The idea of community justice encompasses a diverse and growing range of evidence-based initiatives which seek to reduce crime by strengthening communities and redressing longstanding inequities. In recognition of the ways in which the approach has evolved over the years, this publication presents a new set of guiding principles of community justice and offers inventive models for putting them into practice, both inside and outside of the courtroom.
Community safety is multidimensional. Yet efforts to build community safety outside of the criminal legal system are often evaluated only using data generated by that same system. This means effective strategies of crime and violence prevention can be overlooked by policymakers and funders. We make an urgent case for a new paradigm.
“I got you.” Three little, but powerful, words that mean the world to the community residents that Yvette Rouget serves in her role as program manager at our Housing Resource Center at Brownsville Community Justice Center. As someone who also lives in the community in which she works, she takes her job and role as a good neighbor seriously. Often starting conversations with residents with just a simple greeting, it’s not long before she’s asking, “What do you need?” or sharing resources and support.
Housing is a human right and the foundation for strong communities. Access to a safe and affordable home creates economic and community stability. This fact sheet highlights the challenges and how our staff are working to prevent evictions, help landlords address health hazards, and increase tenant financial and legal empowerment. By addressing issues early, we keep people safely housed and avoid legal system involvement that can affect employment, family security, and future access to stable housing.
The Justice Center endeavors to create conditions for safety by strengthening Brownsville’s social infrastructure, activating its public spaces, and expanding the opportunities available to young people. When crime does occur, it is ensured that the justice system responds in ways that are proportionate, constructive, and restorative.
Recognizing the untapped talent of young people like Jhenai, the Brownsville Community Justice Center created the Hub to offer training, cutting-edge tools, and the opportunity to give back to the community.
This report presents findings from an evaluation of the Brownsville Anti-Violence Project. The project was designed to reduce gun violence through focused deterrence aimed at high-risk parolees and their community networks, paired with efforts to present the justice system as fair and legitimate.
This monograph starts with a question: What can we do differently to enhance public safety, reduce the use of incarceration, and improve public perceptions of justice in a Brooklyn neighborhood that experiences both high crime and high rates of incarceration?
In this article from the Winter 2014 issue of the Government, Law, and Policy Journal of the New York Bar Association, Greg Berman and Robert V. Wolf examine the wide range of alternative-to-incarceration initiatives being pioneered by the New York State courts.
The results of a 2010 community survey in Brownsville, Brooklyn focusing on perceptions of neighborhood quality of life, youth issues, public safety, and criminal justice agencies.
