Why I Started The Clark Justice Institute

For eight years, I have worked within the systems survivors must navigate: community-based advocacy, law enforcement, city government, and child welfare. During this time, I observed dedicated professionals making the most of their training. However, I also saw that training, resources, and ongoing advocacy alone are insufficient. Even well-intentioned systems still allow survivors to fall through the cracks.

This is the purpose of The Clark Justice Institute (CJI).

CJI cannot change the criminal justice system or erase the trauma survivors have experienced. However, it can improve the systems that impact victim services by working with professionals and organizations and, through each interaction, contributing to broader systemic change.

I hold a PhD in criminal justice, am a credentialed victim advocate, have trained professionals in the field, and have published my dissertation research. As a survivor who has navigated the system, my personal experience informs my approach, though it is only part of my motivation for this work.

CJI operates at the intersection of trauma and criminal justice, serving two primary audiences: survivors seeking to navigate a system not designed for them, and professionals—including law enforcement, legal, clinical, and victim services—who strive to support survivors, often without adequate resources.

For professionals, this means continually evaluating how you and your organization can better support victims and ensure true accountability for offenders. For survivors, it means receiving support from the outset and having the opportunity to move forward at your own pace, with access to meaningful education and resources.

This is the foundation of “for the field, for survivors.” Both aspects of this work are interdependent. Well-trained systems reduce harm, and informed survivors are better equipped to navigate the process on their own terms.

Field Notes will offer practical reflections from my work, rather than abstract theory. Some posts will address professionals, focusing on training gaps, multidisciplinary collaboration, and field observations. Others will speak directly to survivors currently navigating the system. I will also share research, including my ongoing analysis of AI-driven violence prevention tools from a trauma-informed, survivor-centered perspective.

If you are a survivor, I hope the resources here are helpful and clarify at least one aspect of this process. If you are a professional in this field, I hope you will return to this resource.

For the Field. For Survivors.

— Dr. Caitlyn M. Clark