The Arc - Center for Justice Innovation

Featured Update

A woman in a Queens Community Justice Center T-shirt lifts a child holding a basketball up on her shoulders towards a hoop.

Why Supporting Families Is Crucial to Strong Communities

For many families, contact with the legal system comes after years of struggling to meet basic needs. When we invest in solutions that respond to those needs both inside and outside of the courts, we pave the way for safer, stronger communities.

Voices of Justice: Twyla Carter on Driving Systemic Change

A conversation with Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief and CEO of The Legal Aid Society.

New Leadership for Rikers: What’s Ahead?

Closing Rikers Island is the only way to ensure dignity and safety for all New Yorkers.

A woman sits smiling at the front of a row of people in a busy courtroom, holding a piece of paper that reads

Beyond Mass Incarceration: 3 Problems and 3 Solutions

Three core problems that stem from excessive incarceration—and practical responses to build a better justice system.

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Less Jail, More Safety?

Four findings from our new research on the impact of jail reduction reforms on public safety.

All Updates

Access to Justice

Building Justice in the Court System

Housing Justice

Investing in Communities

People-Centered Responses

Reducing Harm and Violence

Women, Girls, and Gender Justice

481 Results

Three artists stand in front of three-panel painting in Midtown courtroom featuring trees, buildings, and a yellow spiral sky.

New Artworks Bring Hope and Joy to a Midtown Courtroom

Six new artworks created by people who have been affected by the justice system have been unveiled at the Midtown Community Justice Center.

Group of people stand smiling outside of brick building underneath sign that says

To Prevent Evictions, Invest in Procedural Justice

Evictions are devastating, but they can often be avoided when tenants have support and guidance during the court process.

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Housing and the Justice System Are Intertwined

These three challenges fuel the cycle of housing insecurity and justice involvement. Here’s how we can address them.

a mother in a red shirt walks on the sidewalk in an embrace with her son in a camo shirt

Where Housing Meets Mental Health Care

To meet the needs of people with serious mental illness returning to their communities, we need solutions that offer affordable housing alongside supportive social services.

one man in a gray shirt speaks in front of a room of seated people

How Family Courts Can Help Build Community Justice

By bringing everyone to the table, family courts can break cycles of trauma and meet families’ needs.

a woman in black (Rasmia Kirmani) speaking with a microphone in front of two people

National Housing Leader Rasmia Kirmani Joins Center for Justice Innovation

Expert in community engagement and public safety is new Chief Program Officer.

three people work together arranging papers on a beige courtroom table

Widespread but Often Overlooked, Municipal Courts Demand Our Attention

Municipal courts too often create cycles of harm that can get people entangled in the justice system, but they also have the potential to deliver justice in ways that respond to communities’ needs.

Seven people stand together in a row with green and pink Community Justice Connect shirts on

The Community Volunteers Helping Their Neighbors Resolve Legal Issues

Our Community Justice Connect team trains local volunteers to help their neighbors resolve legal issues before they get out of hand.

Gina Bijou, case manager with our Brooklyn Supervised Release Program.

Black History Is Now: Reflecting on a Life of Service

This Black History Month, Case Manager Gina Bijou reflects on what it means to pay it forward in her work with participants in our Brooklyn Supervised Release Program.

Middle-aged man with yellow sunglasses and a button-down shirt on a park bench during the day.

This Court Aims to Build Safety by Focusing on the Individual

By offering people the support and resources they need to find a better path, Manhattan’s Felony Alternative to Incarceration Court is working to build a safer New York for us all.

Incarcerated Readers Receive Books for Second Annual Inside Literary Prize

Four new books have been selected for the 2025 Inside Literary Prize, the first major US book award judged by incarcerated people.

Cartoon illustration of man walking up increasingly steep stacks of coins with handcuffs and a gavel hovering above them.

The Human Costs of Fines and Fees

Fines and fees add to the burden on people navigating the justice system, making it harder to get back on their feet. There’s a better path to safety.