Mission Statement

The mission of the Institute for Community Justice is to promote well-being and quality of life in our community by addressing social problems, such as those associated with economic disadvantage, inequality, and public safety.

An interest in community justice has grown in the past few years, leading to the development of a variety of initiatives, including:

• Promoting activities that build social capital for the disadvantaged,
• Supporting "community-based" criminal justice alternatives to increase public safety and prevent crime (e.g., community policing, community and specialty courts, and community-based corrections), and
• Addressing economic, educational, health care, and recreational needs in disadvantaged communities.

In pursuit of its mission, the Institute's objectives are to:

• Foster interdisciplinary research in community justice at the University,
• Disseminate knowledge on community justice issues to other scholars, community leaders, and citizens,
• Create opportunities for discussion among scholars, community leaders, and local agencies on issues related to community justice, and
• Ensure that community issues are accurately addressed in our research.