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1012 Eighth Avenue • Brooklyn, NY 11215 • voice (718) 499-6704
fax (718) 832-2832 • mefitzgerald@justiceworks.org

 

Our Mission and History

JusticeWorks Community is a not-for-profit agency based in Brooklyn, NY whose mission is to educate, organize and mobilize a partnership of concerned citizens and community residents and organizations to advocate for just, humane and effective criminal justice policies, emphasizing alternatives to incarceration for women with children.

JusticeWorks Community was founded in 1992 by the Rev. Dr. Constance M. Baugh. The decision to form JusticeWorks marked a significant departure from 14 years of direct service under our predecessor organization, Citizen Advocates for Justice (CAFJ). Although CAFJ had successfully served more than 2000 women in New York City, a strategic planning team including exprisoners, the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and criminal justice experts decided to focus our strategy on community organizing, public education and advocacy to counter the explosion in the women's prison population which occurred in the 1980's.

On Mothers' Day, May 10, 1992, JusticeWorks launched its first annual Public Awareness Event in New York City to call attention to the plight of incarcerated mothers and their children. More than 40 secular and religious organizations participated. In 1995 JusticeWorks launched Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis (MIPCIC), the first and only national grassroots campaign to advocate for alternatives to incarceration for women. Between 1995 and 2001 the number of organizing sites for this campaign increased from seven to twenty-one cities. In 2003 the State Public Policy Initiative was launched in three of the original organizing sites, bringing the campaign closer to the realization of its goals. Through our community organizing work in New York City and our partnerships with national sites, JusticeWorks provides a unique organizing model to be replicated nationwide.

 

Highlights of Our Journey: 1992-2006

1992

  • JusticeWorks incorporated
  • First local Mother’s Day Public Awareness event: 40 congregations participate
  • The Interfaith Partnership(IFP) for Criminal Justice in New York City is launched

1993

  • Mother’s Day Public Awareness event spreads nationwide: 117 sites in 13 states
  • Interfaith Partnership forms first Steering Committee, holds monthly educational forums

1994

  • National Partnership with Women in Jail and Prison, a network of progressive and faith-based groups, to share information, program models, and urgent concerns about women in the criminal justice system is developed
  • Mother's Day Public Awareness event: 200 sites in 33 states

1995

  • JusticeWorks forms National Advisory Board
  • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis national grassroots campaign launched with an emphasis on public policy change: calling for alternatives to prison as the sentencing norm for women with dependent children
    • 7 organizing sites participate
    • Consultant, Margaret Eaton, authors campaign organizing manual
    • Public education sites increase to 285 in 37 states
    • National policy statement published: A Call for Common Sense Policy in Criminal Justice Policy: Alternatives to Incarceration as the Sentencing Norm for Women with Dependent Children.
    • Rory Kennedy kicks off local organizing efforts with a screening of Women of Substance
    • First public action at Manhattan Criminal Court: Ossie Davis, Rory Kennedy, Catherine Abate and Ruth Messinger among the speakers.
    • Local pilot program, Women of Substance, launched.

1996

  • Formation of Advisory Council of Exprisoner Women in Recovery for Women of Substance forums
  • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis Campaign:
    • Organizing sites increase to 13
    • 250 Public Education sites in 30 states
    • 40 Women of Substance forums conducted locally

1997

  • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis Campaign:
    • National organizers training weekend held in New York City
    • 13 organizing sites hold public actions
    • 300 Public Education Sites in 31 states
    • 35 Women of Substance forums conducted locally

1998

  • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis Campaign:
    • Second national organizers training weekend held in New York City. Thirty-five organizers participate
    • 19 organizing sites, seven sites led by exprisoner women
    • 291 public education sites in 33 states
    • Organizers are trained to use Women of Substance
    • 24 Women of Substance forums conducted locally

1999

  • Anthology of writings by mothers in prison published: Breaking Silence: voices of mothers in prison.
  • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis Campaign:
    • 19 organizing sites nationwide
    • 333 Public Education sites in 34 states
  • Manual for Women of Substance produced and distributed nationwide

2000

  • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis Campaign:
    • 19 national organizing sites
    • 357 Public Education Sites in 35 states
    • 32 Women of Substance forums locally
    • Kings County District Attorney, Charles J. Hynes, announces partnership with JusticeWorks to establish residential facility for Brooklyn mothers and children as an alternative to prison.

