Victims' Rights

PSJ is taking no position on these measures or any other ballot measure in the May election. Our focus right now is on defeating Mannix’s Mandatory Minimum Measure in November.

The dehumanization of poor people and people of color is part of what allows racism and classism to exist. It is this same dehumanization that allows them to be disproportionately arrested and convicted as well as being disproportionately impacted by violence.

Our primary focus is the prevention of future crime and violence.

We are committed to addressing the root causes of violence.
This requires developing an analysis that allows us to examine the complex reasons violence exists.
In order to address the root causes of violence, we must make connections across communities and issues.

The current system fails to create and maintain safe communities.

The pro-punishment approach is costly and short-sighted. Investing more resources into drug and alcohol treatment, adult basic education, job creation in low-income neighborhoods, and other critical components of the social safety net prevents future crime.

Crime Survivors for Community Safety is working for the prevention of violence. Prevention must be the lens through which we examine the criminal justice system, our policies, and our continued work towards criminal justice reform.

The role, voice, and needs of survivors of violence and crime and communities hurt by violence are central in our work.  We recognize everyone affected when crime or violence occurs; the survivor(s), their family and community, the people accused and convicted of the violence, and their family and communities.

The following informs our vision: