For the Media

Despite decline in shootings, NYC has increase in shooting victims who are minors

News 12

As shootings increase among youth under 18 in New York City, it is vital to meet their needs and promote peace in the community. Our Save Our Streets program in Crown Heights shows News12 around their work as violence interrupters and youth advocates, and the impact it has on their neighborhood.

America Is the World Leader in Locking People Up. One City Found a Fix

Bloomberg

Supervised release programs in NYC, including those run by the Center, keep people out of jail and connected to the world; however, these programs are facing heavy caseloads as cash bail laws change. Fola Akinnibi and Sarah Holder explore the successes and effectiveness of supervised release in reducing incarceration and trauma, along with its future needs.

Driven by fear: Why some Brooklyn youth carry guns

Amsterdam News

“All these systems are basically failing these kids.” That was one of our research team’s major takeaways from their recent report on why some young people in Brooklyn carry guns. In Amsterdam News, Center researchers Basaime Spate, Javonte Alexander, and Elise White share what they found by talking to these young people directly and what those findings might tell us about how to put a stop to this violence.

Why are so many young people carrying guns?

WYPR

“True healing really requires vulnerability, which is next to impossible in situations of fear or intimidation.” Our researchers Basaime Spate and Rachel Swaner join Sheilah Kast about the findings in our youth gun-carrying report, adding to the timely discussion on gun violence in Baltimore. The relationships between fear, vulnerability, and the security of street networks are key themes on this episode of On the Record.

Putting the safety on: New gun violence blueprint takes better approach

New York Daily News

A new blueprint from the Mayor’s Office outlines a holistic, citywide strategy to curb gun violence in New York, one that works to address some of the underlying social factors—like education and economic opportunity—behind the crisis. This op-ed from the New York Daily News cites our recent study’s finding that young people in Brooklyn overwhelmingly carry guns for protection, making the case for more community investment and less reliance on law enforcement in the struggle to reduce gun violence.

Open | NYC Youth Gun Culture

BronxNet

Center researchers Rachel Swaner and Basaime Spate meet with Brittany Aubain of BronxNet to discuss our recent study on why young people in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, carry guns. They talk through what they gleaned from in-depth conversations with more than 100 young gun-carriers—from widespread fear of dying to economic insecurity and distrust of police—and why our policies and programs need to take these young people’s perspectives to heart in order to succeed.

Once-Resistant Rural Court Officials Begin to Embrace Medications to Treat Addiction

KFF

In this article, our Director of Treatment Court Programs Monica Christofferson comments on the increasing acceptance of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in the drug court system. The story follows Tennessee Judge O. Duane Slone, his pilot programs with MOUD, and the successful recoveries of participants like Rachel Solomon. In short, as Christofferson put it: “MOUD works.”

Why Some Young People Carry Guns

The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC

The researchers behind our report on young gun-carriers in Brooklyn, New York—Basaime Spate, Elise White, and Javonte Alexander—walk through their study on Brian Lehrer’s radio show for WNYC. They touch on the themes of vulnerability and trust, central to understanding the reasons young people carry as well as their relationships with police. “This research here really opened the door…to be able to have those conversations, those vulnerable conversations that they wouldn't normally have when they are out on the block because of the hypervigilance that they are always in,” said Spate.

Connecticut prosecutors strive for efficiency, equity through ‘Moving Justice Forward’ initiative

Connecticut Public Radio

Connecticut Public Radio gives a brief outline of the Moving Justice Forward project, which we helped develop in partnership with Connecticut's Division of Criminal Justice. Alternatives to incarceration, robust training for prosecutors, and concerns about wrongful convictions were among the topics discussed at a July press conference on the initiative—highlighting the urgency of efforts to create a fairer, more effective legal system for all.

Connecticut prosecutors adopt plan to ‘move justice forward’ with efficiency and fairness

FOX 61

Expanding diversion options prior to prosecution is vital to keeping youth and other people out of the legal system and in community-based services. FOX 61 discusses these options with Louis Mattei Jr., one of the community voices behind Moving Justice Forward—our project with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice to identify areas of improvement within the state’s justice system. This segment gives a preview of the ten-point action plan for reform we helped to create, and features statements from prosecutors and other stakeholders who worked on the project.

CT prosecutors unveil plan to increase fairness across state criminal justice system

Hartford Courant

The Hartford Courant details the months-long process and mission behind Moving Justice Forward, a collaboration between the Center for Justice Innovation and the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice to improve fairness and efficiency in Connecticut’s justice system. “Transformation comes with reflection and urgency,” said Theron Pride, Managing Director of National Initiatives and Research at the Center. The article touches the goals of the report and draws a connection to other recent efforts to promote a fair and effective legal system in Connecticut.

Connecticut commits to ‘moving justice forward’ with new plan

WSHU

NPR’s WSHU Public Radio gives an overview of Connecticut’s Moving Justice Forward project, a blueprint for meaningful reform we helped create in partnership with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin and Deputy Chief John Russotto speak about the importance of the work and the many people—judges, prosecutors, and justice-involved people—whose input helped to shape it.

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