Transformation Blueprint: Reimagining Criminal Justice in Minnesota
Transformation Blueprint: Reimagining Criminal Justice in Minnesota
Podcast Description
Welcome to Transformation Blueprint, where we unpack our criminal legal system in Minnesota and beyond and build pathways to change. Hosted by team members at the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC), this podcast translates research into actionable knowledge, spotlights local and national change-makers, and connects you with ways to create a more just Minnesota. Whether you’re an advocate, policymaker, or someone who cares about justice, this is your blueprint for transformation.
Learn more at mnjrc.org.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on topics surrounding criminal justice reform, including cash bail systems, pretrial detention practices, and community advocacy. For instance, the pilot episode discusses the misconceptions about cash bail, shares expert perspectives on its failures, and looks into community-driven research to propose actionable recommendations. The show also emphasizes educational resources concerning legal issues affecting Minnesota.
Welcome to Transformation Blueprint, where we unpack our criminal legal system in Minnesota and beyond and build pathways to change. Hosted by team members at the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC), this podcast translates research into actionable knowledge, spotlights local and national change-makers, and connects you with ways to create a more just Minnesota. Whether you’re an advocate, policymaker, or someone who cares about justice, this is your blueprint for transformation.
Learn more at mnjrc.org.
***Disclaimer: We had some technical issues when recording this episode—we apologize for the reduced quality and any listening difficulties it may cause.***
Today, crime is down across the country. However, in Minneapolis, we see a dangerous pattern of non-lethal assaults not being investigated and violent crimes going unsolved. On top of this, just weeks ago, a mass shooting occurred at Annunciation Church in South Minneapolis, taking the life of 2 children, injuring others, and traumatizing everyone gathered in the space forever. This moment raises the question: how do we, as a community, respond in the face of violence? How do we take care of each other and act politically to make sure it doesn’t happen again?
In “Making Tamales: Community Solutions to Community Violence,” MNJRC Executive Director Justin Terrell gets real with long-time organizer Katrina Mendoza about the impact of violence on communities, the unfunded and under-recognized individuals who disrupt violence long before it happens, and what it looks like when communities lean on each other.
About our guest:
Katrina Mendoza is MNJRC’s Organizing Lead on our evaluation of Project PEACE, which is a violence intervention effort by the city of Saint Paul. She has been working alongside the St. Paul community for over 25 years, in health education, grassroots organizing, leadership facilitation, and public service. She’s a community auntie and an unapologetic fighter for social and racial justice, driven by her dedication to honoring the ancestors, uplifting future generations, and making loved ones proud.
Resources:
Learn more about MNJRC’s Project PEACE Evaluation
About the podcast:
Transformation Blueprint: Reimagining Criminal Justice in Minnesota translates MNJRC’s work on the criminal legal system into an accessible podcast that bridges research and community action. This podcast connects our audience to timely developments in the criminal legal system by featuring researchers, advocates, people who work in the system, and people who are impacted by it. We strive to translate research into actionable tools for change with and by community, provide plain-language education on complex legal concepts, and spotlight innovative justice initiatives making real impact.
About MNJRC:
The Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to driving meaningful change to Minnesota’s criminal legal system through rigorous and community-centered research, education, and policy development.
Visit our website and join us in this work: mnjrc.org
Keep up with MNJRC on social media:
Instagram @MinnJRC
Facebook @MNJRC
Youtube @MNJRC
Music: Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
This podcast is made possible by support from listeners like you. If you want to help us continue doing this work, visit mnjrc.org/donate. Thank you.
Disclaimer
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