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Justice Programs News & Funding |
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August 1, 2024 - Vol. 30, Issue 15
Twice monthly highlights from the Office of Justice Programs |
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A MESSAGE FROM ACTING ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
BRENT J. COHEN
I am pleased to introduce this edition of the Justice Programs News & Funding newsletter and especially honored to step into the role of Acting Assistant Attorney General. I had the privilege of working side by side with former Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon during the majority of her tenure, first as Chief of Staff and then as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, and I am committed to continuing OJP's vital work to advance community safety, build community trust and strengthen the community’s role as co-producer of safety and justice.
My prior work in local government and the nonprofit sector have shaped and reinforced my belief in the power of community-based, evidence-informed approaches. I believe we are best served as a society by a comprehensive strategy that advances public safety and opens the door to opportunity and positive change.
This is my second time at OJP, having served as a senior advisor to the Assistant Attorney General during the Obama Administration, and I have seen the tremendous value of OJP’s partnerships with leaders in the field. As an agency, we benefit enormously from the insights and perspectives of experts in criminal and juvenile justice, and I am more convinced than ever of the importance of the collaborative relationship between OJP and our community stakeholders.
As we move ahead, we’ll remain focused on addressing critical issues such as further reducing crime and disparities in the justice system, interrupting cycles of trauma and victimization, and expanding opportunities for justice-involved youth and adults. We'll also continue to ensure our work is embedded in a culture of research and science, and informed by the insights and expertise of those who have lived experience with the justice system.
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This issue of the newsletter showcases a number of new resources to support community safety and justice, including work promoting education in federal prisons, a focus on scholarly research being undertaken by law enforcement professionals and a new white paper describing OJP's work to help reimagine justice in America.
I look forward to working alongside each of you as we make meaningful strides towards our vision of safe and just communities for all.
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Brent J. Cohen
Acting Assistant Attorney General
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Reimagining Justice at Justice
A new white paper tells the story of OJP's groundbreaking work under the Biden-Harris Administration, with a new blueprint that unleashes bold programs and an innovative approach to investing in community-based programs and other interventions designed to make positive change for the people they serve.
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Celebrating Ten Years of LEADS
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Highlighting Three Years of OJP Achievements
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The Time is Now: Seizing a Transformational Moment in Correctional Education
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INTERN SPOTLIGHT
Advocating for Invisible Disabilities at OJP's Office for Civil Rights
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Cara Shanahan is a third-year law student working as a legal intern for the Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil Rights, where she reviews civil rights complaints for compliance with anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. On National Intern Day, which was celebrated a week ago, Cara reflected on her transformative internship. Her journey to this role is rooted in her personal experience with a disability, an experience that has uniquely prepared her for the work she does today.
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Her introduction to oral advocacy did not come in a courtroom or law school but in the halls of a children's hospital. At eight years old, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease―a debilitating condition invisible to others. She often rehearsed explanations for her condition and learned to tailor her explanations to different audiences, developing a sense of how to appear credible.
Her struggle for accommodations reflects a broader unfamiliarity that hinders access to educational and work opportunities for those with invisible illnesses. The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act mandate that public entities, employers, and other actors provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access. These laws are crucial, but their effectiveness hinges on proper enforcement.
This is where the dedicated enforcement work of OCR becomes indispensable. OCR ensures that all qualified individuals with disabilities receive the protections promised by the ADA and Section 504. Often, complainants are denied accommodations not because of insufficient medical documentation or unclear explanations but because their conditions and needs are misunderstood.
Cara's work is deeply personal. She shared, "I feel privileged to contribute to the pursuit of equal protection for every disabled individual, irrespective of the visibility of their challenges. I celebrate not only my role at OCR but also the broader mission of advocating for and enforcing the rights of those with disabilities."
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FROM THE VAULT
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From August 3-5, 2003, OJP sponsored the first National Training Conference on AMBER Alert. Held in Dallas, the conference brought together teams from every state to receive training, develop state and local AMBER Alert plans and share best practices. It also marked the launch of the national AMBER Alert website.
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AMBER Alerts first started in Texas following the murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman in 1996 before spreading to other states in the following years. As of Dec. 31, 2023, 1,200 children have been successfully recovered through the AMBER Alert system.
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U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Justice Programs News & Funding
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