Changing The System
replacing the "lock'em up and throw away the key" mandate with one of ending recidivism
Who We Are
Partnering to Change the U.S. Criminal Justice System
Advocates 4 Justice works with former and current state Attorneys General, governors and state legislatures, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Congress, and the office of the U.S. President, and collaborates and forms alliances with criminal justice reform organizations which have compatible and complementary missions and values to end the abuse of power within the local, state and federal systems, focusing on the Grand Jury system.
Partnering to provide mentoring, education, and support
Advocates 4 Justice forms partnerships and alliances with other criminal justice reform organizations, local nonprofits involved with mental health and drug abatement, trade schools, civic organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, online educational organizations, community colleges, and local trade schools. These organizations provide mentoring, education, and support.
Advocates 4 Justice
Advocates 4 Justice is an Alabama nonprofit, 501(c)3 corporation established to support and build on an initiative by former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. Governor Siegelman was joined by Ellyn Elson, leadership and management consultant, to build this organization.
The Board of Directors is composed of legal and subject-matter experts. A team with specific skill sets in leadership, financial, management, and educational education and experiences form the core.
Advocates 4 Justice has offices in Birmingham, Alabama and Napa, California.
— Our Mission
- To advocate for change the Grand Jury System to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, fairness for everyone. The first step is for the defendent’s right to counsel in Grand Juries.
- To change the U.S. prison mandate from one of warehousing and punishment to one of education and rehabilitation. Recognizing that prison isn’t the ideal place to turn someone’s life around, it may be society’s last best chance. Therefore, education and rehabilitation must begin on day one, by ensuring every inmate has access to education in life skills, societal skills, language, reading, math, and job skills.
- The ultimate goal being to prepare individuals to rejoin their communities with the skill sets to be contributing members of society and reduce recidivism by over 50% in the next five years.
— Our Vision
We believe that balancing the scales of justice is achieved by advocating for change in the U.S. Criminal Justice system, beginning with change to the Grand Jury system, and simultaneously advocating to end recidivism through education, mental health support, drug abatement, and job training.