Financial harm is a built-in feature of the U.S. #criminaljustice system. From #finesandfees to predatory banking practices, the system traps millions of people—and their families—in debt that lasts long after release. Learn more in #CostofConviction: justuscc.org/costofconviction

“Most of us have been through #trauma and violence well before we become addicted.” —Carole Eady-Porcher (Leading with Conviction™ 2015) Read more: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/22/carole-eady-porcher-celebrates-new-trauma-recovery-center-opening-in-brooklyn-new-york#trauma #BrooklynNY #Recovery

“It’s understandable to be discouraged, but you can’t let that become a self-fulfilling prophecy. … You have to have the hope …” Full interview: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/08/stanford-professor-keith-humphreys-discusses-the-steady-decline-in-mass-incarceration-in-the-u-s-and-will-it-continue/

Christmas came early for Jelly Roll! 🎁 Congrats, JR: https://apnews.com/article/jelly-roll-pardon-tennessee-governor-0985a1f8b0de64d78a84dd5244d860a0 #JellyRoll #Tennessee #Pardon

“Last Christmas, Officer Andrew Lansing was brutally murdered … In response, #Ohio passed #AndysLaw … [which] would force the OH Dept of Rehabilitation & Correction to end higher-education programs …” https://jlusa.org/2025/12/19/jonathan-morgan-on-how-prison-education-programs-save-lives-and-money

Until financial institutions are held to account and the voices of directly impacted people shape reform, the #costofconviction will keep compounding—for families, communities, and the economy as a whole. Learn more in our new report: justuscc.org/costofconviction#costofconviction #EconomicMobility

“President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to downgrade #cannabis from the most restrictive category of drugs … But it did not legalize #marijuana.” Gift article: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12/18/us/trump-news?unlocked_article_code=1.9k8.vrJI.8klTxpSB8Ea9&smid=nytcore-ios-share

As the year wraps up, here are the top recommendations that #captivated us in each of these categories in 2025—#music, #movies, #TV, #podcasts, and #books! View the complete list: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/17/captivated-jlusas-annual-year-end-best-of-list-for-2025#captivated#music#movies#TV#podcasts#books#Captivated2025 #BestOf2025

JustLeadershipUSA mourns the passing of Ronnie Waters (1962-2025), who passed away early Monday morning. Read our full statement: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/15/jlusa-mourns-the-passing-of-ronnie-waters/ #JLUSAstrong #LeadingWithConviction #RestInPower

🌟 As we wrap up the year and celebrate the holiday season, JLUSA is reflecting on the impact YOU helped make possible. 🎄 Help us finish the year strong — make a holiday donation to fuel this work. Donate now: jlusa.org/donate

“Survivors, including author & activist Dr. Donna Hylton [Leading with Conviction™ 2015], provided emotional testimony about how this violence has impacted their lives ...” Watch now: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/15/dr-donna-hylton-testifies-in-support-of-the-survivors-justice-act-in-new-jersey

“People thought [#Halfby2030] was ludicrous … but that’s where we are headed. … Everybody who predicted that or wanted that deserves a prize.” Listen: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/08/stanford-professor-keith-humphreys-discusses-the-steady-decline-in-mass-incarceration-in-the-u-s-and-will-it-continue/

Stanford Prof. Keith Humphreys says we are on our way to #Halfby2030. What does he say organizations like JLUSA that predicted this & worked for it should do? ○ Don’t be discouraged ○ Get a prize ○ Have a party ○ All of the above Take the quiz: jlusa.org/quiz#Halfby2030 #Quiz #CriminalJusticeReform

“The move would not legalize or decriminalize marijuana, but it would ease barriers to research and boost the bottom lines of legal businesses.” Free gift link: https://wapo.st/3YnglSZ #Marijuana #LegalizeIt #DrugPolicy #Reschedule #Deschedule

“Every Monday, Demar, Red, Cambo, Anthony, & Vik give listeners a glimpse of life inside the #WashingtonState Penitentiary in #WallaWalla on their #podcast Concrete Mama.” Learn more & listen now: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/12/new-podcast-explores-life-at-washington-state-penitentiary#WashingtonState#WallaWalla#podcast#ConcreteMama

“[Young people] haven’t been committing crime … In 2035 we’ll be at a half-century low in #prisonrate & that’s going to be a really different country.” https://jlusa.org/2025/12/08/stanford-professor-keith-humphreys-discusses-the-steady-decline-in-mass-incarceration-in-the-u-s-and-will-it-continue/

