When A Misdemeanor Can Land You In An Art Museum

Individuals arrested for low-level crimes in Brooklyn are getting a chance to avoid the court system if they participate in an art course.

Eligible people arrested for certain misdemeanors, such as shoplifting or trespassing, can take part in a two-hour class at the Brooklyn Museum, in which a piece of art is used to make them reflect on justice and accountability. If they complete the session, their cases are sealed and they do not need to appear in court.

An evaluation of a pilot program conducted by the Center for Court Innovation found that the program, dubbed Project Reset, was more effective than traditional prosecution, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

“It's an approach that, I believe, will reduce recidivism and make our justice system more fair for so many more people,” he said at a press conference Wednesday.

Since the program launched, 182 individuals have completed the Brooklyn Museum program and similar ones offered by the Brooklyn Justice Initiative and the Red Hook Community Justice Center. Officials estimated that about 1,000 people would be eligible for the program annually.

 “It definitely helped me avoid the anxiety of having to attend an actual court date for a mistake I made,” said Jessy Singh, who took part in the program at the Brooklyn Museum and had her shoplifting case dismissed.

The de Blasio administration has set aside close to $4 million to expand the program citywide.