Ben David served as the District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender Counties for two decades, establishing himself as one of North Carolina's most forward-thinking voices in criminal justice. Today, he serves as the CEO and Chief Legal Counsel of the newly established Community Justice Center (CJC) in Wilmington, NC.

Throughout his career, Ben realized that traditional, reactive law enforcement wasn't enough to make a community truly safe. By focusing on the root causes of crime - including trauma, poverty, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - he pioneered a "Starfish Model" of community-based prosecution that helped slash Wilmington's violent crime rate by 46% while keeping local prison populations entirely flat.

In this episode, we explore:
  • Why "today's victim is tomorrow's defendant" and how breaking the cycle of abuse stops future crime.
  • How combining government, nonprofits, and business under one roof maximizes community impact.
  • How the CJC turns a $300,000 rent budget into over $3.5 million of collaborative service value.
  • Balancing accountability for violent crime with rehabilitation and treatment for youth and the vulnerable.

Community Justice Center | About
LinkedIn | Benjamin David