The events of 2020 have brought into sharp focus the urgent need for transformative action across the justice system. Communities are demanding change. Systemic injustices persist.
As architects practicing in the justice sector, working alongside our allied professionals and partner organizations, we see opportunities to reform and transform the status quo. Collectively we have been working to shape new approaches to justice through the introduction of community and therapeutic courts; restorative and trauma-informed practices; peacemaking centers; and opportunities for diversion, deflection, and other community-based alternatives to incarceration that support healing and recovery. Together these initiatives are fundamental steps toward establishing a fairer and more equitable justice system for all. While there remains much to be done, new building typologies are emerging to support this needed change.
Our 2021 virtual conference presents a unique opportunity to reach out both nationally and internationally to architecture colleagues working in parallel fields, such as health, mental health, and education, as well as professionals in disciplines that intersect with the justice system, such as criminology, psychology, and social work.