Brownsville Center wins prize, the State of the Judiciary, and more
The last few weeks at the Center for Court Innovation have been a busy and exciting time. Here are a few highlights.
Brownsville Awarded Spark Prize
The Brownsville Community Justice Center received the $100,000 Spark Prize from the Brooklyn Community Foundation. The Justice Center was recognized as one of five outstanding social justice nonprofits in Brooklyn. Watch director Deron Johnston's speech as he accepts the award. Last year, our Red Hook Community Justice Center also received the Spark Prize.
Our Work Highlighted by New York State Chief Judge
In her annual State of the Judiciary speech, New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore highlighted our work to combat the opioid epidemic and to expand access to justice through Legal Hand. She praised the Center for “keeping our courts at the cutting edge of justice reform nationally” and offered a welcome to our incoming director, Courtney Bryan, who takes over March 16.
Human Trafficking Film Wins Best Documentary
Our film ‘From Defendant to Survivor: How Courts are Responding to Human Trafficking’ was awarded Best Documentary in the Human Trafficking Awareness Film Festival. Our new film, ‘Judging Violence: The Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Court,’ captures a week in the life of a domestic violence court, highlighting efforts to keep victims safe and coordinate an effective community response to domestic violence.
Red Hook Program Expands to Hold Drivers Accountable
The New York Times reported on New York City’s plan—approved last week by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council—to require the city’s most reckless drivers to complete a program modeled on the Driver Accountability Program that we pioneered at the Red Hook Community Justice Center or risk having their vehicles impounded.
The Debate Over New York's Bail Reform
Greg Berman made the case in The Crime Report for turning down the heat on the bail reform debate in New York, arguing that we need “to devote the necessary resources to a rigorous, independent analysis of the reform’s impacts, so we can make informed judgments.” City & State featured our director of jail reform, Michael Rempel, who examined both the short- and long-term impacts that reducing pretrial detention might have on crime.
Betts visits the New Thinking studio
The Latest New Thinking Podcast
On our New Thinking podcast, poet and lawyer Reginald Dwayne Betts. Betts, who spent more than eight years in prison, tells host Matt Watkins: "I think we have no real sense about just what it means, the human cost of having handcuffs touch your flesh." Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.