The overrepresentation of Blacks in the criminal justice system is widely acknowledged. Unfortunately, there are few Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) producing the necessary research to support the criminal justice reform movement. A quick Google search on the role of HBCUs in criminal justice reform produces few results. Limited…

Key Observations Academic institutions lack a diverse faculty pool, specifically Black faculty members within the field of criminal justice and criminology graduate programs. We found that sixty-eight percent of colleges and universities have one or no Black full-time, tenured/tenure-track faculty-members in their department. We must recognize and acknowledge how academic institutions maintain…

Key Observations The movement seeks to demilitarize police departments and reallocate funding to trained mental health workers and social workers to reduce unnecessary violent encounters between police and citizens. Research has found that the police don’t have a notoriously efficient track record of solving violent crime. If we are effective, funding public…

Key Observations In the age of Black Lives Matter and pledges from numerous organizations to foster an atmosphere of inclusion, support to make Black hair acceptable in the workplace, school, and other arenas that are traditionally deemed “professional” continue to grow. However, Black people are still profiled and punished for their natural…

Key Observations Over 640,000 people return to our communities from prison each year. Prisoner reentry should be understood as a critical piece of any racial justice agenda. A well-developed, evidence-supported action plan for enhancing transitions from prison to society will focus on increasing independence, reducing racial and ethnic disparities, and…

Key Observations School discipline disproportionately affects students of color. In the name of creating ‘safer’ student learning environments, public schools have put into place strict, zero-tolerance policies designed to address misconduct. School-based policies that criminalize cultural expressions are worthy of continued scrutiny, as they are nothing short of cultural, gender…

Key Observations 25 million Americans have gathered in the streets, in all 50 states, to express their discontent with police practices in the weeks since the killing of George Floyd. Ultimately, transparency and accountability must serve as guides along the path to police reform. It is time for law enforcement…

BY Howard Henderson Roohie Sheikh May 26th marked the first night of protests that were ablaze after George Floyd’s death at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. The day before, four Minneapolis police officers arrested George Floyd for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Before verifying…

As states struggle to deal with school shootings after each catastrophic incident,attempts to curtail school violence have remained a mirage. This is arguably a result of partisan politics, as well-funded interest groups and politicians across the political divide hold the nation to ransom. Since the 1999 shooting at Columbine High…