NY Times Opinion Pages: Why the Police Want Prison Reform

Encouraging news from a national group of 130 police chiefs, prosecutors and sheriffs that are pushing for reductions in crime AND incarceration rates: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/22/opinion/why-the-police-want-prison-reform.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0

For more on this group and calls: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/21/us/police-leaders-join-call-to-cut-prison-rosters.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Interesting article from today's New Yorker: When Cops Choose Empathy

http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/when-cops-choose-empathy?mbid=rss

New training offerings offer promise that empathy is a trainable skill.

Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) Aims to Strengthen Juvenile Diversion Efforts in Communities

Passing along this encouraging news from the Police Foundation about a new Diversion certificate program: 

http://www.policefoundation.org/center-for-juvenile-justice-reform-cjjr-aims-to-strengthen-juvenile-diversion-efforts-in-communities/#more-2781

James Blake, Retired Tennis Star, meets with NYC Mayor and Chief of Police regarding his mistaken arrest

Retired Tennis Star James Blake was pleased with the conversation on Monday with Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton after his mistaken arrest by NYPD earlier this month:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/nyregion/tennis-star-tackled-in-mistaken-arrest-praises-mayor-after-meeting.html

The two sides saw opportunities to move forward with reforms that would help strengthen the relationship between police and communities across New York City. 

The Trust Prize Vision and Executive Summary

The vision for the The Community Trust and Policing Innovation Prize is to shine a bright light on what is actually working in America between communities of color and police departments. While we fully recognize and hear much about how these two communities are polarized and at odds, we hear little of the local community examples in the U.S. where collaboration and community policing are innovating to build a higher ground: reducing the divide between them and building healthier and safer environments with increased trust and transparency, and decreased crime, violence, and racial profiling. Recognizing the sense of urgency our nation has around these issues and the need for immediate solutions, the Trust Prize will mobilize financial and other resources by leveraging the best of what “prize philanthropy”, social media, and technology have to offer. Specifically, over the next 10 years the Trust Prize will honor 3-5 specific communities of varying population sizes and demographics each year to help publicize the work being done on the ground and provide financial assistance and other resources for the winning communities to further their progress. In addition, a key intention of the Trust Prize will be convening/knowledge sharing to promote and share best practices with other interested communities wanting to leverage these successes.

Here's more on the those advising the Trust Prize.