Overview
Pathways to Justice, an initiative of The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability® (NCCJD®), is a comprehensive, community-based program designed to improve access to justice for people with disabilities through a strategic two-step process.
First, NCCJD provides support in creating a local, multi-disciplinary team, called a Disability Response Team (DRT), that brings together key stakeholders from both the disability and criminal justice communities. The team works together to identify barriers to justice and serves as the go-to resource on criminal justice and disability in their community.
Second, NCCJD experts work closely with the DRT to provide a full-day, in-person training for law enforcement, victim services providers, and legal professionals covering key topics such as how to identify, interact with, and accommodate persons with I/DD and other disabilities.
To date, NCCJD has reached over 2,000 stakeholders in over a dozen states through the Pathways to Justice program. See our digital brochure on the Pathways to Justice program!
The Pathway to Justice Difference
Pathways is more than just training; it’s a unique and collaborative approach to justice reform at the community level. Through DRTs, both criminal justice and disability stakeholders:
- Develop trusting and mutually beneficial relationships
- Feel empowered to raise awareness and effect change in their communities
- Identify and remove community-specific barriers to justice
After the Pathways training, criminal justice professionals:
- Better understand disability and their legal obligations toward the disability community
- More effectively identify and communicate with people with I/DD
- Provide appropriate accommodations and supports in their respective roles
- Know more about the disability resources available in their communities
Working together, we can create Pathways to Justice for all!
Ready to Join the Movement?
It’s easy to get started! Interested chapters of The Arc and other organizations can watch the Pathways to Justice® video and use the accompanying Conversation Guide to engage criminal justice professionals in conversation about this topic, including the need for training.
Want to know if Pathways is already happening near you? Email nccjdinfo@thearc.org.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
