Category: Reframing Public Safety

A tent sits near a fence at Oakwood Park on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Durham, N.C.

Justice System Reform

SCSJ On the Criminalization of Poverty

DURHAM, N.C. (May 8, 2026) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) stands with our unsheltered neighbors across North Carolina who are experiencing violence at…

Justice System Reform

Five Individuals Launch Class Action Lawsuit Over Warrantless Immigration Arrests in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2026) — A lawsuit was filed today on behalf of five individuals — and a class of similarly situated people —…

Alton Bell standing with his dog after being released early from prison

Justice System Reform

Statement: North Carolina Needs Real Safety Solutions, Not Harsher Punishment

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2025) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice is committed to advancing justice and building safe, thriving communities. We reject the outdated…

Justice System Reform

States, Local Community Filings Argue DOJ Violence Prevention Cuts Will Destroy Community Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2025) — Late Friday night, three separate groups filed amicus curiae briefs in support of litigation challenging the DOJ’s cuts to…

Child isolated in an unknown terrain, separated from her family

Justice System Reform

New SCSJ Resource Exposes How U.S. Legal System Forcibly Separates Families, Undermining Public Safety

DURHAM, N.C. (May 7, 2025) — As headlines continue to spotlight the United States’ troubling deportation of young U.S. citizens and its ongoing family separation crisis, Southern…

A wire fence in the background with a newspaper collaged to the right to show a connection between media narratives and public perception of safety

Justice System Reform

SCSJ’s New Explainer Explores Manipulation of Crime, Safety Narrative

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 18, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) exposes the myth of “rising crime” in its latest installment of Reframing Public…

Umar Muhammad Clean Slate Toolkit Pages Spread out on a blue gradient background

SCSJ Releases Umar Muhammad Clean Slate Toolkit Updates, Recommendations for Expanding Second Chances

DURHAM, N.C. (November 25, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) has released an updated copy of the Umar Muhammad Clean Slate toolkit, which…

Your First 48 Hours toolkit spread with cover page, first 48 hours timeline, information about health services, and housing services.

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Updates Resource Guide for Successful Reentry after Incarceration

DURHAM, N.C. (Nov. 19, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice has released an updated copy of the Your First 48 Hours Toolkit, a resource…

Young girl holding hand of father with megaphone transposed over photo

Justice System Reform

Media Advisory: Advocates to Hold Press Conference About Open Courts Lawsuit

DURHAM, N.C. (Nov. 18, 2024) — On Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., Durham advocates and social justice organizations will host a press conference…

prison cell doors open to resemble prison release

Justice System Reform

Human Rights Organizations Demand Prison Population Reduction to Ease Overcrowding After Hurricane Helene

RALEIGH , N.C. (Oct. 31, 2024) — North Carolina human rights organizations signed onto a letter to demand the release of 400 incarcerated women and…

Safe Return: North Carolina's Experience with Bringing People Home Early form Prison report spread with cover and two spreads showing report content over blue gradient background

Justice System Reform

SCSJ’s ‘Safe Return’ Report Details Successes of NC Releasing People Early from Prison

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 4, 2024) — During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina safely sent thousands of people home early from prison with no negative impact to public safety, according to a new report, “Safe Return,” from Southern Coalition for Social Justice released as part of its Reframing Public Safety Series.

Intimidating Police officer watching high school students walk to class

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Focuses on School Resource Officers in First Part of New Ongoing Public Safety Series

DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 5, 2024) — School resource officers (SROs) create an unsafe environment for children, according to part one of a new series, Reframing Public Safety, from SCSJ.

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