AND COUNTING.
We are a national network of crime survivors joining together to create healing communities and shape public safety policy. And our network is powerful.
MISSION
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is a national network of crime survivors joining together to create healing communities and shape public safety policy. We are a flagship project of Alliance for Safety and Justice.
With over 187,000 members and growing, including chapters and leaders across the country, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is building a movement to heal together and promote public safety policies that help the people and communities most harmed by crime and violence. For too long, public safety policies haven’t helped survivors of crime, despite billions spent. Instead too much incarceration and not enough prevention or recovery support means the cycle of crime continues. We’re organizing to change that.
For too long, the voices and experiences of diverse crime survivors have been ignored, despite tremendous increases in public safety spending. Instead of putting the needs of survivors first, most justice systems have failed to stop the cycle of crime and wasted billions of dollars.
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice recognizes that survivors deserve a safety and justice system that works — a system that prioritizes prevention, accountability and recovery from harm. We are coming together to heal and take action. We share our stories, honor our loved ones and ourselves, create healing communities, and advocate for policies that prevent crime, increase accountability, reduce wasteful incarceration, reduce trauma and better support survivors, families and communities.
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is a flagship project of Alliance for Safety and Justice, a national organization working with partners and leaders to advance criminal justice and public safety reform in states across the country. Alliance for Safety and Justice engages in policy advocacy, issue education, research, and coalition building to replace wasteful prison spending with new safety solutions focused on prevention, stopping the cycle of crime, and community wellbeing. Alliance for Safety and Justice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is the sister organization of Californians for Safety and Justice.
READ OUR STORIES
Crime survivors across the country are sharing our stories to create change in our communities and win policy change. Our stories turn pain into power, healing into action. Our voices and experiences matter and policymakers need to listen.
CHAPTERS
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice organizes through state and local chapters across the country to create healing communities, develop organizers and leaders, and advocate for public safety policies that work better to support our communities. We advocate for policies that reduce incarceration and increase investments into crime prevention, trauma recovery, and rehabilitation.
Through our chapters we host training on advocating for changes to public policy, community organizing, addressing the needs of survivors, sharing our stories, and engaging in action for change. Chapters also organize healing circles, community support events, and opportunities for survivors to build connections and mutual support. Chapter coordinators also have opportunities to engage in advocacy to advance criminal justice and public safety policy reforms, in coordination with the Alliance for Safety and Justice.
We currently have active chapters in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas.
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY: Join the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice chapter in your local area! By becoming a member, you will receive important updates and opportunities to take action online and offline in your state. There are no fees to become a member of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice.
Use the links below to find a chapter near you.
Active chapters in Illinois
- Chicago Chapter
- Chicago (Padres Angeles) Chapter
- Chicago (Padres Angeles) Chapter
(IN SPANISH) - Peoria Chapter
- East St. Louis
Developing chapters
Active chapters in Louisiana
Active chapters in Michigan
Developing chapters
Active chapters in Ohio
Developing chapters
Active chapters in Pennsylvania
Developing chapters
Active chapters in New Jersey
Survivors Speak is a series of events we organize every year to lift up the leadership and experiences of our members, and take collection action for a new future.
Traditionally held each year during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Survivors Speak has transformed from an annual event into a year-long movement, bringing together crime survivors, particularly from communities most affected by crime, to honor loved ones and advocate for smart safety and justice policies that transform families, communities and the state.
The campaign season culminates in a National Healing Vigil Day of Action, where over two dozen cities from coast to coast hold healing vigils to honor those we’ve lost, to celebrate those of us still here, and to look towards a future where survivors are safe and have the resources we need to move forward.
Whether you’re a survivor or not, join our movement: we can’t do it without our allies, and no survivor should heal alone.
In 2023, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice hosted Survivors Speak events at state capitols in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and a National Virtual Conference for its tenth year.
In 2022, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice hosted Survivors Speak events at state capitols in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and a National Virtual Conference for its ninth year.
Each year hundreds of crime survivors all across the country gather to heal together, share their stories, and advocate for change. This is the largest gathering of crime survivors in the country, and it takes place during National Crime Victims Rights Week.
Survivors Speak 2021 is hosted by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a national network of crime survivors joining together to create healing communities and shape public policy.
For its eighth year, Survivors Speak will convene a National Virtual Conference + Week of Actions from April 18-24, 2021. Now more than ever, the voices of crime survivors are critical.
To watch the 2021 Survivors Speak, visit: https://safeandjust.brand.live/
Between February and April 2020, hundreds of crime survivors representing a new victims’ movement joined state and community leaders across the country for the largest gathering of crime victims in the United States.
Click here to learn more about 2020 Survivors Speak.
In 2019, we held Survivors Speak events in five states. The campaign’s flagship event, Survivors Speak California, came to Sacramento for the sixth year in a row, while survivors gathered in Tallahassee, Florida for the second time. Last but certainly not least, Survivors Speak came to Illinois, Ohio and Michigan for the first time ever!
2019 was our most ambitious year thus far, with Survivors Speak events in five states. The campaign’s flagship event, Survivors Speak California, came to Sacramento for the sixth year in a row, while survivors gathered in Tallahassee, Florida for the second time ever. Survivors Speak came to Illinois, Ohio and Michigan for the first time ever!
Click here to relive 2019’s Survivors Speak.
MEDIA AND PRESS
RESOURCES
REPORTS AND SURVEYS
Web Resources
Advocacy Toolkits
THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER MODEL
are removing barriers to health and stability,
healing communities and interrupting cycles of violence.