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Ending mass incarceration requires addressing its harmful impact.
On both a systemic and individual level, the approach to incarceration in the United States strips people of their human dignity, creating lasting trauma that reaches not only the individuals incarcerated but also their families and communities.
And the impact of the carceral system extend beyond the experience of incarceration itself. Formerly incarcerated people face employment restrictions, endure record levels of homelessness and can even be stripped of their right to vote. These challenges also affect those with criminal records who have not served time.
As we work to transform the systems that drive mass incarceration, we must also look to ensure that people who the system has harmed can thrive in our communities. This includes expanding their opportunities for jobs, education and housing, building their political power to ensure their voices are heard, protecting against regressive policies, and securing legislative wins toward ongoing systemic change.
Through this work, we aim to break the cycle of harm and build stronger, safer communities.
1 in 4
People living in the U.S. have a criminal record.
(Source)
10x
The rate that formerly incarcerated people experience homelessness compared with the general public. (Source)
$10,090
Median earnings reported by those who have experienced incarceration within one year of their release. Only 55% report having any earnings at all. (Source)
5.2M
Americans were prohibited from voting in 2020 because of laws disenfranchising citizens convicted of felony offenses. (Source)
Our Approach
We invest in organizations and initiatives committed to building the opportunities and systems that help people directly impacted by mass incarceration to thrive, drive policy change and shape public discourse.
Building better systems to support successful reentry
We invest in efforts to transform the ways that people who have experienced incarceration are prepared and supported as they return to their communities so they can thrive.
Increasing economic mobility for people impacted by the criminal legal system
Through our participation in the Justice and Mobility Fund, we aim to boost economic mobility and improve the life trajectories of people impacted by the criminal legal system.
Strengthening the leadership capacity of people impacted by the criminal legal system
We help people harmed by the criminal legal system share their stories and advocate for meaningful and lasting change in the carceral system.
Our Grantees
Our partners lead programs and initiatives that address the root causes of injustice for formerly incarcerated people and all individuals, families and communities impacted by the criminal justice system.
View more grantees in our Criminal Justice Grantmaking portfolio
Supporting Individuals and Families After Incarceration
Creating Restorative Opportunities and Programs (CROP) is a three-year pilot program that offers integrated housing, skill development and employment for people who are formerly incarcerated in California.
Focusing on Public Health and Dignity
AMEND at the University of California San Francisco is a program focused on public health and human rights that works in prisons and jails to reduce the debilitating health effects of these facilities on residents and staff alike. Simultaneously, AMEND joins policymakers and community leaders to demand a better, new system of accountability and healing.
Restoring Power
Root & Rebound is restoring power and resources to the families and communities most harmed by mass incarceration through advocacy, public education, policy reform and litigation.
In Conversation With
Terah Lawyer: Paving The Way for Successful Reentry After Incarceration
As Executive Director of CROP (Creating Restorative Opportunities and Programs), Terah Lawyer draws from her lived experience to support rehabilitation and reentry for people leaving incarceration. This interview explores Terah’s journey from incarceration to criminal justice leadership and her insights on building a more empowering and successful reentry system.