A new coffee stand called the Coffee Corner at our Brooklyn Justice Initiatives office is bringing humanity to the legal process by giving people involved in the justice system a chance to connect with others before their court-mandated check-ins.

At the Coffee Corner, a partnership between our Brooklyn Justice Initiatives team and Fountain House, participants in New York City’s Supervised Release Program can stop by for a friendly conversation and free coffee, tea, or soda. There are no mandates, no reporting requirements, no strings attached—just a human exchange over a refreshing drink.

“There are times where I'm in the elevator and somebody's like, ‘I can't wait to get my cup of coffee today,’” says Gigi Irizarry, a clinical coordinator at Brooklyn Justice Initiatives. “It’s quite literally dignifying the experience of being in a court-mandated program.”

The Coffee Corner is a vital source of comfort in a program like Supervised Release, a community justice-based alternative to bail that keeps people out of jail, in touch with their communities, and connected to services while they wait for their court case to be resolved.

“I think people can come to their Supervised Release check-ins feeling very ostracized; there’s sometimes shame that comes with it,” says Irizarry, referring to the process of navigating a criminal charge. “So to be able to offer them something like a coffee and a pleasant interaction that doesn't feel mandated—I think that that goes such a long way.”

The Coffee Corner was inspired by another initiative we support with Fountain House: the Recharge Station, a kiosk in Times Square where people can enjoy a coffee, have a conversation, and access overdose-reversing medication like Narcan and other critical resources that may be difficult to find on their own. This approach recognizes the importance of positive social interaction, not just clinical treatment, in supporting people with mental health needs.

Read the full article about the Coffee Corner at Center for Justice Innovation.