For the Media

New Measures Launched to Reduce Delays in NYC Criminal Courts

Brooklyn Reader

Resolving criminal cases swiftly and effectively is essential for both safety and fairness. A new set of reforms that the Center helped shape, will help address chronic delays in processing felony cases across New York City’s criminal courts. Launching in Brooklyn under Judge Matthew D’Emic, the new measures will streamline the discovery process, where defense attorneys and prosecutors share evidence needed to move cases forward.

New court protocols unveiled to tackle felony case delays and prepare for Rikers closure

Brooklyn Eagle

New York’s court system has announced a sweeping set of reforms to ensure felony cases are resolved swiftly, effectively, and with care for everyone involved. The measures, which the Center helped to develop, aim to tackle systemic delays that leave people languishing in jail as part of a collaborative effort to fulfill the city’s commitment to closing Rikers Island. “Victims, defendants, and the public deserve a criminal justice system that proceeds swiftly, intelligently, and compassionately,” said Chief Judge Rowan Wilson.

Loretta Lynch leads national effort to address gender disparities in criminal justice

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has been appointed to chair the Women’s Justice Commision by the Council on Criminal Justice. The commission, which aims to address the unique challenges women face in the criminal justice system, marked its launch in July with a visit to our Brownsville Community Justice Center. Lynch and 15 other leaders serving on the commission toured the Justice Center and heard a presentation on our Brooklyn programs, which align with their commitment to reducing the flow of women into the justice system in the wake of rising incarceration rates.

Castle Hill Houses breaks ground on new space featuring dog park and barbecue area

Bronx Times

Community members and local leaders gathered to celebrate breaking new ground on the first-ever dog park set to be built on a NYCHA campus. More than 800 residents of the Castle Hill Houses in the Bronx voted on the investment, which will include the dog park, a new barbecue area, and increased access to green space for the development. The project is led by Green Space Connections, a collaboration between NYCHA residents, our Neighborhood Safety Initiatives team, the Public Housing Community Fund, and Design Trust for Public Space. It is expected to be completed in Spring 2025. "What really draws me to this project is the resident engagement that brought it, the fact that we are really listening to our residents and producing something that you chose for yourself," NYCHA's Eva Trimble told Bronx Times.

New commission addresses women’s criminal justice challenges in Brownsville

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Women's Justice Commission, chaired by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, is a new nationwide initiative that will bring awareness to the unique issues women face in the criminal justice system. Formed by the Council on Criminal Justice, the Commission brings together a group of dedicated leaders from different sectors, including our Executive Director Courtney Bryan, to identify evidence-based solutions. In the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, read about the Commission's visit to our Brownsville Community Justice Center, where they learned about our team's efforts to prevent harm and bring support to women and families impacted by the justice system.

Mayor’s Office And CUNY Invest $6.5M In Restorative Justice For 16 NYC Organizations

Harlem World

The Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice and Institute for State and Local Governance at the City University of New York have announced a $16.5M investment in restorative justice programs throughout the city, with $6.5M going to community-based programs including our Midtown Community Justice Center. Restorative justice responds to harm by facilitating dialogue between the people involved, fostering understanding and healing instead of punishment. Our Midtown Community Justice Center will use the investment to expand its new Youth PACT (Positively Advancing in Community Together) program, which offers teenagers arrested for weapons possession a supportive pathway out of the legal system.

Legal Hand Bronx workshop offers tips to elevate your resume

Bronx Times

Our Legal Hand program hosted a resume workshop in the Bronx to help residents craft strong resumes and boost their career skills. Topics included how to structure and format a resume, write compelling bullet points, tailor resumes to job descriptions, and succeed in interviews. The "Elevate Your Resume" workshop was led by Rachelle Brown, who specializes in workshop development, and gave residents the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback.

D.A. McMahon leads tour at future site of Staten Island Community Justice Center

Staten Island Advance

Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon joined New York Chief Judge Rowan Wilson and other elected officials to lead a tour of what will become Staten Island’s first-ever community justice center. Housed in a former courthouse, the Staten Island Community Justice Center will build on the Center for Justice Innovation’s existing programming in Staten Island to provide critical resources and off-ramps from the criminal justice system for residents, thanks to a $5 million investment announced by Mayor Eric Adams and Council Member Kamillah Hanks. “Quite simply, the arrival of a Staten Island Community Justice Center would transform public safety and justice in our borough,” said District Attorney McMahon.

At a Glance: July 19

Crain's New York Business

Staten Island will receive its first-ever community justice center on the grounds of a former courthouse thanks to a $5 million investment in the city budget. The Staten Island Community Justice Center will be a hub for mental health support, career services, and youth programming in the borough. In this round-up of New York news, Crain's highlights this crucial investment in community-based alternatives to criminal justice involvement, which will help expand the Center’s programming in Staten Island.

Staten Island justice center, with innovative approach to crime fighting, is step closer to reality

Staten Island Advance

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Council Member Kamillah Hanks, and Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon have announced a $5 million investment toward building the first Staten Island Community Justice Center. With a focus on youth and mental health programming, the Community Justice Center will bring much-needed resources to residents while working “upstream” to reduce involvement in the criminal justice system. The investment is a crucial step toward bringing what Mayor Adams calls a “proven model that has already succeeded in achieving lasting success under the leadership of our partners at the Center for Justice Innovation” to Staten Island.

Saving Our Streets Brooklyn

Our Time Press

"To finally end gun violence in our communities, we need to invest in our kids and give them the support they need to thrive." That was Anthony Rowe, project director of our Neighbors in Action program in Brooklyn, after the team partnered with Launch Charter School in Crown Heights to support a walkout of more than 100 middle school students for National Gun Violence Awareness Month. In Our Time Press, hear from teachers, community activists, and lawmakers on the tragic toll of gun violence in Brooklyn and the important work being done to prevent it.

Prize Judged by Incarcerated Readers

Poets&Writers

The Inside Literary Prize, the first U.S. book award to be judged entirely by incarcerated people, will soon make its debut onto the national stage after months of reading and discussion by participants. “To choose an award is important for saying you’re part of the community, part of society. So much about being incarcerated says you’re not,” says Reginald Dwayne Betts, founder of Freedom Reads, which is supporting the award alongside the Center for Justice Innovation, the National Book Foundation, and bookstore owner Lori Feathers. In this issue of Poets&Writers, Betts and others expand on the humanizing impact of this literary experience on people serving time in prison.

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