Karolin Betances

Karolin is an Afro-Latinx whose work is centered around upending systemic issues that inhibit her community. An Associate Director at the Center for Justice Innovation, she manages programming across 30 sites throughout New York City, while expanding and developing the organization's mission. In her role, she works to transform responses to harm by working closely with communities that have been impacted by intergenerational violence, and helping them create norms that promote health and safety. Through years of organizing, Karolin recently became one of the two founders at HEALING ROOTS, a consulting group working with communities to co-create spaces that promote inclusivity, accountability, and healing. She is dedicated to providing services to marginalized communities, while continuously seeking opportunities to learn and practice personal cultural humility. 

 

The work of the Center for Justice Innovation (formerly Center for Court Innovation) touches all stages of the justice system, from arrest through reintegration into the community. But their work goes further by seeking to reduce the need for justice system involvement in the first place. The Center for Justice Innovation’s primary long-term goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems.