Embed Transformative Justice Principles into Systems Work

In order to serve all survivors of violence, it is necessary to create models that centers survivor-defined justice and safety outside the criminal legal system.

Embed Transformative Justice Principles into Systems Work

Transformative justice recognizes that oppression is at the root of all forms of violence and seeks to address harm, both to the individual and the community at large, outside of the criminal legal system. However, that does not mean there is no accountability for the harm caused. Rather, transformative justice looks for different ways of delivering accountability outside of a system that historically has only dehumanized the individual through punishment. This involves divesting from the criminal legal system, which the vast majority of survivors choose not to engage with, and often re-traumatizes those who do engage with it. It requires us to reckon with our engagement with law enforcement and other power systems, including acting on calls to defund police and invest in community-based safety and support systems of care.

Divesting from the criminal legal system, which the vast majority of survivors choose not to engage with, and often re-traumatizes those who do engage with it.

Our historic reliance on criminal legal responses and solutions has had dire consequences for survivors. Therefore, decriminalizing survival must be central to our work. Survivors of SA and DV, particularly Black women and girls, have been the target of criminal legal responses when defending themselves. The unequal application of self-defense laws result in BIPOC facing criminal liability while white people do not.

Historically the DV and SA movements have disregarded transformative approaches, leaving limited options for healing and accountability. BIPOC communities have developed and implemented restorative responses to violence, while “mainstream” programs have focused solely criminal legal systems. In order to serve all survivors of violence, it is necessary to create models that centers survivor-defined justice and safety outside the criminal legal system.

Transformative Justice in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Work

Recognizes the imbedded racism and oppression in all system responses, particularly the harm caused by the criminal legal system to BIPOC communities
Prioritizes survivor-defined justice and healing
Advocates for dismissed charges and the release of all survivors acting in self-defense
Supports efforts to divest from criminal responses and defund police to return control back to communities to invest in safety and support systems
Resists efforts that seek to expand the reach of the criminal legal system, including efforts to criminalize abortion, sex work, and other related issues

“Even if the criminal punishment system were free of racism, classism, sexism, and other isms, it would not be capable of effectively addressing harm…It does nothing to change a culture that makes this harm imaginable, to hold perpetrators accountable, to support their transformation, or to meet the needs of survivors.”

Mariame Kaba