The Justice Fellowship, funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is a pilot program that aims to empower justice-involved individuals by recognizing and incorporating their lived experiences to envision a more equitable justice system. Participants will bring their expertise to spaces and organizations where they've traditionally been unheard, gaining insights into the criminal legal system's intricacies, organization and history. The ultimate goal is to integrate fellows into policy and program discussions — fostering a broader network of community experts ready to contribute to decision-making tables.
The initiative seeks to cultivate future leaders, dismantle the stigma of previous incarceration, and eliminate barriers to reentry, change, and reintegration. It also envisions a replicable model for broader positive change with a lasting impact on individuals and communities.
The 2024 Cohort
Following a rigorous and competitive selection process, ten exceptional individuals from diverse backgrounds were selected. Their shared experience of overcoming adversity, including firsthand challenges associated with incarceration, set them apart. Despite facing significant obstacles, these individuals demonstrated remarkable resilience and gained valuable insights from their experiences. Committed to giving back to their communities, this inaugural cohort consisted exclusively of individuals with lived experience of incarceration or within the criminal justice system, poised to create a transformative and impactful change.
The 2024 Program
The final justice fellowship session took place on June 22, 2024, and the cohort is now fully equipped to undertake their projects.