Dear Community,
Two and a half years ago, I set out to build an organization that could help usher in the next chapter of the criminal justice system in America. One that prioritizes prevention, safety, and accountability over punishment alone. One we could actually be proud of.
I had an unprecedented $350 million, five-year commitment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative – which, as a lifelong advocate, felt simultaneously catalytic and like a drop in the bucket. What could any organization possibly have against an $80+ billion status quo decades in the making? How could we advance this issue in a post-pandemic world where certain crimes are up, people are feeling unsafe, and so many leaders are turning back to ineffective tough on crime solutions? Well, we had a plan.
And what we built is more than a strategy to move money. It is a roadmap for leveraging the incredible work that came before us, and for supercharging it in a way that addresses the unique moment we’re in. It is a roadmap for proving that criminal justice reform is more than ending mass incarceration – it’s a strategy to proactively create safer, stronger communities.
That’s just what we’re doing.
As you’ll see in this report, smart, safety-driven criminal justice reform IS happening, and our two organizations – The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action – are proud to be part of it. And I don’t mean the ideological debate between soft and tough on crime – tearing down every prison or building one on every corner. Neither of these frameworks tangibly address crime, and neither shows us how to hold people accountable in a way that heals and creates better neighbors.
The work we’re powering lies in between, and focuses on making smart changes to our justice system so that it works harder to keep people out than in. I’m talking about data-driven policy efforts led by both conservative and progressive coalitions to change outdated and disproven laws. I’m talking about groups working alongside law enforcement to create a more nuanced menu of approaches to community safety. I’m talking about the work to shrink the footprint of the criminal justice system, bit by bit, and to build policies and infrastructure that create better outcomes for all.
In the last 18 months alone, our state and national advocacy partners – often working together in politically diverse coalitions – fought for smart policy change in nearly every state. And their wins aren't just numbers on paper. In real life, this work means someone gets a job thanks to a cleared record. It’s a parent being home with their kids sooner, instead of incarcerated longer because of messy data. It’s people getting the help and support they need when they are in a mental health crisis. It’s someone getting access to powerful, proven rehabilitation programs and being set up for success upon reentry, so they can contribute to their communities instead of returning to crime to make ends meet.
We launched the Safer Communities Accelerator in December of 2022 with funding from The Just Trust for Education. Our partners, from the Law Enforcement Action Partnership to the Community Based Public Safety Collective, are working to offer different and more effective solutions for preventing crime and meeting people where they are in their worst moments.
The Just Trust for Action produced and disseminated research and messaging tools for leaders working across the political spectrum to help them navigate the ever changing cultural and political tide on this issue.
This tiny snapshot of momentum is the stuff we can’t let up on. This is shrinking the footprint. This is investing in safety. This is us giving it everything we’ve got – grants, narrative work, real time polling data and message development, research tools, convenings, and coalition building – to power change. This is why we’re moving this scale of resources, diversifying and leveraging capital, building unlikely alliances, filling gaps, and ensuring we never let momentum slip, slow down, or get sidelined.
Truly, none of this would have been possible without the support of so many who believed in us, and in me. Thank you to our early field advisors, who co-created our theory of change. Thank you to all of our grantees for the work you do every day, especially when it’s hard. Thank you to my philanthropic counterparts and mentors, several of whom co-funded parts of the work mentioned below. Thank you to our first funders, Dr. Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, for recognizing that the fight for safety and justice is essential to unlocking America’s full potential. And thank you to my parents, who left Costa Rica before I was born for the land of freedom and promise; my incredible brother, who spent my whole childhood cycling through that new country’s justice system and inspires my work today; and to everyone supporting me now.
If you’re just joining us, thank you for being here as well. Our sleeves are already rolled up, and we hope yours are, too.
One thing that is NOT true, however, is that it’s unchangeable.
That it’s too far gone.
Advocates and allies across the country have already made huge progress in slowing and reversing the expansion of the criminal justice system in the United States, and in seeding the infrastructure for something that better serves communities. We want to help escalate and streamline that momentum. We want to unlock the bold, creative solutions for safety and justice this country needs and deserves.
At The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action, we’re activating every lever for change at full speed to do just that.
Here’s a quick look at what some of our partners have been up to over the last 18 months since The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action started supporting the field. In this tough cultural and political moment for reform, we’ve been amazed at the resiliency of advocacy organizations, big and small. They’re educating the public on real safety solutions, developing evidence-based policy, fighting off bad bills, pushing through better ones, shifting narratives, working together across party lines, and getting things done.
