Illustration of a human head profile with a brain inside and a key inserted into the head, symbolizing unlocking or accessing the mind.
Illustration of a human head profile with a brain inside and a key inserted into the head, symbolizing unlocking or accessing the mind.
Bold text reading 'UNLOCKED LIBERATION' in various shades of brown and tan with a black background.
Bold text reading 'UNLOCKED LIBERATION' in various shades of brown and tan with a black background.

Unlocking the power of civic participation by educating, empowering, and mobilizing communities to transform systems and shape policy.

People protesting outside Shelby County Jail, some holding signs, with a woman speaking into a microphone, in front of a brick wall and a building with glass windows.
People protesting outside Shelby County Jail, some holding signs, with a woman speaking into a microphone, in front of a brick wall and a building with glass windows.

CIVIC

ENGAGMENT

Real change begins when every voice is heard. We equip communities with the tools to advocate, participate, and lead.

Policy Reform

Initiatives

Advancing policy solutions that remove barriers, expand opportunity, and promote justice for individuals, families, and communities impacted by incarceration.

CIVIC ENGAGMENT

A group of people sitting in a conference room during a meeting or event, with some looking attentively towards the front. The room has white walls with colorful dot decorations and a mural on the wall, with tables, chairs, and bottled water.
A group of people sitting in a conference room during a meeting or event, with some looking attentively towards the front. The room has white walls with colorful dot decorations and a mural on the wall, with tables, chairs, and bottled water.

Empowering individuals impacted by incarceration to become informed advocates, engaged citizens, and catalysts for lasting change.

STEP 1 EDUCATE

We equip individuals and communities with the knowledge they need to understand policies, voting rights, and the systems that shape everyday life. Informed communities create lasting change.

An older man with gray curly hair, wearing glasses and a black suit, is writing in a yellow notepad outdoors, near a fence and brick building.
An older man with gray curly hair, wearing glasses and a black suit, is writing in a yellow notepad outdoors, near a fence and brick building.

STEP 2 EMPOWER

Through leadership development, advocacy training, and civic education, we help people impacted by incarceration become confident voices for themselves, their families, and their communities.

A group of people standing outdoors behind a wooden fence, raising their fists, with a gray house and blue sky in the background.
A group of people standing outdoors behind a wooden fence, raising their fists, with a gray house and blue sky in the background.

STEP 3 MOBILIZE

Real change happens when people take action. We connect community members with campaigns, legislative efforts, public testimony, and volunteer opportunities that move policy toward justice.

MESSAGE US FOR UPCOMING EVENTS

Policy Reform Initiatives

Group of people standing in front of a government building with flags and a plaque honoring a California senator, with office interior visible through glass doors.

  • What is it?

    The Virginia Second Look & Sentence Review Act would allow people serving long prison sentences to ask a judge to review their sentence after they have served a significant amount of time. It recognizes that people can change and that laws, sentencing practices, and our understanding of justice evolve over time.

    Why it matters

    Many people remain incarcerated under outdated sentencing laws that would likely result in shorter sentences if they were sentenced today. This proposal gives judges the opportunity to consider rehabilitation, fairness, and public safety while preserving their discretion to decide each case individually.

    Key Priorities

    • Allow eligible individuals to petition for sentence review after serving a substantial portion of their sentence.

    • Consider rehabilitation, personal growth, and current sentencing standards.

    • Allow courts to reconsider sentences affected by outdated laws or sentencing enhancements.

    • Preserve victim input and judicial discretion.

    • Improve fairness while maintaining public safety.

  • What is it?

    The Commonwealth Integrity & Review Act would establish an independent commission to review cases involving wrongful convictions, prosecutorial misconduct, constitutional violations, and excessive or unjust sentences. The commission would operate independently from prosecutors, law enforcement, and the courts to provide an impartial review process.

    Why it matters

    Mistakes, misconduct, and outdated practices can have life-changing consequences. This proposal creates a transparent process for reviewing questionable cases, helping restore public confidence while ensuring that justice is fair, accurate, and accountable.

    Key Priorities

    • Investigate claims of wrongful convictions and newly discovered evidence.

    • Review cases involving prosecutorial or police misconduct.

    • Examine excessive or disproportionate sentences.

    • Recommend remedies such as new trials, sentence modifications, clemency, expungement, or restoration of rights when appropriate.

    • Increase transparency, accountability, and public trust in Virginia’s justice system.

GET INVOLVED

TAKE

ACTION

A group of five men standing outdoors, engaging in conversation, wearing winter clothing such as jackets, hoodies, and hats, with two wearing glasses, and one with dreadlocks, in front of a building with large windows.