Akua
Amaning
Director, Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal Justice Reform
We focus on developing policies to shrink the justice system’s footprint, improve public health and safety, and promote equity and accountability.
What We're Doing
Ending mass incarceration
Our work is centered around developing and supporting policies that will end unjust punishments and reduce the social and economic harms of mass incarceration, which have disproportionately devastated Black people and other communities of color.
Community safety and justice
We work to advance meaningful alternatives to the criminal legal system that address the root causes of violence, promote community-driven responses to people in crisis, and increase investments that improve public health and community safety over the long term.
The war on drugs
We are working to drastically reduce the criminalization of drugs in America while restoring communities that have been most affected by harsh drug enforcement measures.
Second chances
We advocate for policy options that remove obstacles and barriers for people affected by the criminal justice system while simultaneously highlighting the leadership of affected people in the reform movement.
Partners & Coalitions
The Criminal Justice Reform team collaborates with a number of justice reform partners at the national, state, and local levels to help build a more progressive justice system.
Justice Roundtable
The Justice Roundtable is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 organizations working to reform federal criminal justice laws and policies.
Justice Roundtable
Clean Slate Initiative
The Clean Slate Initiative is a national bipartisan coalition advancing policies to automatically clear all eligible criminal records across the United States and help state partners provide people with a fresh start.
Clean Slate Initiative
Drug Policy Alliance - Marijuana Justice Coalition
The Marijuana Justice Coalition is a broad coalition of national advocacy organizations, convened by the Drug Policy Alliance, who have joined forces to advocate for federal marijuana reform through a racial and economic justice lens.
Drug Policy Alliance - Marijuana Justice Coalition
Recent Work
Democratic Mayors Have Taken Decisive Actions To Stop Crime and Make Their Communities Safer
Article
![Man walking by a gun buyback poster]()
Democratic Mayors Have Taken Decisive Actions To Stop Crime and Make Their Communities Safer
Republican Governors Criticize Bail Reform While Crime Rises in Their States
Article
![People stand in line to testify before the House Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies, which began hearings on bail reform and election integrity bills.]()
Republican Governors Criticize Bail Reform While Crime Rises in Their States
Republican Leaders Across the Country Consistently Put Gun Rights Over the Safety of Law Enforcement Officials
Article
![A police officer monitors activity near a residence while responding to a shooting.]()
Republican Leaders Across the Country Consistently Put Gun Rights Over the Safety of Law Enforcement Officials
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Successful Messaging for Democrats on Crime and Criminal Justice Reform
Past Event
![cap-action-social-share]()
Successful Messaging for Democrats on Crime and Criminal Justice Reform
A Polling Briefing featuring Artist and Activist John Legend
Democratic Mayors Have Taken Decisive Actions To Stop Crime and Make Their Communities Safer
Article
![Man walking by a gun buyback poster]()
Democratic Mayors Have Taken Decisive Actions To Stop Crime and Make Their Communities Safer
Democratic mayors across the country are using a wide range of strategies and approaches to respond to violent crime and address its root causes.
Republican Governors Criticize Bail Reform While Crime Rises in Their States
Article
![People stand in line to testify before the House Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies, which began hearings on bail reform and election integrity bills.]()
Republican Governors Criticize Bail Reform While Crime Rises in Their States
Despite “tough on crime” rhetoric, Republican-led states are not nearly as safe as New Jersey, a state that has ended cash bail.
Republican Leaders Across the Country Consistently Put Gun Rights Over the Safety of Law Enforcement Officials
Article
![A police officer monitors activity near a residence while responding to a shooting.]()
Republican Leaders Across the Country Consistently Put Gun Rights Over the Safety of Law Enforcement Officials
Despite strong opposition from law enforcement agencies, Republicans have passed gun laws that endanger police officers.
Busting the ‘Defund the Police’ Myth
Article
![Photo shows a close-up of an officer pressing a button on his uniform.]()
Busting the ‘Defund the Police’ Myth
Despite Republican claims, police in the largest Democrat-run cities have not been defunded.