The Formerly Incarcerated Fighting for Criminal Justice Reform

This video was produced in partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.


A group of formerly incarcerated individuals in Kentucky, a state with one of the most punitive legal systems in the country, is rallying to see criminal justice reform in America’s broken system.

In Kentucky and many other parts of the U.S., people who make a mistake at the age of 18 are branded as “criminals” for the rest of their lives. Without the opportunity for a second chance, these individuals are losing the ability to actualize their potential.

Kentucky’s recidivism rate is 41% in the first two years after being released. To turn the tide and see criminal justice reform in their state, the Smart Justice Advocates work together to draft deals, meet with lawmakers, and advocate for the previously incarcerated.



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[freethink]

What do you think of criminal justice reform?

[Portarius]

The fines are too high. The shame is enough.

[mikelahood]

Wow, they're doing important work. Using their stories to create change <3

[colindevoe]

41% recidivism rate is so high! Applaud these people for the work they are doing to help

[LewisConwayJr]

MY PEOPLES!! Great work from some great folks!

[shellygreen]

I hate Kentucky's judicial system... I've seen so many young lives destroyed beyond repair. It's totally unfair

[chungisyounggood]

Now if only we can do the same thing to that one lady that refused a gay wedding.







Oh wait... she's white. I guess that crap still matters.

[LifeGeneralist]

This is a great initiative, not just for KY or for the US, but for the whole world

[anoldflame]

Almost like that bill/act Trump passed was a good thing.
"1st step to 2nd chance"

[anglegrinder]

See?it takes it HAPPENING to one of their own to revisit outrageos fees, penaltys, fines etc..listen THE PEOPLE YALL LIKE TO GO AFTER, THE EASY TARGETS, ARE BROKE, AND NO USUALLY NOBODY WE KNOW WILL LEND IT, why dont yall since so "brave" extort the rich for money..SHAME ON LAW ENFORCEMENT

[mariesatterly]

Don’t do the crime then you won’t have a problem!

[touchbysamuri]

❤ LIKE MY FELLOW BROTHERS/SISTER SAID ONCE BEFORE... POWER TO THE PEOPLE. ❤💕💞

[oceanwonders]

Having that former prosecutor on their team must help immensely.

[onceuponadime]

Please come to North Carolina. Western part especially needs some tlc. Actually the county here really needs a corruption investigation from the state of feds. Just as an example several years back certain group was caught doing voter fraud (had dead people voting for them) they had no charges and even kept the positions they were "elected" to and the ones that were non elected kept their jobs too. To this very day those same people still run the sheriff's dept. If you are registered as a different party from them they up the charges against u and refuse to plea them down. I was given a lower level felony charge once. First time I had ever been in trouble for anything. I was registered a different party than the one in charge and it was before elections. My bond was set at $100, 000 dollars (remember, this was my first offense and a minor felony. I've seen a repeat offender with the same charge as me in the paper twice with only $1, 000 bond. They were habitual offenders but registered to the "correct" political part) and it was kept at an unattainable level until after elections. When i finally got out on bond (lot of people don't and if u can't here u can sit in the jail years. While I was there a man who had been there 4 years cause he couldn't pay his bail finally finished his court stuff and got his sentence... it was only 90 days and they kept him 4 years before doing anything with it) when finally out I was harassed and pulled over 3 to 5 times a week on my way to work. I was threatened with 18 years in prison if I didn't take the deal (the absolute max was going to be sought just like with bond it was as high as the state allowed) so I took it. They lowered it to the lowest level of felony but refused to do a misdemeanor. Ruined my life because they thought I would vote against them. I hadn't even committed the crime I was acused of. My wife had done it and got scared she would get caught and threw me under the bus. No evidence was taken only her statement then they had a psychological evaluation done on me without me even so much as seeing a doctor little lone talking to one that said many things that were obvious fabrications just to make me look unstable. But at that point it's a criminals word against the law and here they put u in the paper and don't call u accused they say you did it for sure and people believe that. It's one in a million to get a not guilty trial here mainly cause the news paper and the lies the police tell to the people.

[mccoy-]

Yeah! Because of that stupid felony system, I am unable to go visit my family in my country and come back to US.

[tamarileach]

I'm in Illinois and I have a hell of a story. It was my first arrest ever at 32 years of age. What other states have an amazing group willing to help. I would love to join and help people that have been given no chance. Pay or jail.

[gardener]

All these poor little choir boys that have been wrongfully convicted. Second chance? How about third? Fourth? Fifth? Sixth? What's the average number of times those convicts have broken the laws that were installed for protection of the people that don't break the law?