I’ve been writing about criminal justice reform (CJR) for most of my career. Although I wouldn’t quite call myself an expert on the topic, I’ve been fortunate to work with and interview many policy experts, law enforcement officers, politicians, and former inmates.
With the events surrounding the death of Mr. George Floyd, I’ve noticed more people are interested in CJR. Below is a list of the organizations that are active in promoting reform in Indiana and across the United States that I’ve either worked with or know the national staff/board members.
If there’s another organization I should add, please let me know! Always happy to add more resources.
Indiana
America’s Future Foundation – Indianapolis
From January 2016 – January 2018, I was a member of the AFF-Indianapolis chapter board before I became the current president. Our panels, webinars, and networking events are centered around promoting personal and economic freedom. Conversation topics range from CJR, occupational licensing reform, economics/entrepreneurship, and drug policy. We are currently looking for new volunteers and one new board member; if you’re interested in getting involved with AFF-Indianapolis, please fill out this form here.
America’s Future Foundation (AFF) is a nationwide network of liberty-minded young professionals. We provide unique opportunities to learn about the ideas of free markets, limited government, and personal responsibility, and to develop the skills necessary to articulate them.
Through our programs, AFF offers young professionals networking and mentoring opportunities, in addition to writing, speaking, and program management experience to help you become a more effective advocate for freedom.
We envision an American culture permeated with a love of liberty, and a society that values free enterprise, personal responsibility, and limited government.
AFF is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1995 by a group of liberty-minded leaders in Washington, DC.
Every person is made in the image of God. No life is beyond His reach. Founded in 1976, Prison Fellowship® exists to serve all those affected by crime and incarceration, and to see lives and communities restored in and out of prison—one transformed life at a time.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Indiana
Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the nation’s foremost guardian of liberty. We are nonprofit, nonpartisan, and dedicated to defending and protecting the individual rights and personal freedoms of all.
United States
American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF)
The American Conservative Union Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest organizations representing grassroots conservatives throughout the United States. Founded more than five decades ago by William F. Buckley, ACUF works to advance our core values of liberty, personal responsibility, and fiscal responsibility – all of which are impacted by criminal justice reform. The mission of ACUF is to educate Americans about conservative solutions to the country’s most pressing problems.
Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty
Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty is a network of political and social conservatives who question the alignment of capital punishment with conservative principles and values.
FreedomWorks exists to build, educate, and mobilize the largest network of activists advocating the principles of smaller government, lower taxes, free markets, personal liberty and the rule of law.
The Innocence Project, founded in 1992 by Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck at Cardozo School of Law, exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
Founded in 1986, The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration.