Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and JustLeadershipUSA, grantees, released a report that maps strategies to advance racial equity in the criminal justice system. To create the report’s framework, they brought together people from all parts of the justice system as well as community members, including people with lived experience, their families, and survivors of crime.
The report identifies three categories of action: coordinate across stakeholders and communities; investment to empower communities and systems to pursue equity; and connect decisions to desired outcomes for the community. Staffing, funding, and time are common constraints that prevent reform, and the report calls for investment in systems to enable action. Laurie Garduque, MacArthur’s Director of Criminal Justice, noted the central importance of authentic community engagement as cities and counties work to advance community safety and well-being.
