Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence – responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism.
Prioritizing the Community: Funding Alternatives to Reduce Reliance on the Justice System in Oakland
The city of Oakland is becoming a leading model for hospital- and community-based violence intervention programs. These programs work with communities most harmed by violence, providing solutions that rely on resources and support rather than law enforcement and incarceration.
Baltimore takes step toward becoming ‘trauma-responsive city’
The Baltimore City Council hopes to form a “Trauma-Informed Care Task Force,” putting the city farther down the path to becoming a trauma-responsive city. Through this task force, the city seeks to normalize discussions about trauma and assist young people who must grapple with it in their daily lives.
Shelby County Schools counselor writes children’s book hoping to help students cope with gun violence
During the first three quarters of 2019, 133 people died from gun violence in Memphis, Tennessee. After seeing the trauma her students experienced in the wake of such violence, one school counselor wrote a book to help children cope with losing their loved ones.
Maryland should follow D.C.’s lead on youth rehabilitation
Washington, DC, is using different approaches to help system-involved young people. One is called the Young Men Emerging Unit, which “provides trauma-informed treatment and healing, counseling, restorative justice practices and workforce preparation.” The goal is to address the needs of those in the criminal justice system rather than just punishing them.
How Hospitals Are Helping to Reduce Gun Violence
Hospital-based violence interventions are gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional approaches to ending community violence, which typically rely on police and punishment. These incredible programs work with survivors of gun violence to ensure that they have the social and emotional support needed to heal and prevent retaliatory violence.
