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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Akiana Smith, Director of Community + Court Peer Navigation at Women's Community Justice Association (WCJA)
7:07:51
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Akiana Smith, representing the Women's Community Justice Association (WCJA), testified about the importance of court peer navigation for justice-impacted women and gender-expansive individuals. She emphasized the need for community-based alternatives to incarceration and urged the council to prioritize funding for programs supporting justice-impacted individuals.
- WCJA advocates for ending the incarceration of women and gender-expansive people
- Court peer navigation provides crucial guidance and moral support for those navigating the criminal legal system
- Smith called for a shift in investment from punitive systems to community-based solutions prioritizing care
Akiana Smith
7:07:51
Good afternoon.
7:07:53
As we recognize International Women's Month, we must acknowledge the resilience and strength of women and gender expansive in individuals who have been directly impacted by criminal legal system.
7:08:03
My name is Akianna Smith, and I serve as the director of community and court navigation at the Women's Community Justice Association, WCJA, home to the Beyond Rosies campaign.
7:08:13
Our work is rooted in the mission of ending the incarceration of women and gender expansive people in advancing gender responsive community based alternatives to incarceration.
7:08:22
One of the most critical resources for justice impacted individuals is court peer navigation.
7:08:27
Having a dedicated court peer navigator, exclusively a woman or gender expansive individuals, provides not only practical guidance but also a crucial source of moral support for those navigating the complexities of our criminal legal system.
7:08:40
The challenges of the court proceedings' reentry and detainment are deeply traumatic, and peer navigation offers a vital bridge between individuals, their legal representation, and community resources.
7:08:51
At WCJA, we recognize that true just justice requires a shift in investment from cultural systems to community based solutions that prioritize care over punishment.
7:09:01
Through our initiatives, including the court peer navigation program, we advocate for the redistribution of funding to ensure that justice impacted women and gender expansive individuals receive the support they need rather than just being left to navigate the system alone.
7:09:14
Investing in these resources is not just a necessity.
7:09:17
It's a moral imperative.
7:09:18
I urge this body to prioritize funding for programs that provide direct support and guidance for justice impacted individuals, ensuring that no one has to face the system without the resources they deserve.
7:09:29
Thank you.