Open Menu We work to create a fair, effective, and humane justice system by performing original research and helping launch reforms around the world. MORE ABOUT US FEATURED Be a Changemaker: Join us Giving Tuesday For 25 years, we have been transforming justice. This year, you’ll meet 25 Changemakers in Action—the thinkers, doers, and connecters—who are working with communities to co-create new approaches to reduce reliance on the legal system and build thriving neighborhoods. Be a Changemaker with us this Giving Tuesday! PUBLICATION Supervised Release: A Proven Alternative to Bail Supervised Release is as effective as bail at ensuring people make their court appearances, sparing them the documented harms of pretrial detention and allowing them to receive supportive services in their community. This fact sheet of results from the first five years of the program finds its outcomes remain stable, despite its expansion last year to cover a larger, more charge-diverse population. PUBLICATION Learning from Crisis: Remote Justice in Criminal Courts With the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, courts across the country shifted urgently to remote, rather than in-person, operations. It amounted to an unprecedented large-scale experiment. As courts prepare for a post-pandemic future, we looked in depth at both the harms of remote justice and at which practices might be worth continuing, with the overall goal of promoting fairness and equity. PUBLICATION Closing Rikers Island: A Roadmap for Reducing Jail in New York City New York City's promise to shutter its notorious Rikers Island jail complex hinges on reducing the number of people in city jails—the overwhelming majority held awaiting trial. This new report from the Independent Commission that called for Rikers' closure in 2017 and the Center for Court Innovation lays out a series of concrete, data-driven strategies to produce sizable jail reductions while prioritizing public safety. ANNOUNCEMENT The Crisis on Rikers: The Time for Action is Now The Center for Court Innovation welcomes the attention New York leaders are giving Rikers Island in the wake of the inexcusable and preventable deaths that have occurred there this year. Now is the time for swift and decisive action to prevent more harm and commit to the policies that will close the jails on Rikers Island forever. AUDIO The Question of Dirty Work Eyal Press contends there are entire areas of life we've delegated to "dirty workers"—functions we've declared necessary, but that we strive to keep hidden. In his new book, Press points to the transformation of jails and prisons into the country's largest mental health institutions. He calls the people struggling to offer treatment in those settings "dirty workers"—not because their work isn't noble, but because collectively we've put them in a situation where it's impossible to practice ethical care. Areas of Focus Rethinking Incarceration Engaging Communities Aiding Survivors Preventing Crime Improving Decision-making Advancing Fairness Strengthening Families Research. Development. Justice. Reform. Footer menu Contact Expert Assistance Research Accessibility Statement This website is funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). © 2021 Center for Court Innovation Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter Email Address Social Navigation Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram RSS Be a changemaker this Giving Tuesday Your donation will transform justice this Nov 30. DONATE TODAY