Stanford Professor Keith Humphries says we are on our way to #Halfby2030. What does he say organizations like JLUSA that predicted this & worked for it should do? ○ Don’t be discouraged ○ Get a prize ○ Have a party ○ All of the above Take the quiz: jlusa.org/quiz#Halfby2030 #Quiz #MassIncarceration

Congratulations, Jelly Roll, on being invited to join the Grand Ole Opry! https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/12/10/jelly-roll-grand-ole-opry-craig-morgan/87709574007/ #JellyRoll #GrandOleOpry #FormerlyIncarcerated #DreamBigger

Eric Weaver (Leading with Conviction 2019) was one of four leaders who joined a one-hour roundtable for The Washington Informer’s #LetsTalk video series. Watch now: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/10/eric-weaver-on-the-challenges-of-housing-and-employment-after-reentry-and-his-mission-to-turn-d-c-around

“The snake that is the criminal justice system ate a pig & that is all moving through. Now that wouldn’t matter if just as many people were coming in …” https://jlusa.org/2025/12/08/stanford-professor-keith-humphreys-discusses-the-steady-decline-in-mass-incarceration-in-the-u-s-and-will-it-continue/

Financial justice means more than freedom from incarceration. It also means freedom from debt traps, exclusionary credit systems, and exploitative corporate practices that keep people and communities poor. Learn more in our new report: justuscc.org/costofconviction #CostofConviction

“For more than two decades, the Work Ethic Camp was Nebraska’s only state prison geared solely toward rehabilitation.” Read gift article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/us/nebraska-prison-mccook-ice-immigrants-detention-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7E8.jbE8.LZyt5-ISI1rr&smid=url-share

Stanford Professor Keith Humphreys discusses his research on #massincarceration published in The Atlantic magazine earlier this year. Listen now: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/08/stanford-professor-keith-humphreys-discusses-the-steady-decline-in-mass-incarceration-in-the-u-s-and-will-it-continue/

“The Department of Justice has instructed inspectors to stop evaluating prisons and jails using standards designed to protect transgender, intersex and gender-nonconforming people from sexual violence.” https://www.npr.org/2025/12/04/nx-s1-5630490/prison-doj-safety-memo-changes-trans-lgbtq-inmates

David Lund writes, “By invoking a nameless, faceless ‘incarcerated person’ ... [Kim Kardashian] taps into the most damaging stereotype in the book ...” Read more: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/05/when-reality-tv-uses-incarcerated-people-as-a-plot-device-real-people-pay-the-price #KimKardashian

How many people returning from prison are unbanked or underbanked, often blocked from opening accounts because of outdated background-check providers like ChexSystems? ○ 1/5 ○ 1/4 ○ 1/3 ○ 1/2 Take the quiz: jlusa.org/quiz #Quiz #CostofConviction #EconomicMobility #Unbanked #BackgroundCheck

Roughly one-third of people returning from prison are unbanked or underbanked, often shut out by private databases like ChexSystems or “credit invisibility.” Learn more in our new report “The Cost of Conviction”: justuscc.org/costofconviction #CostofConviction #Unbanked #Underbanked #ChexSystems

“Some things that might be contributing to the drop ... [include] an overall decline in homicide and violent crime rates, which peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mass-shootings-killings-murder-trends-california-birthday-23593254d7282c2e028af55af7bf2b6c

💙 This #GivingTuesday, stand with justice-impacted leaders who are transforming systems from the inside out. Every gift fuels change, hope, and second chances. 👉 jlusa.org/donate#GivingTuesday #GivingTuesday #JusticeLeadership #JLUSA #GiveBack

Saad Soliman (Leading with Conviction™ 2019) became the National Director of #TimeDone at the Alliance for Safety and Justice in July. They recently announced a rebranding. Watch video: https://jlusa.org/2025/12/01/saad-soliman-announces-rebranding-of-the-timedone-campaign#TimeDone #SafeandJust #JustSafe

📆 As the year winds down, your support means more than ever. Start your year-end giving early and help build a future rooted in justice and opportunity. 👉 jlusa.org/donate #EndOfYearGiving #JusticeReform #JLUSA #DonateNow

“The Cambridge Companion to American #PrisonWriting & Mass Incarceration” traces history through the eyes of those who lived it. https://jlusa.org/2025/11/28/new-collection-of-american-prison-writing-showcases-50-years-of-incarcerated-peoples-voices-fighting-for-their-own-humanity

The Federal Communications Commission recently reversed rules that would have capped prison phone rates, nearly doubling costs for impacted families. Learn more in our new report “The Cost of Conviction”: justuscc.org/costofconviction #CostofConviction #FCC #MarthaWrightReedAct

