District Attorneys may be the most important players in the criminal justice system. Often termed the “gate-keepers of the system,” they decide who gets charged and with what. A culture of associating incarceration with public safety has led to a ballooning of our jail population and increased racial inequity. Reform-minded District Attorneys around the country have been introducing reforms to address this.
Building on the work of his late successor District Attorney Ken Thompson, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez has already implemented many innovations that are considered national models. For example, he led the charge in eliminating cash bail for certain offenses, inspiring other District Attorneys in New York City to do the same. Philanthropy New York’s Justice Reform Working Group invites you to a conversation with DA Gonzalez on his latest approach to reform: the Justice 2020 Initiative.
Through Justice 2020, DA Gonzalez has convened over 60 criminal justice experts, reformers and community leaders to advise on reforms and innovative approaches to strengthen Brooklyn’s criminal justice system and its communities. The Justice 2020 Initiative will lay out reforms to reduce racial disparities, increase transparency, and improve public safety in Brooklyn by 2020. This funder-only event will be a first-hand look into these recommendations before they are released publicly.
Explore:
- Recommendations laid out in the Justice 2020 Initiative
- How recommendations will address racial disparity and needs of mental health and immigrant community
- Learnings from convening diverse stakeholders to create an aligned reform agenda
- How recommendations will impact the closing of Rikers Island jail facility
- How District Attorney Gonzalez plans to scale innovations and reform, both locally within New York and nationally
- Opportunities for philanthropy to move the reform agenda forward
Presenters
- District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office
- Kirsten Levingston (moderator), Director, Racial Justice Program, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
Designed for
All interested funders.
Registration
2:45 - 3:00 PM Check-in
3:00 - 5:00 PM Program
Registration is required by April 9.
Members: To register yourself and/or a colleague at your organization, please log in and click the Register Now link above. (no fee)
Non-Member Funders: Please email register@philanthropynewyork.org ($150 fee)
Please note: To ensure fairness among our members, we reserve the right to limit the number of attendees per organization for select professional development programs.
Please email register@philanthropynewyork.org with any questions.