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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Amanda Berman, Senior Director of Court Reform Programs at Center for Justice Innovation
5:24:03
ยท
3 min
Amanda Berman from the Center for Justice Innovation testified about their organization's work in developing and implementing creative approaches to public safety across the justice system spectrum. She highlighted the effectiveness of community-driven solutions and requested support for specific programs and initiatives.
- Emphasized the need for sustained investment in ATI programs, particularly the Brooklyn Mental Health Court, which has seen a doubling of its caseload without accompanying funds
- Requested funding for a new initiative called Empower Her to support female-identifying participants in the justice system
- Sought funding to sustain diversion programs like Project Reset, driver accountability, and Bronx DWI initiatives
Amanda Berman
5:24:03
Good afternoon deputy speaker Ayala and committee staff.
5:24:07
My name is Amanda Berman.
5:24:08
I'm the senior director with our court reform programs at the Center for Justice Innovation.
5:24:14
At our organization, we develop and implement creative approaches to public safety across our city and across the entire spectrum of justice system involvement, from community based prevention efforts to pre arraignment diversion, pretrial supervision, and alternatives to incarceration.
5:24:33
But not only do we provide these services, we also evaluate them to identify what works and to share best practices across the field.
5:24:41
So after nearly three decades of doing this work in court and community, we know what works.
5:24:48
And it is also what all of my esteemed colleagues up here have already shared who are in this work beside us.
5:24:56
Achieving true safety requires sustained investment in community driven solutions that are focused on prevention and fair intervention.
5:25:05
For the upcoming fiscal year, we're seeking support in response to a growing need in the following areas.
5:25:12
First, our ATI programs continue to connect individuals to the vital resources that they need to reduce recidivism and support reintegration and also save taxpayer dollars.
5:25:25
These programs also play a critical role in our collective goal of closing down Rikers Island.
5:25:31
I want to point for a moment specifically to our Brooklyn Mental Health Court.
5:25:35
That program provides rigorous treatment and monitoring to individuals who are living with serious mental illness who are facing felony charges and but for our program would often be jail or prison bound.
5:25:47
It is precisely the population that we've been talking about for so long who are being failed by our jail system but can be safely monitored and serviced in the community if the right resources are in place.
5:26:03
In our program we are currently managing a caseload that has doubled if I may, I don't have much more, thank you.
5:26:11
It has doubled in the last four years without the accompanying funds.
5:26:14
Funds are urgently needed in order to hire more staff to bring down caseloads, better serve our participants, and also to reduce the backlog of people who are sitting on Rikers Island waiting to be evaluated and accepted into our program.
5:26:30
Second, our programs that are addressing gender based violence as we know are especially vulnerable during these times, our programs have seen a rise in female identifying participants in the justice system.
5:26:42
And to meet those needs, we're hoping to develop a new initiative within our Queens and Staten Island sites called Empower Her, which will be designed to provide targeted support for that population.
5:26:55
Lastly, we seek funding to sustain our diversion programs that work to provide accountability while also reducing the justice system's footprint.
5:27:04
And these include citywide initiatives like Project Reset, driver accountability, and our Bronx DWI initiatives, all of which are a critical part of bringing restorative solutions into the court system and reducing financial barriers.
5:27:18
Thank you so much for your time and your indulgence, and I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Diana Ayala
5:27:22
Thank you.