Congratulations, Zaria Davis (Leading with Conviction™ 2019), being named Interim Executive Director of GAMA: The Tabletop Game Association! Read more: https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61096/gama-appoints-interim-executive-director #ZariaDavis #LeadingWithConviction #GAMA #TabletopGames

This season, we’re grateful for your support. Your donations uplift leaders who create safer, fairer communities. 👉 jlusa.org/donate #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #JusticeReform

“Thousands of incarcerated people in #Connecticut want to enroll in higher education ... but limited space & resources ... have prevented the programs from expanding.” Read more: https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-prisons-connecticut-general-news-7025a7bac41590a2e6c0adebcd43298a

Paul Rothschild (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) writes, “The Movement Mix-tape Volume I is live on 23 streaming platforms and stores!” Learn more & listen now: https://jlusa.org/2025/11/24/paul-rothschild-announces-the-release-of-the-movement-mix-tape-volume-1 #MovementMixTape #RhythmofReform

Outdated or inaccurate background checks keep job and housing applicants locked out even years after completing their sentences. Learn more in our new report “The Cost of Conviction”: justuscc.org/costofconviction #CostofConviction #EconomicMobility #JustUS JustUS Coordinating Council

“Many of us who come home from prison, we feel as though we owe society. ... That’s what I love about this film.” —Clarence Maclin on the new documentary short #TheBreakthroughGroup https://jlusa.org/2025/11/21/clarence-maclin-becomes-executive-producer-on-the-breakthrough-group-short-documentary/

“Judith Negron [Leading with Conviction™ 2023] was invited to the White House to advocate for others — then was told her visit could send her back to prison.” Watch video: https://jlusa.org/2025/11/19/judith-negron-shares-her-support-for-the-safer-supervision-act #SAFERSupervisionAct

“Nearly 2,500 individuals are released every year from #Vermont prisons ... Reentering citizens often encounter significant barriers to basic financial services.” #CostofConviction Read more: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2025/november/18/partnership-provide-financial-service-incarcerated-individuals

“I want to make sure our community knows that we are here.” #CLT Councilwoman Tiawana Brown (Leading with Conviction™ 2020) https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/immigration-news/advocates-city-leaders-border-patrol-immigrant-communities/275-db355258-3205-4ac6-93d0-ce41226481e1

Calvin Duncan was just elected clerk of the criminal court in #NewOrleans! He spent 28 years in prison on a WRONGFUL CONVICTION—and yet The New York Times#NewOrleanscalled him a “CONVICT” in its headline. WHY? We need the media to adopt #PersonFirst language! #WordMatter #PeopleFirst #TheJailhouseLawyer

How much do families of incarcerated people shoulder financially every year in fines, fees, restitution, and inflated communications costs? ○ $35,000 ○ $350,000 ○ $350 Million ○ $350 Billion Take the quiz: jlusa.org/quiz #Quiz #WeeklyQuiz #CostofConviction #EconomicMobility

“You can’t expect people to move forward when the system keeps cashing in on their past.” —DeAnna Hoskins, President and CEO of JLUSA Download “The Cost of Conviction” now: justuscc.org/costofconviction #CostOfConviction

#TheCostofConviction is a new policy brief detailing how court fines, prison phone costs & financial surveillance systems trap millions of families in debt long after incarceration. It outlines concrete steps Congress & federal agencies can take to fix it. Download now: justuscc.org/costofc...

“It’s an important start when both Democrats and Republicans are agreeing that #GBCI should be closed down, and it should’ve been closed down 20 years ago,” said Mark Rice [Leading with Conviction™ 2017]. “The timeline is just too slow.” Read more: jlusa.org/2025/11/10...#GBCI #Wisconsin

“Never before has ICE held so many detainees facing deportation at any given time, according to officials, historical data and immigration policy experts.” Read more @cbsnews.com: www.cbsnews.com/news... #MassIncarceration

“In a new vlog, the country superstar shared his long-term vision for his sprawling #Tennessee property. His goal? To build a 100-acre rehabilitation and #mentalhealth campus — completely free of charge.” Watch now: jlusa.org/2025/11/07...#Tennessee#mentalhealth#JellyRoll #Rehab #FormerlyIncarcerated #CountryMusic

“New legislation making its way through the U.S. Congress aims to streamline the process of obtaining Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) for individuals returning home from incarceration.” Read more @SCBrain: www.supplychainbrain... #EconomicMobility #TWIC