Author: Shari Silberstein

Since 2000, Shari Silberstein has dedicated her career to transforming the justice system from one that harms to one that heals. Under her leadership, and using campaign strategies she helped develop, Equal Justice USA has helped end the death penalty in nine states, built first-of-its-kind conservative and evangelical coalitions for justice reform, secured millions in state funding for healing services to families of murder victims, launched an innovative model for training and dialogue between police and communities on trauma and race equity, and strengthened dozens of local organizations across the nation working for justice, violence reduction, and healing. Shari has been a national voice in helping to break down the silos between criminal justice reformers and crime survivor advocates. Her expertise has been a source in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, and Harper’s Magazine, and she has written op-eds for an array of media outlets, including Fox News, the Marshall Project, and U.S. News and World Report. Shari has a bachelor's degree in film from New York University and a master's degree in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

That hopeful place

Sometimes it’s hard to stay hopeful. There are days when it feels like humanity is lost, that hate and racism and violence are everywhere. Solutions feel too small, and far away. These are the times when I am most grateful for your partnership. I don’t give up because I know you won’t either. You’ve been… Continue reading That hopeful place

Honoring lives lost to violence

Today is the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. To all of our supporters who have lost a loved one to homicide, we are thinking about you today. We honor your loved ones and their beautiful, all-too-short lives. We honor lives lost to community violence, police violence, family violence, gun violence, and all forms… Continue reading Honoring lives lost to violence

Building the movement to disrupt the cycle of violence

Shortly after last month’s tragic mass shooting in Orlando, the American Medical Association declared gun violence a public health issue. EJUSA believes that this powerful frame applies to all violence. Public health models prioritize prevention, harm reduction, as well as trauma treatment. By completely changing the narrative on violence, its causes, and its solutions, we… Continue reading Building the movement to disrupt the cycle of violence

The last 72 hours: a message from EJUSA Executive Director Shari Silberstein

The events of the last 72 hours have left us reeling. So much carnage, so much fear. Justice, broken down into bite sized pieces, can sometimes feel so close within reach. The death penalty stopped here, more healing services there. And then we are confronted with these big moments that remind us how inadequate bite-sized… Continue reading The last 72 hours: a message from EJUSA Executive Director Shari Silberstein

Sign on for families of homicide victims

Dawn Mancarella, a member of EJUSA’s Crime Survivor Network, put out a special appeal today for family members of murder victims to sign on to suspend use of the death penalty in a key Florida county. If you’ve lost a family member to murder, read Dawn’s letter below and consider taking action. If you know of… Continue reading Sign on for families of homicide victims

Increasing access to help for crime survivors – where it’s most needed

This week is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The theme this year is Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope., which highlights the need for early intervention and victims services that build trust with crime survivors, and creates hope that healing is possible. We’ve been working with crime survivors for over 10 years. And what we’ve… Continue reading Increasing access to help for crime survivors – where it’s most needed

Expanding partnerships between public health and justice transformation

EJUSA recently secured its first-ever partnership with a health foundation – signaling a new leap forward in efforts to link public health and criminal justice. There has been a lot of national discussion about the need to treat violence as a public health issue, or to use a public health approach to justice reform. But… Continue reading Expanding partnerships between public health and justice transformation

Trust Not Trauma – Policing and Public Health

An important new report looks at the relationship between policing practices and public health. Stress on the Streets (SOS): Race, Policing, Health, and Increasing Trust, not Trauma, released last month by Human Impact Partners, the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative analyzed police practices in two cities – Cincinnati and Akron. “The… Continue reading Trust Not Trauma – Policing and Public Health

Urgent: Tell Congress not to cut victims services

We need your urgent action to help save critical funding for victims services. Every year, Congress sets a level of spending from a fund known as VOCA. These are not tax dollars. Many of these funds go to community groups to support vital services like trauma intervention and counseling for people who have been harmed by… Continue reading Urgent: Tell Congress not to cut victims services