Introducing Justice Speaks – A New Podcast Hosted by The Greenburger Center
Welcome to Justice Speaks: Controversial Conversations on Crime, hosted by the Greenburger Center for Justice. Here, we dive deep into the pressing issues and reform efforts that are reshaping our criminal justice and mental health systems. Each episode tackles difficult topics offering fact based and unfiltered discussions on the challenges and changes needed to create […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: Mental illness: a great leveler
As the executive director of the Greenburger Center, I have listened while parents describe the terror and heartbreak of watching a child experience and respond to hallucinations, delusions or visual distortions. I understand not only their heartbreak, but the terror of their children. My children and I have Todd’s Syndrome, more commonly known as Alice in Wonderland […]
Film screening of David Feige’s film Untouchable
On Monday, November 18, we welcomed Director David Feige to New York Law School for a private screening of Untouchable followed by a Q&A. This programming was part of our larger Sex Crimes & Punishment Series. Untouchable is streaming on Peacock.
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: Sex offender rules need reform
The Jacob Wetterling Act of 1994 mandated creation of “sex offender registries” for use by law enforcement. (Shutterstock) By CHERYL ROBERTS NYDN April 30, 2024 at 5:00 a.m. When it comes to criminal justice reform, people with serious mental illness are sometimes called the “third rail.” Those assumed too hot to handle and least deserving of […]
In Memory of Mental Health Advocate DJ Jaffe
Sometimes, there really is not enough time. About a month ago, DJ and I began working on an Op Ed about why defunding the police and spending money on “feel good wellness social services rather than long term treatment for SMI” was not going to reduce police shootings, help the SMI (seriously mentally ill) population, […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: Aaron Garcia has serious mental illness, not a mental health challenge NYDN
Bill’s happy talk on mental illness By CHERYL ROBERTS NEW YORK DAILY NEWS AUGUST 21, 2021 Mayor de Blasio’s recent characterization of Aaron Garcia as having a “mentalhealth challenge”downplays the realities of the disease and is unfortunatelyemblematic of his approach to people living with serious, untreated mentalillness. The next mayor must make a change.Garcia is […]
The Greenburger Center is at Work in Upstate NY!
In July 2020, Hudson City Mayor Kamal Johnson asked the Greenburger Center to facilitate a Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) mapping Task Force in Columbia County to identify the County’s mental health and substance use disorder service gaps. The request was the result of an Executive Order issued by the Mayor in response to the murder […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: The evil twins harming our mental health
Ex. Director Cheryl Roberts’ Op Ed in the NY Daily News: The Evil Twins Harming our Mental Health In 1965, Medicaid was enacted to ensure that at least some low-income people had access to health care. From the start, incarcerated low-income people were flatly excluded from coverage. A bipartisan bill re-introduced by Reps. Annie Kuster […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: Hard lessons from Daniel Prude’s death
“Daniel Prude represents the most at-risk group of Americans to be killed in an encounter with police: a Black male living with a serious mental illness. When police are summoned to so-called Emotionally Disturbed Person (EDP) calls, the results are often deadly. Nationwide, at least a quarter and maybe as high as half of those […]
Greenburger, Roberts AMNY Op Ed: Is There Any Justice Left in America?
BY FRANCIS GREENBURGER AND CHERYL ROBERTS As riots rage across the nation, it may be tempting for some, or expedient for the President, to rail against the rioters and to view these events as a failure of the rule of law. We don’t agree. The riots in Minneapolis are fueled by the desperation of African-Americans […]
We’re Teaming Up for Sane Change with NY Giants Isaac Yiadom
On Sunday, December 13th, NY Giants cornerback Isaac Yiadom will bring attention to criminal justice and mental health reform during this year’s My Cause, My Cleats Game by highlighting the Greenburger Center’s work. We are honored that he has made the Greenburger Center his cause for 2020. We are also honored that Isaac’s cleats were […]
Senator Sepulveda, Roberts NYDN Op Ed: A Tale About Mental Health, Not Bail
Tiffany Harris, a woman living with what appears to be a serious mental illness, has become a poster child for the push to roll back new bail reform laws in New York. Harris was charged with slapping three Orthodox Jewish women in Brooklyn. Rather than ordering mental-health counseling as a condition of release, something provided […]
DAs Hold Key to Diverting Defendants & Closing Rikers
The New York Daily News featured an Op Ed by Len Elmore, retired basketball player, lawyer, sports commentator and Greenburger Center Board of Advisor. Elmore’s Op Ed follows: It was a striking sight: Four of New York City’s five district attorneys gathered earlier this month at a forum sponsored by the Daily News, Greenburger Center […]
An Important Message from the late John Dunne, from his Grandson Sam
On July 24, 2021, John Dunne’s family held a memorial service in Spencertown, New York, at the home he shared with his wife Denise. I had the privilege of attending the gathering and was deeply moved and inspired by many of the tributes spoken about John that day, especially from Sam Ferrone, one of his […]
Getting Help Without Getting Hurt
A Greenburger Center panel discussion about mandated treatment and what people with serious mental illness, parents, doctors and policy makers can do to change the system. Listen to the full panel discussion by clicking on the video below:
