Report on Criminal Justice System Reform and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report outlines the perspectives of Thomas Reed, Adjunct Faculty Member at Marquette Law School, on criminal justice reform. It analyzes his career experience within the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s (SPD) office and his educational philosophy through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr. Reed’s approach emphasizes that a just legal system is intrinsically linked to broader societal goals, including poverty reduction, health, education, and the development of strong, peaceful institutions.

Advancing SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Mr. Reed’s career is a direct application of SDG 16, which aims to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. His work focuses specifically on Target 16.3: ensuring equal access to justice for all. This commitment is demonstrated through several key areas:

• Public Defense: A career dedicated to providing legal counsel to the accused, ensuring that justice is accessible regardless of economic status.
• Systemic Leadership: As Regional Attorney Manager for the SPD in Milwaukee, Mr. Reed led efforts to uphold constitutional principles and achieve justice within a major urban trial office.
• Restorative Justice: A strong advocacy for restorative justice practices, which align with SDG 16 by seeking to resolve conflict, repair harm, and build peace rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
• Support for Justice Professionals: A commitment to supporting the lawyers, investigators, and social workers who work to assist individuals accused of crimes, thereby strengthening the institutions of justice from within.

Addressing Interconnected SDGs for Holistic Justice Reform

The report highlights Mr. Reed’s view that crime and its causes cannot be addressed in isolation. Effective and sustainable justice reform requires an evidence-based approach that acknowledges interconnected societal challenges, directly aligning with a range of SDGs.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Mr. Reed references the work of scholars like Mathew Desmond and Patrick Sharkey, whose research links poverty, eviction, and neighborhood instability to crime. This underscores the idea that creating safe and sustainable communities (SDG 11) and alleviating poverty (SDG 1) are essential strategies for crime prevention. The City of Milwaukee’s Blueprint for Peace is cited as a vision that captures this integrated approach.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The work of the SPD to support clients facing addiction and mental illness through treatment courts and diversion programs is a direct contribution to SDG 3. This approach prioritizes rehabilitation and well-being over incarceration.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The fundamental mission of the public defender’s office is to address the inequality inherent in a justice system where legal representation can be dependent on wealth. By ensuring skilled defense for all, the system moves closer to the goal of reducing inequality.

The Role of SDG 4 (Quality Education) in Legal Practice

Mr. Reed’s return to Marquette Law School as an educator underscores the importance of SDG 4 in shaping the next generation of legal professionals. His teaching philosophy is built on core principles essential for fostering a justice system that is both effective and humane.

1. Broad-Based Learning: Legal education must incorporate history, literature, and philosophy to create better lawyers and individuals who understand the human context of the law.
2. Interdisciplinary Understanding: To apply legal rules effectively, practitioners must develop a deep understanding of how people live. Learning across disciplines is presented as an essential skill for achieving justice.
3. Practical Application for Justice: Justice is not a static state but an emergent quality achieved through daily effort. Education must prepare students for the hard work of resolving conflicts and building a just society.
4. Collaboration with External Experts: Legal professionals must engage with powerful voices and research from outside the law, such as sociology, to build an evidence-based foundation for a modern criminal justice system.
5. Human-Centered Approaches: A core educational tenet is to never give up on people. Future lawyers must be taught the value of patience and skill in helping individuals learn from their experiences, with restorative justice as a key example.

Conclusion and Future Direction

As an adjunct faculty member, Thomas Reed intends to contribute to Marquette Law School’s mission by mentoring students interested in justice reform and courtroom advocacy. His work exemplifies a modern approach to criminal justice that is deeply integrated with the principles of sustainable development. By focusing on access to justice (SDG 16), addressing root causes like poverty and health (SDGs 1, 3, 10, 11), and promoting a holistic, interdisciplinary education (SDG 4), this perspective prepares legal professionals to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable society.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

