The Arc

Representatives from the nine sites participating in the federal Minority Youth Violence Prevention initiative gathered in Savannah, Georgia to share accomplishments, learn from common challenges, and plan for how best to carry the work forward.

NYC Teens Recommend Diverting More Young People From Justice System

This article synthesizes findings from four recent studies examining the integrated domestic violence (IDV) court model. Based on a one family-one judge concept, the New York State court system has established more than 40 such courts across the state since 2001. These courts seek to achieve more informed judicial decision-making, fewer conflicting orders, improved service delivery to victims and their children, and a more efficient and comprehensible case processing system. Published in Domestic Violence Report. To obtain this synthesis of four recent studies on integrated domestic violence courts, click here.

This article reports findings from an investigation of 24 criminal domestic violence courts across New York State. Overall, the 24 courts achieved a modest positive impact in reducing recidivism among convicted domestic violence offenders. The 24 domestic violence courts also increased conviction rates and sentences involving jail or prison among male domestic violence defendants. Of final interest, court policies specifically designed to increase victim safety, hold offenders accountable, and reduce offender recidivism (through deterrence or rehabilitation) were instrumental in reducing recidivism. Published in Violence Against Women in 2015 and available at the following link: https://vaw.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/06/05/1077801215589231.abstract  

The Belmont Revitalization Project is one of many initiatives being led by the Brownsville Community Justice Center, which seeks to transform the justice system in Brownsville, reduce crime and incarceration, and strengthen public trust in justice by providing alternatives to incarceration and creating opportunities for diversion for youth and community members who come into contact with the law.

Can the justice system make a positive difference in a family? Can courts promote healthy relationships between parents and children? These New Thinking podcasts give inside views of innovations for youth and families involved in the justice system.

Federal Grant Supports Anti-Violence Effort in Brooklyn The Brownsville project uses evidence-based strategies to reduce recidivism among parolees.

In an effort to improve the judicial response to 16 and 17 year old offenders, the Center for Court Innovation is helping the New York State Court System pilot the Adolescent Diversion Program. If the initiative succeeds, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman hopes to institutionalize it across the state. 

Peacemaking is a traditional Native American approach to justice. While the exact form peacemaking takes varies among tribes, it usually consists of one or more peacemakers—often community elders—who gently guide a conversation involving not only those directly involved in an offense or conflict but family members, friends, and the larger community.

An article examining the extent to which four jurisdictions offer full faith and credit to tribal court judgments and the role their tribal-state judicial forums have in fostering cooperative relationships between tribal and state court systems. This article was originally published in the Journal of Court Innovation Special Issue on Tribal Justice.

An article exploring the potential uses of Indian nations’ inherent authority and treaties to exercise jurisdiction over non-Indian criminal offenders. This article was originally published in the Journal of Court Innovation Special Issue on Tribal Justice.

An article examining the imposition of Western-style legal jurisprudence and “law” upon Native peoples. This article was originally published in the Journal of Court Innovation Special Issue on Tribal Justice.