W. Haywood Burns Institute

W. Haywood Burns Institute (BI) was founded in 2001 in San Francisco, CA, by James Bell,[1][2] an attorney who represented incarcerated youth for 20 years. Bell named the BI after his friend and colleague, W. Haywood Burns,[3][4] one of the founders of the National Conference of Black Lawyers,[5] the founding dean of the City College Urban Legal Studies Program, and the dean of the Law School at the City University of New York (CUNY).

Its mission is to reform juvenile justice systems across the country that disproportionately impact and incarcerate youth of color[6] and poor youth. It works also to reduce the adverse impacts[7] of public[8] and private youth-serving systems[9] by teaming up with experts across the country in fields including mental health, immigration and schools. It works to ensure fairness and equity throughout the juvenile justice system[10] by working in sites across the country to bring officials from law enforcement, legal systems and child welfare together with community leaders, parents and children, and lead them through a data-driven, consensus-based approach to change policies, procedures and practices that result in the detention of low-offending youth of color and poor youth.[11]

Its program, the Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY), builds the capacity of local organizations to improve and strengthen their programs and organizations, and to engage in policy work. The BI has worked in more than 40 jurisdictions across the country and has seen results in reducing racial and ethnic disparities.[12]

References
  1. Shetterly, Robert. "Americans Who Tell the Truth". Book/painting. by author. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  2. Onel, David (September 22, 2010). "Criminal Justice Conversations Podcast with David Onek – Episode #15: W. Haywood Burns Institute Executive Director James Bell". KALW News. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  3. Arenson, Karen (April 4, 1996). "W. Haywood Burns, 55, Dies; Law Dean and Rights Worker". New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  4. Carro, John. "Remembering W. Haywood Burns". Carro, Carro & Mitchell, LLP. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  5. Vincent Warren, "What Haywood Burns Taught Me About Social Justice Lawyering", The Daily Outrage, January 29, 2016.
  6. Price, Rita (March 15, 2010). "Lockup's racial disparity glaring". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  7. Silver, Mary (January 26, 2010). "Abuse in Juvenile Detention Rampant, Says Expert". The Epoch Times. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  8. Winston, Ali (September 2, 2010). "Criminal justice is our social safety net – because everything else is falling apart". KALW News. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  9. Rowe, Claudia (February 4, 2011). "States Cut Juvenile Justice Budgets: Who Wins?". Equal Voice Newspaper. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  10. Kelly, John (January 6, 2010). "Q&A: Burns Institute Executive Director James Bell". Youth Today. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  11. Cose, Ellis (January 15, 2010). "Children Are Not Too Old to Change". Newsweek. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  12. Cose, Ellis (August 14, 2005). "Race and Redemption". Newsweek. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
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