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CRIME SURVIVORS LEAD THE MOVEMENT FOR A NEW APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

First-Ever Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington Unites Thousands to Share Experiences and Urge Lawmakers to Enact Meaningful Reforms.

In crime and public safety debates, policy makers and politicians, and media pundits routinely disregard the experiences, perspectives, and needs of survivors and people with records. But the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) community knows that those of us closest to the problem are closest to the solution.

“As survivors, we are treated horribly at every turn — whether it’s how we’re treated during the court process, or by law enforcement, or our lack of access to services in our communities,” says Bernice, who lost her son to gun violence

“[Law enforcement officers] never got a sworn statement from my perpetrator. The process made me feel unimportant because I was the one who always had to reach out,” says Tamara, a sexual assault survivor.

“If I had received the help I needed, I wouldn’t have engaged in the behavior that led to incarceration,” says Joaquin, who grew up in an abusive environment and was arrested at 19.

These are a few examples of the kinds of experiences that our members shared at the Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington,

Before the Alliance for Safety and Justice’s landmark studies, research capturing the experiences of crime survivors, victim’s loved ones, and people with records was virtually non-existent. Equipped with this critical data, our community, allies, and partners can more effectively advocate for a new approach to public safety.

which took place on September 23-24, 2024 — amplifying the voices of survivors like Tamara, Bernice, and Joaquin. Turning their pain into power, crime survivors are helping to propel a new victims’ rights movement and replace security for some with safety for all.

With more than 500,000 Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice and TimeDone members at the forefront, we have won more than 100 criminal justice and public safety policy reforms. These smart, evidence-based solutions have reduced incarceration, expanded access to healing and support for survivors and victims’ loved ones, unlocked economic opportunities for people with records, and kept communities safe. With your support, we will continue the fight!

When the most harmed are the least helped, the system is broken. You can help us fix it with your gift today. Thank you! 

POLICY AND ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT

ASJ Members Help Advance Key Public Safety Reforms

At Alliance for Safety and Justice, we advance transformative state and federal policy reforms. Working in some of the states with the biggest criminal justice systems, we combine policy expertise with grassroots organizing, communications, and research to change public safety and criminal justice laws, reallocate budgets, and shift priorities. This year, we introduced more than 40 proposals, and as legislative sessions resume this fall, we are ready to build on crucial 2024 advances, including:

Reducing excessive prison terms and expanding access to education and vocational programs in state prisons: In Michigan and Pennsylvania, we introduced bills that would make evidence-based programs available to people incarcerated in state prisons, allowing them to develop skills and earn time off their sentences.

Similar programs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and other states have cut recidivism by an average of 14.8%.

Reforming extreme probation policies: In Ohio and Texas, we’re advancing policies to reduce excessively long probation terms and the number of

people returning to prison for technical violations, like missing a meeting.

Extreme probation policies keep people locked up and locked out of opportunities to rebuild their lives while doing little to improve public safety.

Removing barriers for people with old records:

People with old records face more than 40,000 legal restrictions on jobs, housing, and more. In California, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas, we’re advancing policies to allow people to seal old legal records, removing barriers to success for millions. And, earlier this year, thanks to our advocacy, Arizona’s legislature enacted a law that expands access to occupational licenses for those with old, nonserious records — and providing more pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

Research shows that having a job improves public safety, helps communities thrive, strengthens families, and decreases recidivism. 

HEAL THE VOTE FROM COAST TO COAST

Building Political Power through Voter Engagement and Constituency-Building

Those of us who experience the justice system’s worst harms are the least heard in debates on public safety policy. Politicians routinely exploit crime survivors’ stories to promote tough-on-crime policies, but our research shows that most survivors want fewer people in prison and more community-based investments to stop cycles of crime, trauma, and violence. Many voters also prefer this approach.

That’s why over the next month, we will hold town halls, share resources, and distribute our Heal the Vote voter guide, with a goal to mobilize 100,000 survivors to cast their ballots.

Your support is essential in these last crucial weeks before Election Day, so please make your gift today. Thank you — and don’t forget to Heal the Vote. 

PEOPLE WITH RECORDS

“ WE BELIEVE IN JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR EVERYBODY”

Allilance for Safety and Justice Member and Advocate Helps Crime Survivors and People with Records Rebuild TheirLives

9 out of 10 people with a record (91%) have been a victim of a crime, compared to less than half of people who do not have a record (44%)

VICTIMS’ LOVED ONES

55%+ had difficulty with work or school

25% lost a job or were demoted for taking time off 7% who lost a loved one to homicide reported receiving victim services

1624 Franklin Street, 11th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 allianceforsafetyandjustice.org

Brenda Glass is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. She is also a crime survivor who escaped the cycle of trauma and violence. In 2017, she founded the Brenda Glass Multipurpose Trauma Center in Cleveland, OH. Since the center’s inception, Brenda has helped hundreds of survivors and people with records get therapy, find jobs, and obtain stable housing.

As a member of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, one of the Alliance for Safety and Justice’s flagship programs, Brenda advocates for a new approach to public safety in Ohio, which includes allocating more public funding to programs like Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs).

TRCs are one-stop centers to support survivors of violent crime through the recovery process and help stop cycles of harm. They offer a range of services, including case management, therapy, and crisis intervention. Since we initiated groundbreaking efforts to replicate this model, the number of TRCs has grown from one to more than 52 in 12 states.

Trauma Recovery Centers are the most needed resource of our community,” Brenda said. “Reason being is that we are willing to work with ALL people — not just certain people with certain types of crime. We believe in justice and healing for EVERYBODY.”

With your next gift today, you can help advocates like Brenda and Alliance for Safety and Justice champion TRCs and support all our work. Thank you! 

Alliance for Safety and Justice is building a future in which all communities are Just Safe. We are a multi-state organization that aims to replace over-incarceration with new safety priorities rooted in crime prevention, community health, re-entry support, and trauma recovery. We partner with crime survivors, people with records, lawmakers, and community leaders to advance state reform through research, coalition building, education, and advocacy.

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