Institutes + Centers
Mission
To meet public safety challenges with socially just solutions.
Philosophical Grounding
Much of the nation’s investment has been in addressing public safety through surveillance and punishment. We seek to go farther upstream to understand the role of trauma in creating challenges to community wellbeing and safety, and how to address trauma. Restorative Justice is a philosophy that underlies our practices that heal trauma.
Purpose
We work with community groups, peer institutions, and systems partners to address public safety challenges. By forging creative collaborations, we can devise effective methods – beyond mere suppression – to create environments where a more lasting and meaningful sense of peace and wellness can prevail. We believe that by working together, bringing all concerned into the mix, we can improve urban safety outcomes by enhancing human potential and community wellness.
The Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice builds communities, partnerships, and coalitions to advance social, racial, and restorative justice through direct service to youth, individuals who are incarcerated, and communities; training and technical assistance; policy and advocacy; coordination and capacity building; and research and evaluation.
Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice seeks to create momentum for effective solutions that transform and improve community safety. Our areas of focus include:
Projects and Partnerships
Testimonials
“This program allowed me to see myself as a better person. It helped me overcome my fears, overcome my shame, but most of all be accountable for what I did to others.” – Healing Beyond Harm Participant
“As a restorative justice community-based organization, PBMR’s collaboration with IPSSJ has been critical in our ability to respond to the growing needs of our community. IPSSJ breaches the divide between a university and community. Given the experience and commitment to community, especially disinvested communities, IPSSJ has been an invaluable partner.” – Fr. Dave Kelly, Executive Director of PBMR
IPSSJ has created a variety of publications and reports on topics in community mental health, restorative justice, trauma-informed care, and urban planning. Contact IPSSJ to learn how to partner with us to develop a publication or report.
RJ Hubs
ILCHEP
Healing Beyond Harm
Support the Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice and its stakeholders with approaches to reduce violence in neighborhoods and address trauma through restorative justice best practices.
Adler University was recently awarded several grants from foundations and corporations to support our work to engage communities and advance social justice.
Learn More