    2001

    • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis campaign:
      • 21 national organizing sites
      • 450 Public Education sites in 37 states
      • 23 Women of Substance forums locally
    • IFP sponsored Speak-out on Rockefeller Drug Laws in Harlem attracts 350
    • IFP sponsors march and rally in Harlem on Rockefeller Drug Laws
    • Board and Staff develop three-year strategic plan
    • First annual awards benefit held at Brooklyn Museum of Art. The Rev. Dr. Constance M. Baugh Exprisoner Woman Achievement Award established: Tina Reynolds is first recipient.
    • Interfaith Partnership evolves into the Seven Neighborhood Action Partnership (SNAP). East Harlem is first neighborhood to join SNAP.

    2002

    • JusticeWorks celebrates 10th Anniversary at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Ossie Davis is the guest of honor and S. Epatha Merkerson, the Mistress of Ceremonies. Angela Scott receives the second Rev. Dr. Constance M. Baugh Exprisoner Woman Achievement Award.
    • Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis campaign:
      • 20 national sites
      • Public Education sites commit to continue awareness campaign independently
    • 10-year report produced and distributed
    • State Public Policy initiative announced

    2003

    • State Public Policy Initiative is inaugurated in three organizing sites: St. Louis, Missouri, Los Angeles, California and Little Rock, Arkansas. Under the guidance of consultant, Margaret Eaton, these groups will focus on more intense legislative strategy to realize the goals of the Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis campaign
    • Board Member and actor S. Epatha Merkerson produces the annual benefit for JusticeWorks at the Public Theatre. Kimberly Reaves receives the 2003 Rev. Dr. Constance M. Baugh Achievement Award.
    • Judy Frank joined the staff in July as Development Director.

    2004

    • Jacksonville, Florida joins the State Public Policy Initiative.
    • Women in Transition, The Art of Change is the title of the annual benefit at the Public Theatre, produced by S. Epatha Merkerson. The recipient of the Rev. Dr. Constance M. Baugh is Awilda Gonzalez of Covington, Georgia
    • Rafael Mutis joins the JusticeWorks staff in September as the Seven Neighborhood Action Partnership (SNAP) Coordinator.

    2005

    • In February we mourn the passing of Ossie Davis, beloved champion of justice, JWC supporter and Advisory Board member. His death is a loss to all who engage in the pursuit of justice.
    • SNAP is active in Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, the South Bronx and East New York.
    • Second Stage Theatre is the venue for the JusticeWorks annual benefit. A performance of Birdie Blue, starring S. Epatha Merkerson, provided a memorable theatre experience for friends and supporters. Monica Denise Simmons received the 2005 Rev. Constance M. Baugh Achievement Award. Monica is the Assistant Director of Let’s Start, a post-release program for formerly incarcerated women, based in St. Louis, Missouri.
    • SNAP also sponsors a youth group called Fighters for Justice. Ten young people were very active in the drug law reform movement during the summer and five will continue to do outreach, attend grassroots organizing meetings and conduct informational presentations during the academic year.
    • Rafael Mutis, Julie Mormando and members of the youth group participate in the Journey for Justice March on Washington, D.C. in August.

    2006

    • Voices for Justice, the annual benefit, took place on April 24 at The Brooklyn Museum of Art. Board member S. Epatha Merkerson served as the Executive Producer of the event. Brenda Joyce Olive received the 2006 Rev. Dr. Constance M. Baugh Achievement Award. Brenda has been an organizer in the MIP, CIC campaign for 12 years in Little Rock, Arkansas and is a certified parent trainer in Arkansas and Oklahoma and serves on the Speakers' Bureau for the Arkansas Voices of the Children left Behind.
    • JusticeWorks serves as the fiscal sponsor of The Red Tent Women’s Project, NYC's only women's community center specifically intended for all women, regardless of their backgrounds.
    • The Seven Neighborhood Action Partnership (SNAP) sponsored its 2006 Fighters for Justice Youth Group. Four members of the pilot group assisted in recruiting, interviewing and selecting the new group and served as mentors and trainers during the summer cycle.
    • Twenty-five Presbyterian Churches in the NY metropolitan area participated in JWC's Mother's Day Public Awareness event.
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