The Community Justice Campus (CJC) in Indianapolis is a reimagining of how a city approaches justice. Moving away from punitive models, the CJC was designed to be holistic, preventative, and person-centered. A brand new campus created an opportunity to improve the experience of justice, for everyone. Relocating the courts and detention facilities from the center of downtown to a residential area also presented the opportunity for the CJC to serve as a catalyst for revitalization in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Our work focused on bridging the gap between perception and reality, and that meant making the process deeply collaborative. We engaged community leaders, listened closely to local voices, studied national models, and worked to ensure the project was a shared effort. By translating the city’s ambitious goals into a clear, trusted narrative, we positioned the CJC as a symbol of progress: accessible, community-minded, and designed to make justice more equitable for every resident of Indianapolis.