We know this map is just one snapshot in time and of the work we support, and focuses solely on policy reform through (c)(3) and (c)(4) legislative advocacy. But even seeing this small slice of the pie (with momentum in almost every state) gives us hope that change is possible. Certainly, much of this work also started long before we came onto the scene – because durable change takes a lot longer than a legislative session or two – and much of it has also been supported by other funders that care deeply about reform.
Whoever said it takes a village, they sure weren’t kidding.
As we all know, the U.S. is the world’s top incarcerator, but how that actually plays out in states looks very different. Reform is needed everywhere, but the problem statement is different in Louisiana than it is in West Virginia or Oregon. That’s why the solutions need to look different, too. Keep scrolling for a look at how advocates are working to change this in the ways that work best for their state at this moment.
Partners of The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action pushed to pass, defeat or implement over 230 pieces of legislation and narrative campaigns* in 39 states in the last 18 months. View all wins*.
As we all know, the U.S. is the world’s top incarcerator, but how that actually plays out in states looks very different. Reform is needed everywhere, but the problem statement is different in Louisiana than it is in West Virginia or Oregon. That’s why the solutions need to look different too. Keep scrolling for a look at how advocates are working to change this, in the ways that work best for their state in this moment.
Partners of The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action pushed to pass, defeat or implement over 230 pieces of legislation and narrative campaigns* in 39 states in the last 18 months. View all wins*.
Defeated SB 2100, which would have reclassified receipt of a stolen vehicle as a felony, and would have applied mandatory minimum sentences without eligibility for probation, parole, or earned release time
A broad coalition defeated three of four regressive mandatory minimum bills (HB 402, SB 2099, SB 2100); state avoided an increase of nearly 1000 beds in its prison population, at a rough cost of ~$180 million over the next 10 years
Helped defeat two bills, SB 2099 and SB 2100, which would have made autotheft and possession of stolen property subject to new mandatory minimum punishments
Passes a rule change at the MS State Supreme Court, which will ensure that a person accused of a felony has a right to counsel beginning at their initial appearance through resolution of the case. Before this rule change, representation was only provided at initial appearance and after indictment.
Helped pass HB 722, which decriminalizes fentanyl test strips; passed both chambers of MS state government with overwhelming bipartisan support, with a vote of 117-3 in the House and 50-0 in the Senate
Defeated HB 402, which would have increased penalties and set mandatory minimun sentences for the crime of fleeing from law enforcement in a vehicle
Defeated SB 2099, which would have reclassified auto theft as a felony, and set mandatory mininum sentences without eligiblity for probabtion, parole or earned release time
Helped pass SB 2082, which suspends child support obligations for est. 1,010 people who are currently incarcerated and have been in custody for more than 180 days; will impact roughly 3,200 families who are part of the State's child support enforcement program with an active child support case
Successfully worked to lower the unnecessary proposed minimums in SB2101 which addressed fleeing from an officer and carjacking
Empower testified at a legislative hearing on the status of previous criminal justice reforms, using an Empower report that demonstrated that the recent rise in violent crime is not related to the justice reforms of the past decade. The hearing leveraged an Empower-commissioned poll of Republican primary voters showed, among other things, that only 12% supported longer sentences as one of the best ways to fight crime.
Prison Policy Initiative (and other partners?) helped Montana pass a bill to end prison gerrymandering
Helped secure and protect the veto of a bill that would create new criminal penalties for “rioting” and would have excessively criminalized protest
Supporting efforts to end Juvenile Life Without Parole
Helped defeat several bills to increase penalties for certain crimes, broaden the criminal code, and criminalize juvenile justice reform
Blocked several bills that increased penalties, broadened the criminal code, and further criminalized juveniles
The National Council launched the FreeHer Campaign in 6 New England states which uses a distributed organizing, deep canvassing campaign model to educate and shift publicopinion about the need to end incarceration of women and girls and stop proposed new women’s prisons in Massachusetts and Vermont
Successfully stopped or weakened multiple bills aimed at rolling back hard fought reforms in New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York.
Successfully stopped or weakened multiple bills aimed at rolling back hard fought reforms in New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York.
After nearly 20 years of advocacy on the issue, we made affirmative public comments on the signing of legislation appropriating $6 million to create a licensure scheme for law enforcement officers in New Jersey.
