The Justice Project: Tireless Advocates for Freedom. Teeing up Justice for the Good Guys.
All of us can agree that the law should be just and the punishment should fit the crime. Tragically, these ideals don’t always hold true. Sentencing laws sometimes miss the mark.
A Pent-Up Need: Each Year, Thousands of Deserving Federal Prisoners Need Free, High-Quality Legal Assistance During the Post-Conviction Stage
Congress, the Courts, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission—all three branches of government—are always working to improve the law and fix problems of over-sentencing and needless incarceration. Still, thousands of Americans are suffering under harsh or pointless sentences long after they have paid their debt. The law (or U.S. Sentencing Guidelines) has been reformed, and they now belong home with their families, contributing to society—or, even under existing laws, the sentence is excessive.
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There are also prisoners who have a compelling case for compassionate release because of an intervening change in fact, such as a terminal illness diagnosis or extraordinary family circumstances.
In short, there are also scores of well-deserving federal prisoners who have compelling arguments for a sentence reduction via compassionate release or clemency.
The Problem: During The Post-Conviction Phase, Federal Prisoners Don't Have a Right to Free Legal Representation
But prisoners have no right to an attorney during the post-conviction stage, and most cannot afford to hire a lawyer on their own. Prisoners are instead left, with no internet or basic computer access, to fumble through an incredibly complicated litigation process or languish in prison under outdated laws, excessive sentences, and missed opportunities.
The Current Post-Conviction Legal Advocacy Process is Inefficient
While some dedicated attorneys and legal clinics offer their services pro bono, the demand far exceeds the supply. Attorneys wishing to assist must first navigate complex eligibility criteria that are both time-consuming and laborious. The process involves gathering a vast amount of documentation—from extensive case information and criminal history to family background, prison records, medical reports, release plan, and support letters. This vetting process, which can span months and cost tens of thousands of dollars in free legal labor, limits the number of prisoners who can receive help.
In short, before they can begin litigating on a deserving prisoner’s behalf, many long, grueling hours of legal labor must be done, at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars in free legal labor.
This process chews up an attorney's time and resources and drastically limits how many prisoners can be helped.
The Solution: A New Digital Platform Set to Revolutionize and Streamline the Current Model of Post-Conviction Legal Advocacy, an Inherently Inefficient Process
Enter The Justice Project (TJP). We are building a pioneering platform set to transform this landscape. By digitizing and cataloging pre-vetted cases with all relevant documents, TJP puts everything attorneys need at their fingertips.
Attorneys will no longer need to squander precious time and resources hunting down the right cases. This first-of-its-kind platform slashes legal labor from months to moments, empowering more attorneys to take on cases and expand their impact.
Cases are teed up and ready to go.
How does the TJP do it? We are a passionate team with unique knowledge and inside access to identify the most deserving inmates: those who have been punished enough, changed their lives, and have a plan to return home.
TJP is breaking barriers and stripping away the tedium of criminal justice advocacy during the post-conviction process.
Less friction. More freedom.
Everyone wins.
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Free Timothy
Clemency for Timothy Martin CasarezTimothy Martin Casarez is a first-time offender who was sentenced to nearly 40 years in federal prison. Significantly, there is no parole in the federal system. Thus, Tim is serving a sentence much, much longer than the average sentence for such heinous crimes as murder, child trafficking for the use of pornography, rape, and so on.
Free Bonnie
Clemency for Bonnie Brunette ErwinMr. Erwin, 81, a disabled Black inmate, has been incarcerated for 40 years—40 years—spread across 11 different facilities. For the past three years, his home has been the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, in a minimum-security unit with other disabled inmates. Partially paralyzed on his right side from a stroke a decade ago, Mr. Erwin relies on other inmates to push his wheelchair and to type his emails.
