Each Year, Justice Action Network brings together world-class leaders, sought-after experts, passionate advocates, and policymakers from every level of government to share ideas, inspire action, pack state capitol buildings, and advance data-driven criminal justice reform policies to change laws that change lives.
2024
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Executive Director Lauren Krisai joined Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha, a bipartisan pairing of lawmakers, and a representative from the Minnesota County Attorney’s Association for a press conference at the State Capitol to unveil a report detailing how bipartisan, JAN-led reform enacted in 2021 has driven a significant reduction in civil asset forfeiture cases in Minnesota.
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On June 11, 2024, the JAN team joined Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, leading Keystone State policy makers, local advocates, and members of the state's business community to celebrate the expansion of the nation's first Clean Slate law. A widely-attended press conference was followed by a ceremonial bill signing.
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On March 8, 2024, JAN joined forces with Rep. Jordan Harris (D-PA) and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), to host a Clean Slate criminal record clearing workshop and community day for its Philadelphia, PA residents.
The event, organized by Community Legal Services and Rep. Jordan Harris (D-PA) with assistance from the Justice Action Network, brought together a large gathering of the city’s residents to participate in a free record clearing workshop. The afternoon included music, pizza, vendors from local non-profits, and support from local public offices. The city’s community were welcomed by JAN and CLS and were able to sign up for a consultation to determine eligibility for automatic record sealing, along with an opportunity to meet with the legislators. Special remarks were given by Rep. Jordan Harris (D-PA); Sen. Anthony Williams (D-PA); Sharon Dietrich and Katie Svaboda-Kindle of CLS-Philadelphia; Kendell Ball, justice-impacted individual; and Syrita Simpkins, event manager for the Justice Action Network.
Pennsylvania became the first state to enact Clean Slate legislation in 2018. Since then, PA has expanded eligibility requirements, breaking barriers and allowing second chances for over a million people.
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On March 7, JAN joined the Louisiana Pelican Institute's annual policy summit to discuss a data-driven vision of public safety policy. The panel, which also included speakers from Right on Crime and The Adams Project, covered policing, mental health diversion, transparency and data collection, reentry, the unique challenges facing Louisiana's newly-elected government and more.
2023
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To shine a light on evidence-based criminal justice reform efforts, JAN convened a congressional briefing in Washington, DC to reflect on the conservative case for justice reform and the successful impact of the First Step Act on its five-year anniversary.
The briefing, hosted by Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and organized by JAN, was attended by several Republican congressional offices, and educated policymakers and the public about the myths and facts on the First Step Act and its impacts.
Speakers included: Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND); Former Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA), House bill sponsor; Ja’Ron Smith, White House criminal justice lead under President Trump; Matthew Charles, the first person released under the First Step Act; David Safavian, Chief Counsel of CPAC; and was moderated by Jenna Bottler, Executive Director of JAN.
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Clean slate expungement and probation reform were the topics discussed in St. Paul, MN with the focus on what the state’s lawmakers can do to improve the outcomes of Minnesotans who have criminal records or have served probation supervision sentences.
Located at the beautiful Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, JAN hosted a small reception and panel event for Minnesota lawmakers focusing on Minnesota’s Clean Slate bill and what it would mean for workforce development. The discussion, led by JAN’s Deputy, Lauren Krisai included a panel of business leaders, law enforcement, and impacted persons. The event, geared towards the state’s lawmakers, centered around a conversation on reducing barriers to employment and enhancing rehabilitative workforce opportunities by supporting Clean Slate legislation, probation reform, and retroactivity.
Speakers included Maggie O'Donnell, Policy & Advocacy Director at the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ); Jennifer Schroeder, a Minnesota-Based Advocate; Mary Liz Holberg, Dakota County Commissioner (District 6); Jorge Saavedra, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney and was moderated by Lauren Krisai, Deputy Director of JAN with special remarks by Ramsey County Attorney John Choi.
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JAN Communications and Coalitions Director joined law enforcement, the business community, state advocates and directly impacted Pennsylvanians during a press conference at a construction company just across the river from the state capitol in Harrisburg, PA. The group called on lawmakers to pass an expansion of the state's nation-leading Clean Slate law prior to the end of the year.
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On March 3, 2023, JAN staff moderated a panel at the annual CPAC conference on ways to address violent crime with policymakers. The conversation, which featured speakers with prominent backgrounds in Presidential administrations and conservative policy organizations, sought to help attendees effectively message data-driven reform even as national narratives incite worry about crime.
2022
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In August, 2022 in Harrisburg, PA, as Pennsylvania expanded its groundbreaking Clean Slate law, JAN, joined bill sponsors, partners, and advocates, continued to educate lawmakers about the positive effects of the law and why fair and equitable reintegration back into everyday life is vital for millions of Pennsylvanians.
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On September 12, 2022 JAN brought together Democratic and Republican lawmakers come together for this virtual event to talk about the importance of second chance legislation pending in Congress.
2021
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On November 11, 2021, in honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, the Justice Action Network chatted with former Congressman Doug Collins and Due Process Institute’s Jason Pye to share their stories, with the connection to veterans and the criminal justice system.
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In observation othe 35th anniversary of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and continuing efforts to pass the EQUAL Act, JAN joined Dream Corps for an October 20, 2021 virtual event, Act for Equal.
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JAN and former Governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, joined the Maverick PAC at their annual conference, MAVCON, to speak with hundreds of young conservative professionals across the country who are passionate about criminal justice policies and robust legislative justice reform agendas.
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On July 27, 2021 Representative’s Kelly Armstrong and Hakeem Jeffries teamed up in a bipartisan effort to waise awareness of criminal just reform. Hosted by JAN and FAMM the rooftop rally focused on advocacy for The EQUAL Act.
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On May 14, 2021 JAN and Arnold Ventures talked to experts about some of the misconceptions around qualified immunity in policing reform.