Supported SB 47 ending driver’s license suspension for missed court hearings and overdue fines and fees payments owed in traffic and criminal cases; also directs the Motor Vehicle Division to reinstate all outstanding driver’s license suspensions for these reasons
With local coalitions, helped pass legislation to end Juvenile Life Without Parole
HB 139 was signed into law, ending all post adjudication fees and bench warrant fees; also expands the definition of community service to encourage participation in job training, academic or vocational programs, or rehabilitation programs in lieu of payment of all or part of fines, fees, and costs
Provided legislative and advocacy support to local coalitions around a successful bill to reform compassionate release
Successfully blocked almost all budgetary rollbacks to 2019's bail reform and prevented further expansion of charges subject to pretrial detention
Successfully stopped or weakened multiple bills aimed at rolling back hard fought reforms in New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York
After a successful ad campaign supporting bail reform in in key state senate districts—Vera Action have helped to preserve bail reform despite a strong push from Governor Hochul to continue rolling back the law
CSI partners passed the New York Clean Slate Act in 2023
Launched the Workforce & Justice Alliance (WJA), a groundbreaking coalition to help deliver business voices calling for criminal justice reform across the country
Worked with Color of Change to push Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings, the largest investor in the predatory bail bond and bail insurance industry in the US, to divest from the industry
Passed SB 288 which expands earned credit release to people in prison, expands conditional reentry release for people with six months left to serve, and expands judicial release for people recommended by Ohio’s department of corrections. Together, these reforms will make Ohio safer and could reduce incarceration in the state by about 10%, or up to 50,000 people.
Secured violence prevention investments when Gov. DeWine awarded $20 million of American Rescue Plan funds in 2022 and another $20 million in 2023 to expand community-based violence prevention and trauma recovery services, including Trauma Recovery Centers
Weighed in to change HB 740, “anti-hooning” legislation that bars individuals from engaging in street racing; ensured the proposal limited mandatory minimums, allowed for diversionprogramming, and provided a pathway for drivers to restore their licenses if they avoidedsubsequent criminal driving-related offenses
Helped pass SB 844 which approves funding for SQ 781, a measure approved by voters in 2016 to reinvest prison savings from SQ 780 into behavioral health and other community-based programs
CSI partners passed HB 3316 in 2022, which brought Clean Slate policies to OK. In 2023, partners are working on implementation of the law
CSI partners passed HB 3316 in 2022, which brought Clean Slate policies to OK. In 2023, partners are working on implementation of the law
Helped pass SB 2490 to expand opportunities for people to earn time off their probation
Helped pass HB 2259 to limit arrest warrants and drivers license suspensions for failure to pay court fines and fees
In the first year of implementation, over 60,000 people have received services implemented through Measure 110 instead of funnelling into the criminal justice system. The state office of economic analysis announced that nearly $40 million dollars will be moved to the Measure 110 services fund to help pay for vital addiction recovery services. These dollars are the result of direct savings from within the criminal system due to no longer criminalizing addiction.
Passed HB2513 that strengthens M110, and it passed the House with a supermajority bi-partisan vote and is currently in the Senate
Health Justice Recovery Alliance and Drug Policy Action are working hard to protect M110 and have defeated several bills that threaten to repeal M110 or recriminalize possession and multiple attemtps to significantly reduce funding
Passed HB 2464 to expand access to the state’s victim compensation program, eliminate the 72-hour time limit for reporting a crime to authorities toqualify for compensation, and extend the time limit to file for compensation from two to five years
Passed HB 2032 to expand privacy protections for survivors of sexual assault
The National Council launched the FreeHer Campaign in 6 New England states which uses a distributed organizing, deep canvassing campaign model to educate and shift publicopinion about the need to end incarceration of women and girls and stop proposed new women’s prisons in Massachusetts and Vermont
Supported legislation to legalize recreational marijuana
Prison Fellowship staff and grasstops leaders like Lindsay Holloway, along with conservative partners, worked to delay consideration of a truth-in-sentencing bill until 2024
Worked alongside local partners to help the DAs office set up a Conviction Integrity Unit
Advocated for a bill led by Justice Action Network, that creates pathways for early probation termination for qualifying individuals who have demonstrated progress in rehabilitation
Spearheaded SB 0013, allowing individuals to delay payment of their fines and fees for six months after leaving prison
Contributed to the final passage of HB1743, which would expedite enrollment in the SNAP program for Texans leaving state prison
Supported HB 1819 to repeal juvenile curfew laws
Passed SB 49 which ensures that victims compensation covers relocation costsfor all survivors, increases caps on the amount of support a survivor can receive, andexpands eligibility to household members of victims