Free Mark
Free Mark HebertAfter Having Been Convicted of Relatively Minor Nonviolent, White-Collar Crimes Yielding a Sentencing Range of 3 - 5 Years in Prison, a Federal Judge Sentenced Mark to Life in Prison for an Uncharged, Untried Murder.
Free Nicholas
Clemency for Nicholas PapinAfter legalizing marijuana for recreational use, Missouri has recently expunged more than 50,000 convictions for all marijuana convictions that involved 35 or fewer grams. Many prisoners serving state sentences have been released. The problem is there are federal prisoners who had their federal sentences radically enhanced because of the prior state marijuana convictions, which are now void. Nick Papin is one of those people.
Free Michelle
Clemency for Michelle Yvette LeeMore than a decade ago, mother of three, Michelle Yvette Lee was sentenced to a 30-year sentence, after being offered a sentence to a reduced charge that would have likely resulted in a sentence close to the time she has already served.
Free Agne
Clemency for Agne VasquezAgne Vasquez is far from a drug kingpin. Agne is a husband and proud papa of two young daughters. His daughters are now ages 17 and 16, but they were very young when Agne was arrested about 12 years ago.
Free Crystal
Clemency for Crystal DouglasCrystal has been sentenced to serve nearly a decade in federal prison for a crime she never committed.
Free Randy
Clemency for Randy BookoutLearn how a 50-year-old professional photographer, who had never been to prison, ended up receiving a sentence of nearly two decades in prison after pleading guilty to a single $250 drug deal.
Free Andrei
Clemency for Andrei GluckIn 2010, tragedy struck. Andrei's longtime live-in girlfriend committed suicide. In a panic and in shock, Andrei called 911. When police arrived, their focus turned to marijuana that was found at Andrew's home.
Andrei is Serving Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for a Nonviolent Marijuana Crime.
Free Rodney
Clemency for Rodney GardnerRodney's case in the northern district of Texas (4:19-cr-302). His case is striking because he was sentenced to 20 years in prison when he was in his 50s and after running a successful business for many years. He was never accused of committing any violence. Although he did have a drug problem in his youth, he overcame addiction and went on to lead a lawful, productive and successful life.
Free John
Clemency for John Reginald Holt John Holt is a 66-year-old grandfather. (John has been married about 35 years; he has four daughters and a son as well as seven grandkids.) Until now, he’s never been to prison.
Free Levi
Clemency for Levi AvilaFirst-Time Offender Levi Avila Was 18 When He Committed his Crime. He’s Been in Federal Prison for 25 Years. Nobody was Hurt During his Crimes. He was Sentenced Under an Outdated Draconian (924c stacking) Law that Congress has Since Discarded. He Has Maintained a Spotless Disciplinary Record and Has Engaged in Extensive Post-Conviction Rehabilitative Efforts.
Free Michael
Free Michael BoweWhen people think of the word "justice," they think of fairness. And so, when most people think of the American justice system, they believe that built into that system is fundamental procedural fairness.
But there are traps set for people who have been convicted and imprisoned for federal crimes who are trying to use a retroactive change in the law to free themselves from what the law says is now an illegal prison sentence.
Free J.C.
Clemency for J.C. OverstreetWhen Overstreet was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison, his sentence was not supposed to be torture. But after a life-changing spinal cord injury that left him confined to a wheelchair and eventually a walker and untold physical, emotional, and psychological pain and misery, that's precisely what his sentence became—torture.
Free Andy
Clemency for Andy AndersonThe case of Andy Anderson is one of those cases where one looks at the prison sentence (30 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole) for a nonviolent first-time offender, and then looks at the crime, and sees a striking disconnect that leaves one incredulous.
Free Ernest
Clemency for Ernest HowardHow The Federal Government Used a $150 Marijuana Conviction to Sentence Ernest Howard to 35 Years in Federal Prison, Without Parole, For Murder—a Murder he was Never Charged With, Tried For, or Convicted of. Ernest Howard has been in federal prison since the 90s, for a crime he was never charged with, tried for, or convicted of.
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