Jonathan Bleiweiss

After serving as a Deputy Sheriff and then Detective, Jonathan found himself in handcuffs. Just like tens of thousands of Floridians each year, he was forced to accept a deal for a crime he did not commit due to a common prosecutorial practice called overcharging. In prison, Jonathan observed first-hand the racial disparities that are so pervasive throughout the system and the injustice and inequities of the broken system of which he had once been a part.

Upon his release, he noticed substantial service gaps that hindered returning citizens from a successful transition to the outside world. With this newfound knowledge, as well as his experience on both sides of the law, Jonathan created a holistic program that combined legal, social, and mental health services to help people avoid disenfranchisement while addressing the issues that brought them into the justice system. Today, Jonathan serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Justice Center and has dedicated his life to helping those marginalized and disenfranchised by the system.