Alliance for Safety and Justice
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| Alliance for Safety and Justice | |
|---|---|
| Name | Alliance for Safety and Justice |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Type | Nonprofit advocacy organization |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California |
| Region served | United States |
| Leaders | Michael McAfee; Maria Foscarinis |
Alliance for Safety and Justice is a United States nonprofit advocacy organization focused on criminal justice reform, victim services, and public safety policy. Founded in 2011, it engages with legislators, coalitions, and civic groups to influence state and federal legislation, ballot initiatives, and programmatic funding. The organization works alongside advocacy networks, research centers, and philanthropic foundations to reshape policy debates and support survivors.
History
The organization was founded in 2011 amid debates following the passage of Prison Reform and Sentencing Reform efforts and the national discussion catalyzed by events such as the 2011 United States debt-ceiling crisis and the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Its founders drew on experiences from regional efforts similar to those led by groups like the Sentencing Project, Vera Institute of Justice, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Early collaborations included alliances with state-level coalitions in California, Texas, and Florida to advocate for ballot measures akin to California Proposition 47 (2014), and it worked in parallel with organizations such as The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and American Civil Liberties Union. The group expanded nationally during the 2010s, engaging with policymakers in the United States Congress and participating in coalitions with entities like Arnold Ventures and major philanthropic actors connected to the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Open Society Foundations.
Mission and Policy Positions
The organization's stated mission centers on reducing incarceration, supporting survivors of crime, and promoting public safety through evidence-based policy changes. It has advocated for alternatives reflected in laws such as the First Step Act and reforms similar to provisions in the Violence Against Women Act. Policy positions emphasize restorative services modeled after programs from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and partnerships with community providers like Doctors Without Borders in outreach frameworks. The group frequently frames its work in relation to high-profile cases and legislative moments involving the United States Supreme Court, state supreme courts, and landmark statutes such as the Civil Rights Act-era precedents. It supports funding priorities that mirror federal initiatives from agencies like the Bureau of Justice Assistance and collaborates with state governors' offices and legislative leaders including those in the California State Legislature and the New York State Assembly.
Programs and Initiatives
Programs have included statewide campaigns to expand victim services, pilot programs for reentry modeled after efforts in Massachusetts and Ohio, and advocacy for funding similar to federal grants administered through the Office for Victims of Crime. Initiatives often pair policy advocacy with local implementation partners such as United Way chapters, community-based providers connected to Habitat for Humanity, and think tanks like Brookings Institution and Urban Institute that evaluate program outcomes. The organization has run ballot measure campaigns comparable to Proposition 47 (California), and supported legislative packages in legislatures across Arizona, Nevada, and Washington (state). It has also partnered with survivor networks and legal services providers including Legal Services Corporation affiliates and coalitions such as Coalition for Juvenile Justice.
Research and Publications
The organization publishes reports on recidivism, victimization, and budget impacts, drawing on methodologies used by Pew Charitable Trusts, the RAND Corporation, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Publications have addressed topics analogous to studies by the Sentencing Project and Urban Institute on incarceration trends, and have cited data sets maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting program. White papers have been distributed to policymakers in the United States Senate and among state legislative staff, and the group has presented findings at conferences hosted by American Bar Association sections and academic gatherings at institutions like Harvard Kennedy School and Georgetown University. Collaborative research efforts included partnerships with university centers such as the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the University of California, Berkeley.
Funding and Organizational Structure
Funding has come from philanthropic foundations and individual donors similar to those supporting criminal justice reform, including foundations comparable to MacArthur Foundation, Arnold Ventures, and Open Society Foundations. Organizational governance typically involves a board of directors with representatives from nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and policy research—paralleling structures at organizations like Habitat for Humanity International and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Staff roles encompass policy directors, communications leads, and state campaign organizers who liaise with state attorneys general offices and legislative caucuses. The group files nonprofit reports consistent with requirements for entities registered under state charity regulators and federal Internal Revenue Service classifications for tax-exempt organizations.
Impact and Criticism
Supporters credit the organization with influencing state-level ballot measures, expanding victim services funding, and contributing to bipartisan discussions akin to efforts by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Council on Criminal Justice. Critics from factions aligned with groups such as the Fraternal Order of Police and tough-on-crime advocates argue that some policy changes risk public safety and contend with analyses from law enforcement associations like the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Academic critiques drawing on criminology research from scholars at Rutgers University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Chicago question some methodological assumptions in impact reports. Debates often mirror national discussions involving the United States Department of Justice and state-level prosecutors' offices over balancing reform, enforcement, and victim support.