Twyla Carter

JUST RELEASED: New white paper details critical gaps in NYS’ alternative to incarceration and reentry programs and offers actionable solutions to strengthen public safety and decarceration efforts statewide bit.ly/ATIreportPR Legal Action Center #AlternativesToIncarceration #MentalHealth #YouthDevelopment #TreatmentNotJail #CommunitiesNotCages

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Yet, pathways & collateral consequences of incarcerating women different than men, considering that two-thirds of incarcerated women are mothers & primary caregivers for young children. NJRC Women's Report & Resource Manual directs to NJRC partners. https://bit.ly/4bbheT3

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Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue that demands our attention and action. Join us in breaking the silence and fostering understanding. 💼 Dive into our recent blog post to uncover the signs, learn how to support survivors, and be part of the solution. https://lnkd.in/e3HprMm8 #EndDomesticAbuse #BreakTheSilence

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As we mark Restorative Justice Week, it is critical to engage in deeper reflection on the evolving frameworks of justice and reconciliation. Restorative justice offers a paradigm shift from traditional punitive systems by centering the needs of victims, encouraging offender accountability, and promoting community healing. At its core, restorative justice emphasizes: 1. Repairing Harm: Instead of focusing solely on punishment, it seeks to understand and address the impact of harm on all involved parties. 2. Active Participation: It involves victims, offenders, and community members in structured dialogue, allowing for a more comprehensive and empathetic resolution process. 3. Community Reintegration: By promoting accountability in a non-punitive way, restorative justice helps reintegrate offenders into society while ensuring that victims’ voices are heard and respected. Emerging research shows that restorative practices can reduce recidivism, strengthen community bonds, and offer more meaningful forms of justice that extend beyond legal sanctions. As scholars and practitioners, we must continue to examine how restorative justice can be more widely applied in various settings—from communities to the criminal justice system—while critically assessing its long-term outcomes and challenges. This week, we invite you to read these pieces from our archives that explore aspects of restorative justice: Hungarian vs. American mediators and how to make communities more resilient by Laura Schmidt. Available via https://lnkd.in/g7CnKkt8 Navigating narrow straits: Leadership development of municipal managers of non-policing law enforcement services by Dean Young. Available via https://lnkd.in/gabFEzmK Reducing criminal recidivism in Alaska: The Set Free Model by Ryan Ray and Alli Madison. Available via https://lnkd.in/gfpr6W3T Exploring the genesis and praxis of restorative justice in Nova Scotia, Canada by Muhammad Asadullah. Available via https://lnkd.in/g9EuqryJ This week serves as a reminder that justice systems are not only about responding to harm but also about fostering understanding and healing. By embracing restorative principles, we open the door to more compassionate and effective ways of addressing conflict and promoting social cohesion. #RestorativeJustice #ScholarlyInsights #CommunityHealing #JusticeReform #ConflictResolution

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The Domestic Violence Counts report done by the The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is a one day survey conducted annually to identify the need for support for survivors of domestic violence within a 24 hour period (read full report via link in comments). In Massachusetts, on September 6, 2023 the following services were needed: ⚪1,895 Victims were served through emergency shelters or transitional housing. 455 domestic violence hotlines were contacted. ⚪111 people educated about domestic violence and abuse prevention. ⚪463 requests were unmet requests for services because they lacked sufficient resources. This week, we are highlighting local organizations that are working tirelessly to support survivors of domestic violence and spread awareness of this issue in Massachusetts. Please consider educating yourself on this issue via their websites available in the link in comments and supporting their work by spreading awareness of their resources. 🕊️DOVE, Inc. provides a wide variety of inclusive services including a 24 hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, community based advocacy & counseling, support groups, children’s services, legal advocacy support, civilian domestic violence advocacy, LGBTQIA+ services, Chinese Advocacy program, prevention & education, and YouthSpeak (Healthy Relationship Education and Abuse Prevention Program). 👣The Second Step offers comprehensive services, including safety planning, legal advocacy, counseling, peer support, transitional housing, and other essential services to adults, youth, and children in Greater Boston and MetroWest. 🏡Casa Myrna supports survivors through three residential programs, housing assistance and advocacy, financial literacy education and job readiness skill building, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy and representation, children’s services, and community-based advocacy. They operate SafeLink, Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 toll-free domestic violence hotline. Additionally, they provide domestic and dating violence awareness and prevention services by educating teens and adults across the state through workshops, seminars, trainings, social media, engagement with the media and annual ad campaigns on mass transit systems.

