There are several ways that you can become an advocate in your community and inspire others to make change with you. Read the EJI's list for getting involved. 

 

Volunteer 

More than half a million people are released from prison every year in the U.S. with virtually no help to manage the inherent challenges of re-entering society. Stringent parole conditions and a lack of support for those re-entering the community have created a high recidivism rate among parolees, who face exploitative fees charged by private companies and are threatened with parole revocation and re-incarceration if they cannot afford to pay.

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You can help by volunteering to support someone returning to your community.

 

Find a list of organizations in your community that you can volunteer with in order to champion criminal justice reform and support vulnerable individuals in your community. 

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Teach

Another way you can get involved with making positive change in your community is through teaching an event on criminal justice reform. You can host film screenings, panel discussions, and book clubs to talk about mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex, and invite friends, family, and neighbors over to watch and discuss True Justice, 13th, or When They See Us.

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Lobby

There are millions of people in the United States who can't, so every ballot that you can cast works towards a more just society. Vote on behalf of the disenfranchised, the incarcerated, the condemned, the undocumented, and the marginalized in this country who are suffering from oppression, inequality, and abuse. In addition, join with others who care about social justice to lobby your local, state, and federal representatives to support sentencing reform. Question political candidates, especially local prosecutors and judges, about their plans to reduce over-incarceration and eliminate excessive punishment.

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Organize

Organize a Community Remembrance coalition. Communities across the country are joining together to recognize racial terror lynchings by organizing soil collections, installing historical markers, and starting the process to claim their county’s monument from the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

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