New PSJ Publication Challenges False Choice between Crime Victims’ Needs and Corrections Reform

New PSJ Publication Challenges False Choice between Crime Victims’ Needs and Corrections Reform

In a bold call to public safety stakeholders, Partnership for Safety and Justice is releasing a new publication, Moving Beyond Sides: The Power and Potential of a New Public Safety Policy Paradigm.

The concept paper is designed to foster dialogue and movement toward proactive collaboration between crime survivor advocates and criminal justice reform advocates who have a shared stake in creating a system focused on the policies best equipped to create safe and healthy communities.

A core barrier in fixing America’s failing criminal justice system is a deep divide among stakeholders that has locked up policy conversations. There is a long history of both real and perceived tensions between criminal justice groups focused on addressing the problems with mass incarceration and advocates focused on strengthening crime victims’ assistance and rights.

Moving Beyond Sides suggests the status quo is benefiting no one and discusses areas of common ground. The paper puts the growth of the victim assistance field in an important context while dispelling the myth that tough on crime oriented victim advocates represent the perspectives of the majority of people most impacted by crime and violence.

The paper thoughtfully challenges each field to develop a more holistic vision for change. The research about the most effective ways to reduce crime is clear. We can simultaneously reduce our over-reliance on incarceration, improve public safety outcomes, and strengthen the support systems and services for people harmed by crime. We need to embrace a new public safety policy paradigm.

Moving Beyond Sides: The Power and Potential of a New Public Safety Policy Paradigm

Download and Read the Full Paper 

Download and Read the Executive Summary

Read What National Experts Are Saying about Moving Beyond Sides