Busy Times

This month has been chock-a-block with Center for Court Innovation events.  I've reported on a few that I have attended, but the truth is that I have missed a bunch too, including a Harlem Youth Court graduation, a Greenpoint Youth Court celebration featuring NYC Probation Commissioner Vinny Schiraldi, a Midtown Community Court event at the Museum of Modern Art featuring artwork created by former prostitution defendants, and a Red Hook Community Justice Center event at the New School.

One event that I did manage to attend last week was a farewell party for Justine Van Straaten, who is leaving the Center after 8 years.  Justine was a key addition to the Center.  The Center's roots are in the world of criminal justice, but over time we have begun to make a deeper and deeper institutional investment in Family Court as well.  Hiring Justine was an important step in this process.  Over the years, she has worked closely with the administrators of the New York City Family Court on a range of reform ideas.  We will miss Justine, but we intend to continue to work with Family Court for many years to come.