Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence – responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism.
The Racial Trauma of Police-Involved Shootings, Psychology Benefits Society
Following the police shooting of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, many are grief-stricken and enraged in communities across the country. The impact of the deaths of unarmed black men and women raises larger questions about the impact of police shootings on racial trauma. This article links race-based trauma to experiences of racial injustice. These wounds persist and have lasting impact, which highlights the need for responses that promote individual and social healing for surviving families as well as the community.
‘Trauma Teams’ To Help Boston Residents In Higher Crime Areas Cope In Wake Of Violence, WBUR
A neighborhood health clinic in Boston is partnering with a community-based organization to help those suffering in the aftermath of homicides and other violence. They connect survivors and their families with trauma services to prevent future violence and expand access to healing support within the community.
A New Approach To Helping Men Of Color Heal After A Violent Incident, NPR’s Code Switch
Researchers are embarking on a study that looks at the trauma suffered by black and Latino men who are victims of violence and how they deal with such trauma. Those conducting the study believe that interventions to help those harmed by violence heal could reduce the likelihood that they engage in future violence. Researchers are working collaboratively on the project with impacted communities of black and Latino men, who will help with conducting interviews and analyzing data.
Crime Hotspots Need Investments, Not Just Policing, The Marshall Project
Micro-targeting hotspots of violence within neighborhoods has become a popular tool among law enforcement to identify and incarcerate those who commit acts of harm. However, if one truly understands the drivers of violence and listens to community members in those hotspots, one finds that people who want to live lives of safety and dignity with real opportunities for economic and social advancement. Investment in these opportunities not only reduce crime, but support community values.
Don’t Jail Crime Victims for Not Testifying, The New York Times
An essay posthumously published by a survivor about the wounds she suffered in a crime almost four years before. She reminds us that victims and survivors deserve healing and support in the justice system without being re-traumatized in the process.
“Did your father die?” For a 2nd grader, gunfire, lockdowns, then the worst violence of all, The Washington Post
In Tyshaun’s neighborhood, and so many others throughout the country, violence shapes almost every aspect of daily life. It is a reminder that if we are to solve the problem of violence in communities, we must listen to those most impacted by violence.