Detailed Analysis

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The author’s entire career as a public defender and his focus on the “criminal justice system” and the need for “wise reforms” directly address this goal. He discusses the daily work “to do justice,” the importance of “skilled defense attorneys,” and the development of an “evidence-based foundation for a modern criminal justice system.” The mention of restorative justice and the “City of Milwaukee’s Blueprint for Peace” further solidifies the connection to promoting peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article connects crime and the justice system to poverty by referencing the work of scholars. It specifically mentions Patrick Sharkey’s research on how “crime reductions could be tied in data to the web of organizations lifting people out of poverty” and Mathew Desmond’s book, Evicted, which highlights the link between housing instability and poverty in Milwaukee. This shows an understanding that addressing poverty is a crucial part of creating a just society.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article touches on this goal by discussing the underlying issues faced by clients in the criminal justice system. The author notes that his office “worked hard to support efforts to help clients facing addiction, mental illness, and other problems.” The promotion of “Treatment courts, diversion programs, and the like” as alternatives to incarceration directly relates to providing health services and treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The work of a public defender, as described in the article, is fundamentally about addressing inequalities within the justice system. The author serves clients who are often marginalized and economically disadvantaged, ensuring they have legal representation. The goal to “temper our desire for accountability so that people who can contribute to our society are given that chance” speaks to promoting social inclusion for individuals who have been through the justice system, reducing the inequality of opportunity they often face.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article connects to this SDG by discussing the social fabric of cities. It references Robert Sampson’s research on “the enormous power of neighborhoods” and Mathew Desmond’s work on evictions in Milwaukee. This highlights that community-level factors, such as stable housing and strong neighborhood organizations, are essential for safety and well-being, which are key components of sustainable communities.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Detailed Analysis

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   This target is at the core of the author’s professional life. His work as a “staff lawyer in the State Public Defender’s office” and his role leading it are direct efforts to provide access to justice for those who cannot afford it. He emphasizes that “Skilled defense attorneys are essential” for the system to function, especially in helping clients navigate alternatives to incarceration, which is a key aspect of ensuring justice is fair and accessible.

2. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article addresses this target by discussing proactive and preventative strategies beyond “penal strategies.” The author notes that “Crime, especially violence, is not inevitable, and its causes can be addressed.” He cites the “City of Milwaukee’s Blueprint for Peace” as a vision that captures this approach, aiming to prevent violence and create a safer community.

3. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

   This target is identified through the article’s discussion of alternatives to traditional punishment. The author explicitly mentions supporting “clients facing addiction” and the use of “Treatment courts, diversion programs, and the like” as important commitments. These programs are designed to provide treatment rather than simply incarcerate, directly aligning with this target.

4. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

   The article implies this target by linking crime to poverty. The reference to Patrick Sharkey’s work, which found that crime reduction is linked to “organizations lifting people out of poverty,” suggests that justice reform and poverty reduction are interconnected goals. Addressing the root causes of crime, including poverty, is essential for achieving a just society.

5. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.

   This target is highlighted by the specific mention of Mathew Desmond’s book, Evicted, and his research in Milwaukee. By including this, the author acknowledges that housing insecurity is a critical issue that affects the clients he serves and the community at large, and is intertwined with the challenges of the justice system.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Detailed Analysis

• Proportion of the population who have experienced a physical, psychological or sexual violence (Implied from Target 16.1)

  The article implies the use of this type of indicator by referencing Patrick Sharkey’s work where “crime reductions could be tied in data.” This suggests that progress towards the “Blueprint for Peace” and other violence reduction strategies would be measured by tracking data on crime and violence rates within the community.

• Proportion of population provided with free or low-cost legal aid (Implied from Target 16.3)

  The entire existence of the State Public Defender’s (SPD) office, which is central to the article, serves as a proxy for this indicator. The author’s career is dedicated to providing this service, and the effectiveness of the justice system reform he advocates for could be measured by the capacity and reach of such legal aid services.

• Number of people receiving substance abuse treatment through justice system programs (Implied from Target 3.5)

  The article’s mention of “Treatment courts, diversion programs, and the like” as “important examples” of the SPD’s commitment implies that the success of these initiatives can be measured. An obvious indicator would be the number of individuals successfully participating in and completing these programs as an alternative to incarceration.

• Eviction rates and rates of housing insecurity (Implied from Target 11.1)

  By citing Mathew Desmond’s research on his book Evicted, the article implicitly points to eviction rates as a key indicator. Desmond’s work is data-driven, and referencing it suggests that tracking such metrics is crucial to understanding the social problems, including crime, that affect Milwaukee.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: law.marquette.edu