CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants)

CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants)
Name	Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants
Abbreviation	CURE
Formation	1972
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Clayton, Ohio
Region served	United States; international chapters
Leader title	Executive Director

CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) is a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1972 focused on prison reform, prisoner rehabilitation, and post-release reintegration in the United States with international chapters. It engages in public policy advocacy, legal education, reentry programs, and grassroots organizing to influence criminal justice policy and correctional practice.

History

CURE was founded in 1972 amid the era of the Nixon administration, the aftermath of the Attica Prison riot, and growing activism linked to the Civil Rights Movement and opposition to the Vietnam War. Early organizers drew inspiration from reform efforts by groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and prison advocacy by individuals like Angela Davis and John Irwin (sociologist). Throughout the 1970s and 1980s CURE interacted with policymakers in the United States Congress, engaged with litigation trends influenced by decisions from the United States Supreme Court, and participated in debates responding to legislation such as the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. During the 1990s and 2000s CURE expanded programming parallel to initiatives by the Bureau of Prisons, collaborations with think tanks like the Vera Institute of Justice and The Sentencing Project, and involvement in state-level campaigns in jurisdictions such as California, Texas, and New York (state). In the 2010s and 2020s CURE responded to policy shifts under administrations from Barack Obama to Donald Trump and engaged with contemporary movements including advocates associated with Black Lives Matter and reform proposals promoted by lawmakers such as Cory Booker and Kamala Harris.

Mission and Objectives

CURE’s stated mission emphasizes rehabilitation, reduced recidivism, and humane conditions within facilities administered by agencies like the Federal Bureau of Prisons and state departments such as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Objectives include legislative advocacy in venues such as the United States Congress, programmatic support referencing models from organizations like Goodwill Industries, and public education campaigns similar to outreach by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The organization promotes reforms that intersect with legal doctrines shaped by decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and administrative standards influenced by the American Correctional Association.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

CURE operates with a national office and a network of state and international chapters modeled variously on nonprofit governance practices used by entities like the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations. Leadership roles include an Executive Director, Board of Directors, and state chapter coordinators; past and present leaders have engaged with advisory figures from academia at institutions including Harvard University, Yale University, and Johns Hopkins University. Board processes mirror nonprofit standards advocated by the National Council of Nonprofits and have involved partnerships with legal experts from firms like WilmerHale and scholars connected to think tanks such as the Brookings Institution.

Activities and Programs

CURE’s activities comprise legislative lobbying in state capitols including Sacramento, California and Austin, Texas, grassroots organizing in cities like Chicago and Philadelphia, and reentry services inspired by models from Transitional Housing providers and faith-based partners like the Catholic Charities USA and The Salvation Army. Program areas have included prison education initiatives similar to those at Bard College and Rutgers University, correspondence courses, inmate legal assistance echoing efforts by the National Lawyers Guild, and support for clemency petitions often filed with governors such as those of Ohio and Pennsylvania. CURE also runs public awareness campaigns, publishes newsletters, and hosts conferences alongside organizations such as the Sentencing Project and Justice Policy Institute.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

CURE has engaged in campaigns influencing legislation like state-level sentencing reform measures in California Proposition 47 (2014), parole reforms debated in Florida, and reentry funding initiatives in New York (state). The organization has submitted public comments to federal agencies and provided testimony before committees of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and collaborated with coalitions that include groups such as Families Against Mandatory Minimums and Right on Crime. Its advocacy work aligns with shifting criminal justice discourse involving figures like Michelle Alexander and policy proposals supported by former officials from the Department of Justice.

Partnerships and Affiliations

CURE partners with a range of organizations including civil rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, research organizations like the Urban Institute, faith-based networks such as Interfaith Alliance, and legal aid providers including Legal Services Corporation. Internationally, CURE has interacted with entities focused on penal reform like Penal Reform International and national charities in countries such as United Kingdom and Canada. Collaborative efforts have included joint reports, conferences with university law schools like Columbia Law School and NYU School of Law, and coalition campaigns alongside advocacy groups such as Equal Justice Initiative.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critics have challenged aspects of CURE’s approaches, citing tensions evident in debates between reform advocates like Emma Goldman-era critics and contemporary critics aligned with groups such as the Prison Policy Initiative. Controversy has arisen around priorities for decarceration versus incremental reform, echoing disputes involving activists like Van Jones and scholars linked to Marc Mauer. Some law enforcement organizations and correctional unions, including state correctional officer associations in Florida and Ohio, have criticized CURE’s policy positions on parole and early release. Questions have been raised by commentators in outlets associated with The New York Times and The Washington Post regarding the efficacy of specific programs and lobbying strategies.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States