Onward Blog

David Gaspar on why mutual aid is vital for criminal justice reform’s next chapter

By JLUSA

January 20, 2025

“In the words of [John] Lewis: ‘When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up ... you have to do something.’”

JLUSA leaders speak out on restoring voting rights for people incarcerated in Illinois

By JLUSA

January 17, 2025

Avalon Betts-Gaston (Leading with Conviction™ 2022) and Marlon Chamberlain (LwC 2019) speak to The Triibe about voting rights in Illinois.

Chandra Bozelko calls on California to make incarcerated firefighters “what they are: employees”

By JLUSA

January 16, 2025

“These firefighters deserve something even better than raised wages or celebrations. They should be designated what they are: employees.”

D’Marria Monday calls on President Biden to commute life sentences

By JLUSA

January 13, 2025

In an op-ed published by Truthout, D’Marria Monday (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) calls on President Biden to commute federal life sentences.

Dr. Reuben J. Miller, PhD: “Incarceration reverberates through the family system”

By JLUSA

January 8, 2025

“Families experience their own collateral consequences — their own form of incarceration.”

Cecilia Zavala on presidential pardons and “the stigma that harms generations”

By JLUSA

January 6, 2025

I know firsthand how society judges parents like me—not by the love and care we provide our children but by the labels of our past.

Remembering Jimmy Carter for his record on criminal justice reform

By Stephen Knight

December 29, 2024

President Jimmy Carter has passed after a long battle with cancer. He was 100 years old.

Introducing Captivated: JLUSA’s First Annual Year-End Best of 2024 List

By JLUSA

December 20, 2024

As the year wraps up, here are the top five recommendations that captivated us in each of these categories in 2024!

Keturah Herron vows to reintroduce legislation in Kentucky to establish Office of Gun Violence Prevention

By JLUSA

December 16, 2024

Last week, Keturah Herron (LwC 2019) said she will once again introduce legislation to establish an office that will collect data on gun violence.

JustLeadershipUSA Recognizes President Biden for Issuing a Record 1,500 Commutations and Calls on Him to Continue Doing Even More

By JLUSA

December 12, 2024

Today, President Joe Biden announced he would commute the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardon 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes.

Melissa Ludin on the importance of physical mail for incarcerated people in Wisconsin

By JLUSA

During my time in prison, letters were my lifeline.

Khalif Ali on “Biden pardon drama”

By JLUSA

December 11, 2024

President Joe Biden’s recent decision to pardon his son Hunter has set off the usual storm of commentary.