One organization is working to change the criminal justice system by raising awareness for inmate injustice. This organization is known as the REFORM Alliance and was founded, as well as co-chaired, by Meek Mill, Jay-Z, Michael Rubin and Van Jones. Their mission is to actively look “for ways to pass probation bills at the state level, use media to amplify the need for comprehensive reform and build an inclusive, bipartisan alliance of leaders who share a vision for ambitiously and efficiently transforming the criminal system”. Some of the bills that REFORM Alliance supports are the House Bill 1555 and Senate Bill 14. Both would increase the number of those recently released under probation and allow the state to invest more into rehabilitation and reentry programs instead of incarceration.
To raise awareness, the organization holds discussion panels where former inmates make guest appearancesto share their stories. They are working on improving the justice system so that instead of setting inmates up for failure and recidivism when they re-enter society, they can have a structured system and support. With so many caseloads per officer, it can be hard for supervisors to connect and manage all of their individuals on probation or parole. It has been proven that rehabilitation is better than punishment when it comes to turning convicted people’s lives around and helping them enter back into society. The organization is committed to helping provide the understanding that it is necessary to provide inmates resources in mental health, educational, and workplace support before and when they are released.
TRACKtech, LLC is committed to providing former inmates and supervisors the resources they need to successfully function in society. Our platform allows supervisors to check in with clients remotely using biometric identification and video-conferencing. TRACKphone and TRACKphone Lite provides additional access to resources for program members, including mental health support, housing, job and financial services, and educational resources. For formerly incarcerated individuals to transition smoothly back into society, they need to be provided with the resources and structure to do so.