Have you seen the Max documentary Justice, USA? How does our justice system affect our society as a whole? On this episode of MorningLine, Nick Beres is joined by our CEO, Travis Claybrooks, Martesha Johnson Moore, the Nashville Metropolitan Chief Public Defender and Dawn Deaner, former Nashville Metropolitan Chief Public Defender and Founder and Executive Director of the Choosing Justice Initiative to discuss how our justice system works and where there are issues.

Exploring the transformative power of restorative practice within the legal system, this insightful piece from WPLN’s This Is Nashville delves into how a shift towards restorative justice can profoundly change communities, environments, and individuals. Featuring firsthand experiences from participants and experts at Raphah Institute, the interview illuminates the potential for restorative practices to address and heal the harm on both sides of a crime, fostering resolutions that satisfy all involved parties.

Justice, USA: Go inside Nashville’s legal system, as citizens and law enforcement confront issues of incarceration, mental illness, and addiction. Raphah Institute’s restorative justice initiative is featured in episode 6, streaming beginning March 28.

The solution to Nashville’s childcare shortage may be looking us in the mirror, say guests on This Is Nashville. There are simply more toddlers than there are spots in daycare centers. Many parents have limited affordable options or none at all. Travis Claybrooks, CEO of the Raphah Institute, says more parents should consider becoming home-based providers for their children and others.

Equipped with $7.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds, United Way of Greater Nashville and Raphah Institute are embarking on a carefully considered two-year experiment aiming to revolutionize childcare in Nashville.

Juve­nile jus­tice juris­dic­tions across the nation — in California’s Los Ange­les and Alame­da coun­ties, Philadel­phia and David­son coun­ty in Ten­nessee — are using restora­tive jus­tice to divert youth who have caused harm. The approach, which is gain­ing trac­tion in schools, com­mu­ni­ties and sys­tems, trades court pro­ceed­ings for com­mu­ni­ty-based responses. “I feel like every per­son harmed — and every young per­son respon­si­ble for harm — should have the oppor­tu­ni­ty to know there’s a restora­tive jus­tice process avail­able to them,” says Travis Clay­brooks.

The Annie E. Casey Foun­da­tion invests in the pro­mo­tion and imple­men­ta­tion of restora­tive jus­tice prac­tices, which aim to build a sense of com­mu­ni­ty while respond­ing to con­flict and harm. These prac­tices are gain­ing trac­tion in schools and com­mu­ni­ties across the coun­try, among youth devel­op­ment and youth jus­tice experts as well as those who have expe­ri­enced crime.

Mayor Cooper’s Community Safety Partnership Fund Advisory Board approves $820k in funding for 14 local nonprofits serving Napier & Sudekum. “I am excited about this life changing investment. Community safety requires community solutions,” said Mayor Cooper. “These small grants will have a big impact in helping to make our neighborhoods safer and meaningfully address violent crime in our communities.” Raphah to receive $237k to further the Restorative Justice Diversion Program work.