From the importance of collaborating with community and government actors to the impact of our efforts, both locally and internationally, Greg Berman discusses 25 years of the Center's work with Dutch organization de Rechtspraak as we continue to "push, poke and prod the justice system to be more effective and more humane." Interview available courtesy of de Rechtspraak. 

Director of the Center for Court Innovation Greg Berman celebrated 25 years at the Center with a candid Q&A led by Center alum Christopher Watler, who now serves as the New York State director of the Center for Employment Opportunities.

As part of a series of criminal justice reforms, New York State is overhauling its rules governing discovery, or the sharing of evidence between the prosecution and defense, effective January 2020. Our analysis finds the accelerated discovery timeline may shrink case processing times, resulting in shorter jail stays for defendants held in pretrial detention. By facilitating the defendant’s ability to prepare a defense, the changes may also result in fewer prison or jail sentences.

This year’s annual report captures the accomplishments of our more than 500 staff through numbers and stories. Together, they paint a picture of positive change: for government systems that have become more responsive to community concerns, for neighborhoods that are moving themselves toward safety and well-being, and for the thousands of people we work with who found healing and an opportunity to build lives outside of the justice system.