The Arc

Poverty Justice Solutions

Poverty Justice Solutions is a new initiative that seeks to improve access to justice for low-income New Yorkers facing eviction.

Youth Justice Board Issues Report On Strengthening Police-Community Relations

NYC Teens Recommend Diverting More Young People From Justice System

Predictors of Mental Health Court Program Compliance and Rearrest in Brooklyn, New York

In this article, mental health court graduation, in-program jail sanctions, and rearrest were tracked for 654 participants in the Brooklyn Mental Health Court. In general, risk factors for negative outcomes included a prior history of arrest or incarceration, having current property charges, current unemployment, homelessness at time of intake, and having a co-occurring substance use disorder. Published in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation and available here.

New York State’s Integrated Domestic Violence Court Model: Results from Four Recent Studies

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.

Domestic Violence Courts: A Multisite Test of Whether and How They Change Offender Outcomes

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: Reimagining an Avenue

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.

Reducing the Use of Jail in the Bronx

Bronx Community Solutions celebrates 10 years of providing alternatives to incarceration.

Red Hook Community Justice Center 15th Anniversary Celebration

The Red Hook Community Justice Center celebrated its 15th anniversary with a party at the Brooklyn Museum on October 26, 2015. The Justice Center was created to improve public safety, to reduce the use of incarceration, and to improve relations between the justice system and the local community.

Innovative, Equitable, and Accessible

Last week, The New York Times ran an editorial, "Bold Plans for New York Courts," describing New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman's vision for justice reform in New York.

Parent Support Program Helps Struggling Families

It is estimated that unpaid child support payments in the United States exceed $110 billion. Child support cases are hard ones for courts, particularly when jobs are scarce.

In Focus: Tracey L. Meares

Tracey L. Meares, Walton Hale Hamilton Professor of Law at Yale Law School, has written and lectured widely on crime prevention, procedural justice, and community capacity building, with an emphasis on empirical investigation. She was instrumental in developing "Project Safe Neighborhoods," a groundbreaking empirical approach to violence reduction that was documented to curtail violence in Chicago.

Near West Side Peacemaking Project: Where are we now

The Near Westside Initiative, a community-based neighborhood organization in Syracuse, New York, that promotes technology, entrepreneurship, and cultural revitalization, profiled the Near Westside Peacemaking Program in its February 2015 newsletter.

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