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The Unlikely Rise of Restorative Justice in a Conservative Upstate New York County

Mark Obbie

December 29, 2015 |

Slate |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Batavia, New York

In a conservative upstate town in New York, an early advocate of what is now known as restorative justice pioneered the idea of finding alternatives to incarceration that address root causes of crimes and offer victims larger roles in the process. He did this by engaging different people across law enforcement, the community and social services. That built broad support, but the programs have struggled to maintain these innovations or make them permanent after the departure of the visionary founder.

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Drug may give those leaving jail a better shot at recovery

Felice J. Freyer

December 09, 2015 |

The Boston Globe |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Barnstable, Massachusetts

An epidemic of opioid use in Massachusetts resulted in more than 1,200 fatal overdoses last year. Authorities turned to Vivitrol injections, which make a drug-induced high impossible, to cut rates of both addiction and incarceration.

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Decriminalizing Drugs: When Treatment Replaces Prison

Tina Rosenberg

December 08, 2015 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Portugal, Lisbon

Portugal has gone perhaps the farthest in decriminalizing drug use. It hasn't stopped drug usage, but it has reduced deaths, the spread of H.I.V., drug crime, and imprisonment.

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Underage drinking treatment evolves with better understanding

Weston Morrow

November 08, 2015 |

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Anchorage, Alaska

During the last 12 years, the number of minors in Alaska sentenced to time in correctional facilities because of drug or alcohol charges has been steadily reduced, from 730 in 2003 to 395 in 2014. A big contributing factor behind that improvement has come with the department’s progress in, firstly, assessing what kids need treatment and, secondly, getting them into the right treatment programs.

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Heroin treatment, not jail, is aim of new Fayetteville initiative

Greg Barnes

October 24, 2015 |

Fayetteville Observer |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Fayetteville, North Carolina

The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion initiative is being implemented in cities across the U.S. Instead of arresting people accused of low-level drug crimes, the offenders are offered drug treatment, job training, mental health counseling, and other services.

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The Case for Gun Courts

Alex Yablon

September 24, 2015 |

The Trace |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Rochester, New York

Cities in the U.S. have decreased recidivism through specialized courts for firearm offenders. These efforts, however, have not helped overall gun violence, so university research is suggesting new tactics.

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How Soldier On hired 92 formerly homeless veterans

Aaron Brummer

September 04, 2015 |

The Ithaca Voice |

Video |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Ithaca, New York

Solider On is an organization that serves homeless veterans in 18 counties across central New York. Of their 180 employees, 92 used to be homeless themselves and another 15 are veterans. They travel everywhere to find people who need help and then work with them to get anything they need, such as housing or employment. Some participants testify to how much the program has changed their lives.

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A town in Massachusetts decided to stop arresting drug users. 2 months later, here's how it's going.

Eric March

August 18, 2015 |

Upworthy |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Gloucester, Massachusetts

In Gloucester Mass. an epidemic of Heroin use called for innovate solutions. This piece looks at the aftermath of a new initiative by police in which they refer drug arrests to rehab, rather than charging users.

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A Simple Fix for Drunken Driving

Keith Humphreys

August 14, 2015 |

Wall Street Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, South Dakota

South Dakota’s “24/7 Sobriety” initiative breathalyzers tens of thousands of people every day in an effort to curb drunk driving. Rather than legislation that takes penalizes offenders by taking away their license, the state addresses the behavioral issue instead. In counties that use the “24/7 Sobriety,” they’ve seen a 12% decrease in repeat drunken-driving arrests.

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Putting Fewer Innocents Behind Bars

Tina Rosenberg

July 03, 2015 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Pre-trial detention for non-risk offenders has proven to be socially harmful, costly, and actually increases the crime rate. The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative is a national program that aims to decrease pre-trial detentions based upon individual merit, and provides ways that a newly released offender can be surveilled, have mentoring, and receive treatment for mental health or substance abuse. The initiative has effectively helped to keep low-level offenders out of jail.

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