the Fortune Society

Center for Alternative Sentencing & Employment Services

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CASES serves nearly 10,000 New Yorkers every year, ninety percent of whom are Black and Latine. Recognizing that many have been harmed by public systems, we offer trauma-informed support to individuals and their families while simultaneously advocating for policies that decriminalize poverty and mental illness. Our treatment teams travel the city delivering in-person care to people living with serious mental illness—on the streets, in shelters, and at our clinic, we work with people wherever they are. CASES court-based staff divert thousands of New Yorkers from Rikers Island every year, connecting them to life-saving services and allowing them to continue working and supporting their families as they await trail. For youth and young adults, we provide preventive programs: mentoring, education, employment, and in-home family services to help them stay safe and pursue their dreams. CASES believes that creating lasting solutions requires a team with diverse experiences, identities, and skills. We recognize the unique expertise of individuals who have lived experience of the criminal legal system, including in their ability to connect with and support others who have been impacted by policing, incarceration, and being under supervision in the community. We define success through a focus on the health and quality of life of the people we serve. Our programs are proven to reduce rearrest and reincarceration at a fraction of the cost of jail or prison—effective alternative-to-incarceration services like those provided by CASES are the only real solution for community safety and well-being.