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Our vision is a full and free life after incarceration. We are committed to the worth and potential of every person who walks through our door, to ensure their successful new beginning after incarceration. Mass incarceration is one of the defining dilemmas of our day. Nothing about addressing mass incarceration can be effective unless we ensure that people have opportunities to succeed when they get out. Project Return fights for the successful new beginnings for people returning to our community after incarceration. Read more about what we do: https://lnkd.in/ekY4yrR2 #Incarceration #ReentryMatters #CriminalJustice

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🛠️ Need guidance on handling juvenile cases? Our new resources offer practical advice and proven strategies to improve outcomes for youth. Don’t miss out—download them now! https://bit.ly/3SK0Mm2 #JuvenileJustice #Prosecutors #YouthJustice

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Powerful new op-ed from Alex and Qilah on the urgency of passing comprehensive juvenile justice reform in Pennsylvania. Take a look. "HB 1381 wants to end direct file to adult court, put caps on juvenile probation, require a juvenile to consult with an attorney before waiving their rights, prohibit solitary confinement for children, get rid of most court fees for kids, end forced admissions for first-time offenders, provide more protections for children with disabilities, stop criminal prosecution of children under age 10, and expand the use of diversionary informal adjustments for low-level offenses. We may tell you 1,001 times how harmful the system is, but now we want people to know how this bill can help the system and our youth. Ending mistreatment of children who are more likely to already have life harder than other kids is the start of helping children who need it most. Our youth need everyone to have their best interests at heart like they would for their own children. No kid deserves to be treated this way. It’s time to see these reforms become law." https://lnkd.in/e8Uytr5F

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The statistic that over 50% of incarcerated women are survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault highlights a deeply troubling intersection of gender, trauma, and the criminal justice system. This data points to the fact that many women who end up in prison have experienced significant abuse, often starting at a very young age, and that their experiences of violence and trauma are both a contributing factor to their involvement in the criminal justice system and a reflection of the systemic failures to support and protect vulnerable individuals. These women often face severe trauma in childhood or early adulthood, and in many cases, they experience multiple forms of abuse—such as sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and neglect. Research has shown that women who have been abused are more likely to be involved in nonviolent offenses, such as theft, drug-related crimes, or prostitution, often as a means of escaping an abusive environment or because they were economically exploited by abusers. When survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault do not have access to appropriate social, legal, or psychological support, they may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, which can lead to further entanglement with the criminal justice system. The justice system, rather than offering help or rehabilitation, may punish survivors of abuse for actions that were taken out of desperation, self-defense, or as a consequence of trauma. As an organization passionate about supporting justice-impactedindividuals, we are calling for reform within the criminal justice system to better support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This includes trauma-informed policies that recognize the impact of abuse on women’s behavior and mental health. Moving toward a trauma-informed, rehabilitative approach would not only reduce the rates of female incarceration but also provide women with the healing and support they need to build safer, healthier lives for themselves and their families. #16daysofactivismagainstgenderbasedviolence #genderbasedviolenceprevention #secondchances #celsir

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Maryland has held on to antiquated parole policies that do little to protect public safety, resulting in thousands spending far too long in prison. JPI’s 2023 Safe at Home report assesses Maryland’s parole system and highlights evidence-based best practices. Key recommendations include: - Structured Decision-Making: Adopt standardized criteria to evaluate an individual’s future in the community - Transparency: Adopt transparent rules and procedures that reflect all interested parties’ input. - Utilizing Outside Resources: Work closely with other criminal legal and support agencies to develop parole release plans that support successful reentry. By adopting research-driven policies, Maryland can create a parole system that better serves everyone in our community. #JusticeReform #Reentry #ParoleReform Read our full report here! https://lnkd.in/eZHwtD_Y

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"Environmental justice is deeply intertwined with issues like mass incarceration, homelessness, and the unique challenges faced by trans individuals and others on the margins. In moments of crisis, how do we ensure the safety of incarcerated individuals, people in long-term care facilities, or those on probation who must notify authorities before leaving?" - Dominique Morgan, Program Director of the Fund for Trans Generations Our grantee partners are leading work that answers this question. They are combating the devastating impacts of #ClimateChange not only in their #ClimateDisaster response, but in their year-round work to provide communities with housing, health, and autonomy in their own relationships to the climate and land. Learn more about their transformative efforts and our call to action for philanthropy at the link. https://lnkd.in/gTATbwGv #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice #RacialEquity #HurricaneMilton #HurricaneHelene

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What does it look like to build community solutions to youth policing and incarceration? As youth incarceration declines across the U.S. (down 75% between 2000 and 2022, according to a new report from our partners at The Sentencing Project), communities are finding healing ways to transform spaces previously held by carceral institutions—from affordable housing to health & wellness centers and more. https://lnkd.in/eGKVyXhk

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Missed our recent ADA Audio Conference Series webinar? No worries! You can now catch with the archived session, "Opioid Use Disorder and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Enforcement Actions by the Department of Justice." In this session, members of the Civil Rights Unit from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan discuss how the ADA has been applied to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or those participating in treatment programs. They also outline the basic investigative process, including how to file a complaint, before highlighting recent enforcement actions taken by the Department and the policy changes that resulted from those actions. Watch the archived session now: https://bit.ly/4doMzCq Watch other archived videos from ADA Audio Conference Series at: https://bit.ly/3xVodB7 #OpioidUseDisorder #CivilRights #JusticeDepartment #Webinar #DisabilityRights

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Discover impactful strategies for initiating positive change in social and criminal justice agencies. This article highlights the need for reform, community involvement, and innovative solutions to create a fairer system for all. Let's work together to build a justice system that reflects our values and supports our communities! Read more: https://lnkd.in/dgpbDYvF #JusticeReform #SocialChange #CriminalJustice #CommunityEngagement #HellenicNews

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