1. Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)
Origin: Founded in Montgomery, Alabama in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a Harvard-educated lawyer inspired by the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and the stories of injustice he encountered while working on death penalty cases.
Mission: To challenge racial bias in the criminal justice system and create meaningful opportunities for people who have been wrongly convicted, marginalized, or disenfranchised. EJI works to end mass incarceration, challenge racial bias in the legal system, and promote healing and reconciliation through education and remembrance.
Focus: Racial injustice, mass incarceration, wrongful convictions, and historical legacy of racial violence in the U.S.
2. Vera Institute of Justice
Origin: Founded in New York City in 1961 by a group of concerned citizens in response to the overcrowding and harsh conditions in Rikers Island jail.
Mission: To improve the justice system by conducting research, providing technical assistance, and developing innovative programs and practices that are fair, effective, and humane. Vera focuses on reducing unnecessary incarceration, improving pre-trial and detention conditions, and advancing evidence-based criminal justice reforms.
Focus: Data-driven research, pre-trial justice, alternatives to incarceration, jail conditions, and criminal justice policy advocacy.
Both organizations have impressive track records of research and successful interventions in the criminal justice system. Choosing one that aligns with your specific course focus allows you to delve deeper into its data, staffing disciplines, and specific contributions to reform.
Once you provide details about your course, I can offer a more customized response and highlight aspects of the chosen organization most relevant to your learning objectives.
