A NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION FOR THE ENTIRE JUSTICE COMMUNITY

An estimated 70 million Americans – one in three adults – have been directly impacted by the American criminal justice system through arrest, incarceration, or conviction, and at any one time there are more than two million people in custody at American jails and prisons. Millions more are employed in justice: a system that costs society more than $1 trillion a year.

YET THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION THAT
SERVES THE INTERESTS OF THIS HUGE SECTOR OF THE COUNTRY 

ASSOCIATION PORTALS
Based on successful membership-driven models like AARP, AAA, ACLU, the NRA, and others, JusticeConnects will feature three main engagement portals:
1. Justice-Impacted People & Their Families (JIP-Connects)
2. People & Organizations That in Work in Justice (POJ-Connects)                         
3. Businesses, Civic Groups, and Academic, Cultural & Religious Institutions (BCA-Connects)

Each portal will provide an interactive platform designed to address at scale the challenges facing all people, communities, organizations, and workers impacted by the justice system, providing access to resources, evidence-based tools, & peer-to-peer support.

Sub-Portals
Portals also will house specialized sub-portals, driven by membership needs. For example, the JIP-Connects portal may have sub-portals for justice-impacted veterans, tribal citizens, and the LGBTQ community. BCA-Connects will have a sub-portal for businesses to provide resources for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding justice-impacted employees. JusticeConnects will build in capacity for each portal and subgroup to create moderated discussion forums, access and build advocacy campaigns, and develop other features and activities that serve their communities.

BEST PRACTICES
JusticeConnects will be a platform where members and others can access research-based best practices as well as innovative programs, policies, and legislation.

MEMBER BENEFITS
Like AARP and other membership associations, benefits will include discounts to national and regional goods and services, and links to financial assistance. JusticeConnects will also aggregate existing resources from across the country, creating an online catalog of premiere life-skill and professional development training. The site will feature a Yelp-like rating system so members can evaluate and comment on services and resources.

Other Benefits & Features

MODERATED FORUMS
Moderated forums will allow different members and membership groups to share experiences, discuss policies and practices, and collaborate on projects, funding, and new initiatives.

E-COMMERCE SITE
Other JusticeConnects features will be accessible to non-members, including resources such as an e-commerce platform selling goods and services from businesses owned and operated by justice-impacted people.

REVENUE, GROWTH, & SUSTAINABILITY
JusticeConnect’s built-in revenue model will enable ongoing growth, flexibility, and sustainability, with a goal of being significantly self-funded within five years of launch.

TARGET OUTCOMES

JusticeConnects' platform is designed to drive community building and consensus to drive efficient, effective, and timely systemic change. The project's comprehensive ecosystem will:

• Provide returning citizens access to top-rated services and resources to facilitate reintegration and reduce recidivism

• Build dialogue and empathy to help heal trauma and strengthen families & communities

• Elevate evidence-based tools and best practices that improve efficiencies, leverage knowledge and resources, spur innovation, improve outcomes, and reduce costs

• Engage all sectors of civil society in integrating justice­impacted individuals and communities to benefit triple bottom line outcomes for all

JusticeConnects PILOTS

JusticeConnects is raising funds and assembling partners for pilots in select cities in 2024.  

for more information on funding & partnership opportunities
or to request a presentation on
portal details, budget & Pilot objectives
contact: Launch@JusticeConnects.org

Chords That Bind
Home For Good
Spatial Justice Project
Show of Hands

JusticeConnects is a program of Prism Reform, a NYS registered 501c3 organization