October marks not only Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but also LGBTQ History Month, calling for us to acknowledge the intersection between this public health epidemic and this historically disadvantaged group.

This October and every month, ISLG’s multifaceted work to reduce domestic and intimate partner violence strives to reflect the complexity and urgency of this area in close partnership with community-based organizations, survivors, and the City government.

Rikers Island is in a state of “unprecedented crisis” brought into stark relief by the death of 12 people in Department of Correction custody this year. While the Department is working to improve conditions in the jails, its efforts are hampered by the deteriorating condition of the existing facilities. It is more important than ever before that the City of New York make good on its promise to close Rikers Island and move to a safer, more humane borough-based system.

A holistic and innovative program in Manhattan is providing families affected by gender-based violence with family-focused programing. The program addresses families’ healing and mental health needs and goals by using clinically informed assessments and evidence-based interventions.

Many families, in New York City and elsewhere, face challenges obtaining educational support for children struggling with learning and developmental disabilities and/or mental health needs. This is particularly true for families that live at or near the poverty threshold. An innovative effort by a hospital and a legal services provider in Manhattan is working to change that.

Manhattan’s five Youth Opportunity Hubs have recognized the importance of financial security and work experience as protective factors for young people from their outset. Over the past four years, they have deepened their investment in cash supports for young people and developed thoughtful approaches to meeting participants’ immediate financial needs. From the start, all the Hubs have included at least some type of paid internship or job program that is available to young people.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced New York City’s social service providers to transition their work almost overnight. Many shifted their approaches in previously unimagined ways, as longstanding ways of conducting outreach and engagement were no longer viable.

The primary purpose of a jail is to detain those who are waiting for court proceedings and are considered a flight risk or public safety threat. However, many people admitted to jail are there because they cannot afford to post bail. As a result, they may remain behind bars for weeks, awaiting trial or a case resolution. This overreliance on jails has negative consequences not only for those who are incarcerated, but also for their families and their communities, particularly communities of color. Findings from our new analysis suggest that decarceration strategies—approaches to keep people OUT of jail—can be crafted and implemented responsibly, without compromising public safety.

Nearly 25% of prison admissions are due to technical violations of probation/parole—often due to minor offenses such as missed curfews, or failed drug tests. To change this, 10 jurisdictions across the country have been working to understand what drives probation revocations and potential solutions to reduce them.

Domestic violence—and intimate partner violence (IPV), in particular—is a long-standing public health crisis that has persisted despite earnest political and programmatic efforts to curb it. Although Abusive Partner Intervention Programs (APIPs) emerged in the late 1970s to reduce domestic violence, many traditional APIP models have not been found to promote long-term behavior change. Intervention programs that work with abusive partners and use trauma-informed approaches can help successfully prevent future intimate partner violence.

The new Manhattan DA will be responsible for advancing justice on a broad scale. We outline a core set of principles related to fairness, trust, and community safety that can help the next DA get there.

The US Capitol attack that took place on January 6, 2021 only confirmed our analysis of the Trump era: Lies and demonization are not only morally wrong but dangerous to America and all who live and work here. In this statement we reflect on the need for unity to make the post-Trump era of governance one where security and safety grounded in truth, finally, become non-negotiable.