Worked to reduce the harm of HB17, which passed in a far less harmful removal bill than what was originally introduced by the legislature
Defeated legislation that threatened to remove prosecutors who exercise their discretion to decline to prosecute certain kinds of cases
In coalition with local advocacy groups, defeated a new rollback bill that would have undone key components of HB 2038, historic legislation passed in 2021 by REFORM which capped felony probation at a maximum of 5 years and misdemeanor probation at a maximum of 1 year, created graduated sanctions to limit when individuals on probation can be incarcerated on technical violations and limit the amount of time they can be sentenced to
Worked to pass SB1361, which features a number of provisions to improve transparency and accountability for the Virginia Parole Board
H. 222 expands vital harm reduction services throughout the state, improves access to drug treatment and recovery services including buprenorphine; permanently decriminalizes buprenorphine for personal use so that people no longer face criminal penalties for possessing it
The National Council launched the FreeHer Campaign in 6 New England states which uses a distributed organizing, deep canvassing campaign model to educate and shift publicopinion about the need to end incarceration of women and girls and stop proposed new women’s prisons in Massachusetts and Vermont
With local coalitions, Dream.org supported HB 1324 which has been signed into law, and modernizes Washington’s sentencing system to stop juvenile records from automatically increasing a person’s sentence
Worked with a coalition of local and national advocates in Washington State to pass House Bill 1412, which Governor Jay Inslee signed into law.; expands judicial discretion to waive or reduce restitution, fines, and fees based on a person’s ability to pay; allows incarcerated people to petition for relief from burdensome fines and fees; and creates a statute of limitations on payment of certain fines and fees, enabling people to come out from under stale debt
Fought in coalition against 12 bad policing bills, only one of which passed with limited damage done
Worked alongside local partners to pass HB 1169 which eliminated Juvenile fines and fees
Worked with Look to Justice and others in Washington to pass HB 1324 to stop juvenile records from automatically increasing a person’s sentence, signed by the Governor
WV Criminal Law Coalition members worked to defeat HB 2567 making 2nd offense trespassing a felony with a mandatory 1-5 years of incarceration
WV Criminal Law Coalition members worked to defeat HB 2471 reinstating drivers licenses suspensions for unpaid fines and fees
WV Criminal Law Coalition members worked to defeat SB 547 making simple possession a felony and increasing penalties for possession with intent to deliver
WV Criminal Law Coalition members worked to defeat SB 49 creating criminal offense for being under influence of controlled substance
WV Criminal Law Coalition members worked to defeat SB 540 creating penalties for urinating or defecating in public
WV Criminal Law Coalition members and the Vera Institute worked to defeat a bill which would have extended supervision for people with certain drug convictions for up to 10 years after they completed their sentence and parole
WV Criminal Law Coalition members defeated a bill to reintroduce the death penalty (HB2310)
WV Criminal Law Coalition members defeated efforts to rewrite of WV criminal code which would have increased penalties for certain convictions
HB 3552 deals with jails per diem by shifting some costs of incarceration to municipalities. This move could incentivize local governments to move more towards evidence-based alternatives like quick response teams, as well as enhanced use of civil citations and personal recognizance bonds.
HB 2847 imposing a life sentence for people convicted of selling fentanyl. Through the advocacy of grantee partners, this bill was not enacted.
SB 633 requires magistrates and judges to set a hearing within 5 days of an arrest on a capias. SB 633 would ensure people dont sit in jail for weeks or months waiting to have a bond set on a capias. This bill could significantly address the horrific jail overcrowding problem: Capias arrests were the #1 admission to West Virginia jails last year (a number that has grown 150 % in the last decade).
Passed HB4373 which declassified fentanyl strips as drug paraphenalia
SB 495 ensures that state public records laws apply to jails again
SB 558 prohibits law enforcement agencies from posting booking photos i.e. “mug shots” on social media for most low level offenses
HB 2594 relating to death penalty for first degree murder never advanced.
WV Criminal Law Coalition worked to defeat HB 3006 enhancing penalties for copper theft
The West Virginia Family of Convicted People (WVFCP) played a central role in much of our criminal justice work in the state. WVFCP set up phone banking centers in several recovery residences, trained residents to talk with legislators, and led daily phone banking projects on a variety of bills. WVFCP also regularly brought justice- impacted people to the state capitol to lobby.
Mississippi has one of the worst problem statements when it comes to the criminal justice system. It is the second highest incarcerator in the country and has the third highest share of Black people in prison. It’s also a state where reform has been deeply underfunded, save for a few key groups working on the frontlines like FWD.us. While the idea of change seems daunting in Mississippi, there are some fierce local advocacy groups that have been working very hard, but mostly going it alone. They are ready to GO.