Diaz Op-Ed: The weight we carry: A black woman’s lament on the state of the nation
Greenburger Center Board of Advisor Natalie Diaz wrote an Op Ed for the New York Daily News on her experience living as a black women in the United States. In her deeply personal peice, Diaz said: “As a black woman, these experiences are deeply traumatic. I cannot expect anyone who is not black to understand […]
Herb Sturz: Come Hell or High Water
The Greenburger Center was proud to call Herb Sturz a Board of Advisor since its founding in 2014. Without hesitation, Herb said “yes,” when asked if he would serve. He seemed not only interested in the mission but actually energized by the difficultly of our task; to divert some of the most difficult cases off […]
Francis Greenburger on Naomi Osaka
Would French Open Officials fine Naomi Osaka if she had a physical injury rather than a mental health one? Tennis rules allow for mid-match delays for physical injuries. Osaka’s delay was not even a mid-match delay but an after-match delay until the end of the tournament when Osaka said she would be happy to give […]
June 25th After Rikers Panel Discussion Video Now Available
On June 25th, the Greenburger Center hosted the second program in a three part series called After Rikers. This second installment focused on new developments in diversion and re-direction programs to help people living with serious mental illness either avoid the criminal justice system or access diversion and alternative to incarceration programs once in the […]
Roberts, Aquila: NYDN Op Ed: Kendra’s Law
This time, three people died. NYPD Detectives Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora were murdered by Lashawn McNeil — who, according to his mother, lived with mental illness and believed he was “God.” McNeil also lost his life during what may have been a mental health crisis.These deaths come only weeks after the killing of Michelle […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: Governor, free him in time for Christmas
On December 23rd, the NYDN published Greenburger Center Executive Director Cheryl Roberts’ Op Ed seeking clemency for Reggie Randolph. Governor, free him in time for Christmas: A clemency plea to Gov. Hochul By CHERYL ROBERTSNEW YORK DAILY NEWS | DEC 23, 2021 AT 5:00 AM It’s that time of the year, when governors grant clemency […]
Watch: Paraphilic and Compulsive Sexual Disorders: Separating Fact from Fiction
On November 17th, Cheryl Roberts, Executive Director of the Greenburger Center moderated a conversation with three experts in compulsive sexual and paraphilic disorders: Dr. Ken Rosenberg, MD, Dr. Richard Krueger, MD and Dr. Meg Kaplan PhD. The panelist explored issues including, what is paraphilic vs a compulsive sexual disorder? Is either disorder considered a mental […]
In Memory of John R. Dunne
John Dunne’s death would have been difficult to absorb at any time, but his loss is particularly hard now, at a time when we need more people, more politicians, and more public servants like John on both sides of the aisle, and on every side of an issue. John Dunne stood up for what he […]
Emma Gonzalez is Right
Emma Gonzalez is right. Anyone still suggesting that mental illness is at the root of the Parkland school shooting, or of any mass shooting in the United States, should be called out on their “BS.” Mental illness is not the root cause of mass murder in the United States. Guns are. If people with mental […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: Help Can’t Wait for Those Imprisoned With Mental Illness
Help Can’t Wait for Those Imprisoned With Mental Illness NEW YORK DAILY NEWS FEB 01, 2019 AT 7:57 PM Joel Porter, incarcerated on Rikers Island, and five unnamed plaintiffs sitting in state prison have no good place to go. All six have serious mental illness and all are caught up in the criminal justice system, […]
GC in the NY Daily News: Close Rikers, rethink mental health
Last week, LA County Supervisors announced plans to close a men’s jail and replace it with a mental health center run by mental health professionals rather than correction officers. This morning, my letter to the editor appeared in the New York Daily News, urging New York to follow LA’s lead. Congratulations to Patrisse Cullors, the […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: We need to talk about sexual health and justice
By CHERYL ROBERTSNEW YORK DAILY NEWS I Sep 23, 2022 at 5:00 am Twenty-five years after passage of the first federal Mental Health Parity Act, a recent Harris poll found most Americans view mental and physical health as equally important and fundamental to their overall well-being. It’s past time to treat sexual health on par with both. The consequences of the […]
Roberts NYDN Op-Ed: The Jail Rethink We Really Need
Dear Members and Friends, Today the New York Daily News printed an Op Ed by Greenburger Center Executive Director Cheryl Roberts about the need to rethink the jail closure plan. There are better ways to provide treatment and rehabilitation to people living with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders and to end the cycle of homelessness […]
NYDN Editoral: A jail is not a hospital
A jail is not a hospital EDITORIALSNEW YORK DAILY NEWSSaturday, October 7, 2017, 4:05 AM Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and retired Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, architects of the plan to close Rikers Island within 10 years, got a crash course on how to move one of the mountains in their way — lessons that need […]
The Crime Report Features Hope House on Crotona Park
The Crime Report ran a story entitled “Cops and the Mentally Ill: Finding A New Approach.” The story focused on the importance of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and promising new Alternatives to Incarceration for people with serious mental illness. Hope House was featured prominently and we wanted to be sure you didn’t miss the story. […]
