Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Amanda Berman, Senior Director of Court Reform at Center for Justice Innovation
6:12:31
ยท
140 sec
Amanda Berman from the Center for Justice Innovation testified about their efforts to make city streets safer and the justice system more fair, effective, and equitable. She highlighted three initiatives: the Driver Accountability Program, Circles for Safe Streets, and the Bronx DWI initiative, for which they are seeking support from the council in the upcoming fiscal year.
- The Driver Accountability Program has served over 7,000 drivers and shown reductions in recidivism in Brooklyn and Staten Island.
- Circles for Safe Streets uses a restorative justice model to address crashes resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
- The Bronx DWI initiative provides screening and assessments for individuals charged with driving while intoxicated in Brooklyn criminal court.
Amanda Berman
6:12:31
Good afternoon, Chair Brooks Powers, an esteemed committee staff.
6:12:34
My name is Amanda Berman.
6:12:36
I'm the senior director of court reform at the Center for Justice Innovation.
6:12:40
I'm here today to speak about our efforts to make our city streets safer, our city streets safer and our justice system more fair and effective and equitable.
6:12:50
And in particular, I want to highlight three initiatives for which we are seeking support council in the upcoming fiscal year.
6:12:58
First, our driver accountability program, which is a diversion program for people arrested on low level offenses that are vehicular in nature.
6:13:07
Thanks to the support of council, we have served over 7,000 drivers throughout New York City over the past decade.
6:13:15
The program encourages behavior change through self reflection and collective norm setting through facilitated group discussions instead of relying on punitive responses such as jail or fines.
6:13:27
I'm proud to report that a recent evaluation of our program that was published just a couple months ago in Brooklyn and Staten Island found reduction in recidivism for these drivers in Brooklyn and a significant reduction in Staten Island as well.
6:13:44
Second initiative we launched in 2022 called Circles for Safe Streets, which was an expansion of our driver accountability program in partnership with Families for Safe Streets.
6:13:57
This program addresses crashes that result in serious injuries or fatalities using a restorative justice model that brings together drivers and victims.
6:14:06
Through the process, victims have an opportunity to tell the driver about the impact of their actions and to hear the driver take accountability for the harm they've caused.
6:14:16
The last initiative I want to highlight is our Bronx DWI initiative, which provides screening and assessments for individuals charged with driving while intoxicated in Brooklyn criminal court.
6:14:28
These are folks who might be in need of alcohol and substance use treatment, and they are mandated.
6:14:33
Can I just have a moment to conclude, chair?
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
6:14:36
If you could wrap up please.
Amanda Berman
6:14:37
Okay.
6:14:38
These three initiatives collectively play a critical role in a holistic approach to street safety that reduces the harms caused on our roads as well as those caused by the systems that respond.
6:14:50
Thank you for the opportunity.