With funding from The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action, alongside access to tracking polls, coordinated state convenings, and collaboration with national advocacy organizations, our partners are holding the line on reform in Mississippi, and defeated not one but three mandatory minimum tough-on-crime policies that would have strained the already overcrowded prisons in the state. Congratulations to the MacArthur Justice Center, Empower Mississippi, the ACLU of Mississippi, FWD.us, and Right on Crime. Right now, good defense is the best offense.
At a time when progressive and conservative states are introducing legislation to increase fentanyl-related penalties, groups in three of our focus states bucked the trend and pushed through deeply impactful bills decriminalizing fentanyl test strips this year. With funding and support from The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action, these bills – moved by Dream.org and VOCAL-KY in Kentucky, End it For Good in Mississippi, and the ACLU of West Virginia, AFSC of West Virginia, the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, REACH, and the Vera Institute in West Virginia – will save lives and avert drug-related criminalization.
These incredible parallel efforts were won because of the dedication of directly impacted leaders, state and national advocates, and elected officials across the political spectrum all working together to solve something that is bigger than any one political party.
After a five year collaborative effort led by the Prosecutors Alliance of California, Californians for Safety & Justice and others, California passed the most expansive record expungement bill in the country. It both automates record clearance for some crimes AND widely expands eligibility – which is essential in eliminating racial disparities in record clearing.
What’s even better? They not only passed prospective legislation, they also came back for retroactivity. A one-two punch. This kind of impact takes time, resources, and smart strategy. Over five years, the coalition led public education campaigns, organized directly impacted advocates, and built strong government partnerships. To show for it, ~1 million Californians and their families, will have a real chance at a fresh start.
It’s not enough to change policy and build strong narratives; we also need to actively invest in tools for creating safety – not just for reacting to crime.
That’s why The Just Trust for Education launched the first cohort of our Safer Communities Accelerator in 2022, to help connect and supercharge bold models for keeping communities safe and better fostering accountability. These groups are out there – many collaborating with law enforcement – to provide more nuanced responses to the myriad challenges our communities face, from mental health and drug-use related issues to interpersonal violence. They’re focused on getting communities the help they need now … creating safety NOW. Through funding, strategic support, in-person convenings and narrative workshops, we hope to help supercharge their work as a way to start normalizing these effective and always-improving approaches.
We’ll launch a second cohort of this program later in 2023. Stay tuned!
Our Media and Narrative partners are working to tell new and better stories about our relationship to the justice system in America. They’re showing us what actually makes communities safe, holding institutions to account, and shifting perceptions of justice-impacted people.
The Just Trust for Education supports independent reporters in 23 newsrooms across the country that are keeping justice in the limelight, including national outlets and regional publications in 11 states. We’ve also backed two films and counting, five podcasts, and three distinct narrative shift campaigns working alongside policy efforts in the South.
Finally, we’re leading first-party research and messaging testing, and we will be rolling out some exciting new tools for the field later in the year.
The conservative criminal justice reform field is essential to shrinking the footprint of the justice system in this country, yet it is vastly underfunded. There have been no 501(c)(4) organizations singularly dedicated to championing conservative justice reform policies, until now. The Just Trust for Action identified this major gap in 2021, and in 2023 proudly incubated and seeded a new, independent organization, The Adams Project.
Criminal justice reform is still one of the few bipartisan issues where people will work across divides, but in order to keep this window open – in every single state – we need strong organizations and leaders from all across the political spectrum lifting up this issue in their own ways.
years of combined experience in the criminal justice field
years in philanthropy and grantmaking
of our team has someone in their life who is justice-impacted
Here’s the reality: Whether we like it or not, philanthropic investment is an essential ingredient in reducing our overreliance on incarceration and in making our communities safer. We need investment in front end safety solutions. We need investment in policy advocacy. We need investment in narrative change. And people want solutions now, not in 5 or 10 years. That’s why it’s all hands on deck – philanthropic investors, advocates, governments, nonprofits, community members – to help the justice system play a stronger role in preventing crime and repairing harm, not just reacting to it.
At The Just Trust for Education and The Just Trust for Action, we’re showing that something else is possible, and that the broad, diverse criminal justice reform field requires broad, diverse investment to help drive the real-time solutions this country needs and deserves. Funders can’t just lean in when it’s politically convenient and out when it gets hard. If you want to lean all the way in with us, to see this work though, we’re here to partner, guide, and learn with you.
Because we’re not just trying to make good grants, run a few smart campaigns, and close our doors at the end of five years. We’re trying to help write the next chapter for America’s criminal justice system. To halt what’s not working and build something that actually helps our institutions work for people. Something that delivers on its promise of safety and justice.
Join us by investing directly in The Just Trust, funding alongside us, or supporting the field in other ways.
Designed and produced by Milli
