Recently I spoke to Wanda Moore, an Assistant Attorney General in New Jersey and the Director of the Office of Community Justice, about her work to reduce trauma and violence through positive youth development programs, community-based crime prevention strategies, and system wide change. Ms. Moore leads cutting-edge, place-based solutions work in several cities in New…
The Public Welfare Foundation features EJUSA’s vision for a justice system that heals in its new publication, “From Heartbreak to Healing – the Journey of Crime Survivors.” “We believe the justice system needs to serve all the constituencies impacted by crime: survivors, those who commit crimes, and communities. That means providing healing for survivors, accountability…
There is an assumption that justice means punishment for someone who has done something wrong: a crime happens, law enforcement finds out who did it, the courts hand down a sentence, and the crime victim is healed. But we know from our work with crime survivors over the last decade that the reality is much…
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…
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…
EJUSA staff were at the White House last week with health and violence experts, discussing the national movement to frame and address violence as a public health issue. Executive Director Shari Silberstein, Director of the Trauma Advocacy Initiative Fatimah Loren Muhammad, and Director of Campaigns and Strategy Laura Porter (pictured with Roy Austin, Deputy Assistant…
EJUSA is thrilled to be featured in a new publication, “A Handbook for Jewish Communities Fighting Mass Incarceration,” by the Jewish human rights organization, T’ruah. The Handbook is a comprehensive guide for action from a Jewish perspective. It contains background information on various aspects of mass incarceration, from what happens when police stop people on the streets, to…
“Recommended this week” features highlights from the past week in news about the death penalty, crime survivors, and trauma-informed responses to crime. Meet the red-state conservatives fighting to abolish the death penalty, The Washington Post In college, Senator Colby Coash celebrated at a tailgate party outside of a prison during an execution. Now he’s part of the growing…
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm NYC Bar Association, 42 West 44th St, NYC Sponsored by the New York City Bar Association’s Committees on Capital Punishment and the Military Affairs & Justice Although it is difficult to determine a precise number, it is estimated that approximately ten percent of the America’s 3000 Death Row…
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…