Fortune Society receives $3 million from Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg

Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., awarded $3 million to The Fortune Society, a company that helps reentry and alternative-to-incarceration companies, to create a community of Courtroom Navigators that may help New Yorkers with deeply entrenched wants.

Courtroom Navigators from The Fortune Society will construct trusting relationships with people arraigned in Manhattan Legal Courtroom who might have a psychological sickness or substance use dysfunction. The goal of those upfront investments is to achieve these concerned within the felony justice system on the earliest attainable second to deal with the underlying drivers of crime and violence and scale back recidivism. Per related applications efficiently funded by the Workplace and as outlined within the solicitation course of, engagement will likely be voluntary. This system is separate from any present court-mandated programming and gives a brand new layer of complement help to people who are sometimes launched to the neighborhood with none companies. 

The announcement follows a $6 million award to The Bridge to create a community of Neighborhood Navigators, which can prioritize people spending vital time on the road in Manhattan and brings the Workplace’s psychological well being investments to a complete of $9 million. 

“By way of these investments we’re making a continuum of look after Manhattanites battling psychological well being or substance use issues that may create lasting public security,” mentioned Bragg. “The easiest way to deal with the foundation drivers of crime and violence is to attach individuals with the companies they should lead wholesome and secure lives, together with housing, healthcare and job alternatives. The Fortune Society has been deeply immersed within the cloth of New York Metropolis for many years with a confirmed monitor file of delivering profitable reentry and various to incarceration companies, and I couldn’t be extra thrilled that they are going to be main this work.” 

“This beneficiant award from Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. marks a pivotal second in our ongoing mission to help reentry, working additional upstream within the felony authorized system. It can empower The Fortune Society to create a community of Courtroom Navigators, people with lived expertise, devoted to forging essential connections with individuals launched into the neighborhood from Manhattan Courtroom. These people could also be grappling with meals and/or housing insecurity, psychological sickness or substance use issues, and will likely be provided voluntary companies to satisfy these wants,” mentioned Stanley Richards, Deputy Chief Government Officer of The Fortune Society. “This funding displays a visionary strategy to deal with the underlying drivers of crime and violence at their root, aiming to scale back recidivism and create a safer, extra supportive neighborhood. We’re grateful for District Lawyer Bragg’s dedication to making a continuum of look after Manhattanites dealing with a number of rapid and long-term wants. Along with our courtroom and neighborhood companions, we’re devoted to creating a significant impression, serving to people lead more healthy, extra secure lives.” 

The Fortune Society will workers Manhattan Legal Courtroom arraignment components with navigators seven days per week throughout the courtroom’s working hours from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Working with neighborhood teams, service suppliers and courtroom system companions, Courtroom Navigators will quickly have interaction people at an early intercept of the felony justice system, construct relationships and belief, and ultimately join them with long-term companies, equivalent to behavioral well being remedy or supportive housing. 

The Fortune Society will leverage its deep expertise working alternative-to-incarceration programming and different companies for justice-involved people to make use of, practice, and help Courtroom Navigators with related lived expertise equivalent to prior felony justice system involvement, historical past of behavioral well being wants, or housing insecurity. The Manhattan D.A.’s Workplace is offering this award after a aggressive solicitation course of by means of its Legal Justice Funding Initiative (“CJII”), which was created with tens of millions of {dollars} seized from main banks in the midst of felony investigations. 

“I applaud the continued dedication of D.A. Alvin Bragg to fairness, equity, empowerment and prevention within the administration of justice,” mentioned Senator Cordell Cleare. “The idea of Courtroom Navigators is a novel and progressive one, and is designed to make sure that the underlying causes of crime are considerably addressed, giving people an opportunity to develop, be taught and prosper.  Your entire Legal Justice Funding Initiative continues to have my full help!” 

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