“Real safety solutions need to meet the needs of crime victims and prevent harm by investing in initiatives that promote economic stability, mental health, and stronger communities. As the nation’s largest public safety reform organization, we’ve been working with safety organizations and partners in Congress to advocate for policies that accomplish this at a federal level, and we are thrilled to see a series of critical victories in the omnibus bill signed today by President Biden,” said Shakyra Diaz, Chief of Staff at Alliance for Safety and Justice.

TALLAHASSEE – Crime survivors across Florida today praised members of the Senate Appropriations Committee for bipartisan passage of SB 1302 –  sponsored by Senator Danny Burgess (R-Pasco/Hillsborough) and Senator Keith Perry (R-Alachua/Putnam/Marion) – which would ensure the sealing of arrest records for those without convictions at the county level. While law enforcement would still have access to these records, this bill would allow people to keep stable jobs, maintain economic stability, and continue giving back to the community. This bill amends legislation overwhelmingly passed in 2019, which automatically sealed some arrest records with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that did not lead to convictions. In advocating for this approach, crime survivors have emphasized that removing obstacles to jobs and housing would help stop cycles of crime and strengthen communities hardest hit by violence. 

NEW YORK — At an early age, Jay Jordan and Aswad Thomas’s lives were both shaped by violence and the criminal justice system. Nearly 20 years ago Jordan began serving an eight year prison sentence for his involvement as a teenager in a robbery involving a gun. A few years later, on the opposite side of the country, Thomas nearly lost his life when he was shot during an attempted robbery. Years later they both went on to become two of the nation’s most prominent advocates for safety and justice reform. They’ll now make history as the new CEO and Vice President of the largest safety reform organization in the nation, Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ), joining together to advance new approaches to public safety. 

TALLAHASSEE – Today, hundreds of crime survivors and families of murdered Floridians crowded the state capitol to urge lawmakers to expand support for crime victims and make communities safer. Crime survivors were joined by elected officials at Survivors Speak Florida – an annual event hosted by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ) – with families holding photos of murdered loved ones and advocating for safety reforms. 

COLUMBUS – Today, Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) – Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee – introduced a sweeping package of public safety proposals that include policies that prioritize rehabilitation, help stop cycles of crime, and reduce recidivism in Ohio. SB 288 is supported by the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) and the Ohio chapter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ). The omnibus bill includes various provisions that ensure incarcerated individuals take ownership of their actions, while providing a pathway to success and reducing the chances that they will return to prison. Altogether, these proposals will help prevent future victimization and strengthen communities that are disproportionately impacted by crime. The introduction of these reforms follows a recent victory for crime survivors in Ohio with the signing of SB 36, which expanded access to victim compensation to address trauma and help heal communities. 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan House of Representatives today granted final passage to crucial reforms expanding support for crime victims, passing by a vote of TK-TK. House Bills 4674-467, sponsored by State Rep. Bronna Kahle (R-Adrian) and Rep. Bradley Slagh (R-Zeeland) , passed with bipartisan support and will now be considered by the Senate. The legislation increases support for crime victims by allowing all crime victims in need to access victim compensation, expands victim compensation coverage to account for actual costs resulting from crime victimization, and increases how much time crime victims have to apply for help. This legislation, which is part of the Safer Michigan Act package of public safety bills, is supported by members of the business and faith communities, as well as crime survivors throughout the state. 

COLUMBUS – In a victory for Ohio crime survivors, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law today SB 36, reducing barriers to the state’s victim compensation program and helping to end cycles of crime. The legislation passed the legislature with bipartisan support and has been strongly supported by crime victims, including the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ), since 2018. Together with bill sponsor Chair Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), ASJ worked to incorporate the voices of crime survivors and address their needs in reforms that will expand access to critical services for victims. This victory builds on ASJ’s work with elected leaders to launch Trauma Recovery Centers, which provide comprehensive medical, mental, and legal assistance to victims to help them recover after a crime. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public safety, business, and civil rights leaders released a letter today urging the Biden Administration to ensure that the tens of millions of Americans with old criminal records are able to participate in the employment opportunities created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The letter, organized by Alliance for Safety and Justice, outlines steps that the Administration can take to guarantee that people with past records can earn jobs created by the legislation as a way to maximize its economic and public safety impacts. Over two dozen organizations signed the letter: they include criminal justice organizations, crime victim groups like the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers, and violence prevention programs such as Cure Violence, as well as civil rights organizations, including the National Urban League. 

A sweeping package of public safety bills passed the Michigan House Rules and Competitiveness Committee today with bipartisan support, in a victory for crime survivors and those seeking to end cycles of crime in Michigan. House bills 4670-4675 expand access to victim services to better address trauma, as well as establish incentives to ensure incarcerated individuals participate in rehabilitation programs that prepare them to join the workforce and succeed upon release. These proven approaches to making communities safer are supported by members of the business and faith communities, as well as crime victims throughout Michigan. The legislation now makes its way to the House floor for a vote in the coming weeks. 

On Thursday, the Alliance for Safety and Justice applauded the announcement of a new initiative by the Whitmer administration to divert eligible people accused of low-level offenses into jobs, in order to reduce recidivism and help strengthen the state’s workforce. Developed as part of Governor Whitmer’s MI Safe Communities Initiative, the “Jobs Court” program will address the workforce shortage of state businesses, while providing wrap-around support (mental health, employment transportation, social worker, etc.) that address people’s underlying challenges which can contribute to recidivism. The “Jobs Court” will also monitor participants for one year and require them to maintain communication with the state to ensure accountability and compliance.