Multnomah County Justice Fellowship

A pilot program that aims to bring fellows into policy and program discussion is in its second year.

Photo of downtown Portland with Willamette River

Justice Fellowship Goals

The Justice Fellowship is a pilot program that aims to bring fellows into policy and program discussions — fostering a broader network of community experts ready to contribute at decision-making tables. 

The program will empower justice-involved individuals by recognizing and incorporating their experiences to envision a more equitable justice system. Participants will bring their expertise to spaces and organizations where they've traditionally been unheard, and will gain insights into the criminal legal system's intricacies, organization and history.

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.

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation funds the project.

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 final justice fellowship session took place on June 22, 2024, and the cohort is now fully equipped to undertake their projects.

Application to request a fellow's participation

The 2025 Program: Application Review Underway

The Multnomah County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC) is no longer accepting applications for the 2025 Justice Fellowship. We received a strong pool of applicants and are now in the process of reviewing submissions for the upcoming cohort.

We appreciate everyone's interest in the Justice Fellowship and will be in touch with selected candidates as we move forward with the review process.

Questions?

Please contact: Enrique Rivera enriquer@multco.us.

Last reviewed September 11, 2025