The Center for Justice Innovation, originally called the Center for Court Innovation, is a community organization that began with an initial focus on court-based criminal-justice policy programs but has expanded to include additional community programs for neighborhood safety and housing resources. Cecily Carson, the president of the left-of-center Carson Family Charitable Trust is a board member.

History

Created in 1993, the Center for Justice Innovation was originally named the Center for Court Innovation. The Center initially expanded on the work of the Midtown Community Court, a court offering alternatives to incarceration for low-level offenders. In 2023, the organization rebranded and became the Center for Justice Innovation to reflect the expansion of offerings beyond court-based programs. ¹

Activities

The Center for Justice Innovation claims to “[touch] all stages of the justice system” to “reduce the need for justice system involvement” by attempting to identify and resolve why people enter the criminal and civil legal systems. The Center engages with local communities through a variety of collaborative programs such as court-based programs as well as community safety and housing programs. ¹

The Center offers over 30 different programs. In addition to housing resources and neighborhood safety programs across the five New York boroughs, programs include the Bronx Child Trauma Support program, assisting children exposed to violent crimes; the Brooklyn Mental Health Court program, offering defendants with mental health diagnoses treatment in place of imprisonment; and the Save Our Streets program, focusing on ending neighborhood gun violence. ²

Finances

In 2022, the Center claimed to receive 69 percent of its funding from New York City, 10 percent from “Private and Fee for Service,” 9 percent from New York State, 8 percent from the federal government, and 4 percent from “Other Government” funding. ³ According to the organization’s tax returns for 2021, the Center awarded over $3.7 million in grants and awarded more than $314,000 to Elite Learners, Inc., a community organization in Brooklyn; ⁴ over $740,000 to the Fund for the City of New York; $50,000 to Legal Services NYC; and more than $1.6 million to the Fortune Society, ⁵ an organization with over $23 million in assets working to support prisoner reentry from incarceration. ⁶

Leadership

Courtney Bryan is the executive director of the Center for Justice Innovation. She worked for the Center after college before attending law school at Temple University School of Law. After law school, she worked at the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn and the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women in Philadelphia. Before rejoining the Center, she worked at the JP Morgan Chase & Co. Foundation. ⁷

Eric Lee, the founder of Bennett Midland LLC, is a member of the Center’s board. Lee’s previous experience includes working as a policy advisor to former New York City Mayor and unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg. Lee also sits on the board for the Center for an Urban Future. ⁸ Cecily Carson, the president of the left-of-center Carson Family Charitable Trust and vice chair of the Robin Hood Foundation, is also a board member. ⁹

1. “About.” Center for Justice Innovation. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.innovatingjustice.org/about.
2. “Programs.” Center for Justice Innovation. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.innovatingjustice.org/programs.
3. “Annual Report: 2022.” Center for Justice Innovation. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.innovatingjustice.org/annual-report/2022.
4. Elite Learners, Inc. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.elitelearners.org/.
5. Justice Innovation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2022/852/810/2022-852810883-202311359349320561-9.pdf?_gl=1*yeyll2*_ga*MzU1MjM5MzE5LjE2OTA5MjYzMjQ.*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY5MzE1ODU1MS45LjEuMTY5MzE1ODY0My41OS4wLjA.
6. The Fortune Society. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://fortunesociety.org/.
7. “Courtney Bryan.” Center for Justice Innovation. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.innovatingjustice.org/about/people/courtney-bryan
8. “Eric Lee.” Center for Justice Innovation. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.innovatingjustice.org/about/people/eric-lee-0.
9. “Cecily M. Carson.” Center for Justice Innovation. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.innovatingjustice.org/about/people/cecily-m-carson.