their chances of success in treatment programs that keep them out of jail and prison. This report outlines key aspects of those assessments and explores real-life examples of how they can support better outcomes. Read today: https://lnkd.in/eqTutSCC

More than 60 years after the Supreme Court decision to guarantee the right to an attorney for anyone facing incarceration, many rural communities still face unique challenges in making that promise a reality. Data can be a powerful tool in the effort to increase access to counsel, but many communities face barriers to gathering and sharing crucial data. Drawing on our experience providing hands-on guidance in three rural jurisdictions, this new report offers concrete tips to improve data capacity for rural public defense systems. https://lnkd.in/e37SN5sG