Today, the Center for Justice Innovation welcomed Rasmia Kirmani as new chair of its Board of Directors, with inaugural chair Judge Victoria Pratt remaining on the Board.

April Barber Scales was a pregnant 15-year-old when she received two life sentences; Anthony Willis was 16 when he was sent away for life. After more than 25 years behind bars, they each received something desperately rare: clemency. They describe how they fought against a prison system that "sets you up for failure." We also hear from an organization in Baltimore that works exclusively with young people at high risk of violence. Rather than arrests and incarceration, what do these young people need?

Sharing how her own experiences drive her housing work, Yvette Rouget—program manager at our Brownsville Community Justice Center’s Housing Resource Center—recently spoke with Pix11 News about New York’s housing crisis and how expanding rental assistance funding will be essential to help folks pay their rent. In her work towards safe, secure housing in the last decade, Yvette and her colleagues have helped prevent over 600 evictions in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

From celebrating our 25th Anniversary to preparing for a name change that reflects all aspects of our mission, 2022 was a landmark year for the Center for Justice Innovation! We expanded our work across and beyond the justice system to develop new, creative, and community-led strategies that promote safety, fairness, and equity.

Read our 2022 Annual Report for more highlights!