Irvine, Calif. – The JAMS Foundation is pleased to present the 16th annual Warren Knight Distinguished Service Award to Common Justice, along with a $25,000 grant. The award recognizes Common Justice for its efforts to develop and advance solutions to violence that transform the lives of those harmed and foster racial equity without relying on incarceration. The award will be presented by the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution on April 11 as part of the 2024 Dispute Resolution Spring Conference in San Diego.
Created in memory of the founder of JAMS, H. Warren Knight, the Warren Knight Distinguished Service Award and grant recognizes the work of extraordinary individuals and organizations in advancing collaborative forms of dispute resolution and peaceful resolution of conflict.
The commitment of Common Justice to prioritizing accountability and safety over punishment is both laudable and essential to those impacted by violence in the U.S. We are proud to support their work to positively transform the justice system both locally and nationally.
- David Brandon, managing director of the JAMS Foundation
Common Justice is a New York City-based organization that engages young adults and those they have harmed in a restorative justice program that provides opportunities to collectively address the impacts, needs and responsibilities of those involved. They seek to transform the communities they serve by enabling transformative solutions that foster racial equity and allow parties to heal from the impacts of violence without resorting to incarceration. The organization created the first alternative-to-incarceration and victim service program in the U.S. to focus on violent felonies in adult courts.
Our mission is to build practical strategies that, amongst many things, seek to break cycles of violence and promote safety, healing, and justice for survivors and their communities. We are grateful to the JAMS Foundation for acknowledging and supporting the important work we do as we continue our commitment to providing opportunities for restorative justice.
- Danielle Sered, executive director of Common Justice
Judge Knight, who founded JAMS in January 1979, was a pioneer in the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and legal communities. He was instrumental in introducing and furthering ADR throughout the United States.
About the JAMS Foundation
The nonprofit JAMS Foundation was established in 2002 by JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. The mission of the JAMS Foundation is to provide financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national and international impact and to share its dispute resolution expertise for the benefit of the public interest.
The Foundation is funded entirely by contributions from JAMS neutrals, executives and associates, and a substantial annual donation from JAMS. To uphold the company's core value of neutrality, the Foundation accepts no donations outside of JAMS. The Foundation currently comprises 300 principal benefactors and has provided more than $12 million in grant funding since its inception.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. JAMS successfully resolves and manages business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
With a roster of over 400 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings.
More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.