Every year, after state legislative sessions have adjourned and governors have acted on the bills that have crossed their desks, the JAN team conducts an internal debrief built around one question: Were we successful this year? It’s a straightforward question, but one with a surprisingly complex answer.

No two legislative sessions ever feel the same, each one feels uniquely challenging. 

With most of our priority state legislative sessions having ended, now is a great time to reflect on the progress made this year.

We will be providing a broader read-out from all of our priority states in a future newsletter, but for now, we are celebrating the exciting victories coming out of Oklahoma and also highlighting our ongoing efforts to secure funding for Arizona's Independent Correctional Oversight Office.

April is Second Chance Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about both the opportunities and barriers for justice-involved people to obtain a true second chance.

As Second Chance Month comes to a close, we've been reflecting on the policies that have delivered transformative results and helped clear unnecessary obstacles to success for those with past justice-system involvement, opening up doors to new possibilities and looking forward as we continue that work all year long.