Community Justice And Equity: Critical Research and Conversations about Criminal and other Legal Systems
Overview
CJaE is an incubator for research initiatives and collaborations among academic researchers, community groups, and government agencies that critically examines legal systems and their stakeholders in a dynamic context.
Mission
CJaE's mission is to bridge communities comprised of academic researchers, educators, students, and staff; community groups; and government agencies. We adopt a critical approach to legal systems that includes an understanding of systems of oppression that marginalize people based on their social identities and experiences. Our aim is to critique and share research and other activities that center and amplify the voices of those who are marginalized and oppressed by carceral systems and their tentacles.
How do we do this?
- By discussing, planning, conducting, and sharing research and practice that is anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and decolonizing (of people, bodies, communities) in methods, process, and approach.
- By ensuring that a community-based perspective is integrated throughout every research initiative and practice that comes under our purview from conception to methodology, and translation.
- By critically interrogating systems (e.g., criminal legal, juvenile justice, child welfare).
- By engaging in reflective practice regarding the social work profession, the University of Maryland Baltimore, and our roles as researchers and practitioners.
