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CELEBRATING 5 YEARS
H E ALIN G JUSTICE
FROM HARM TO HEALING 1
Addressing the individual and collective harm caused by wrongful convictions, through restorative justice and justice reform.
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5 YEARS
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
“Never have I been able to share my story and thoughts in such a safe and caring space. To be able to sit with others and share my experiences was just incredible. The support allowed me to move forward in my healing process.”
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
Healing Justice celebrates its fifth anniversary exciting moment, we created this five-year rev and accomplishments of our young, but might
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As you read through this review, you will see t financial report. The photos, graphics, and tes illustrate the transformative nature of our wo strength of the people we serve.
At Healing Justice, we are extraordinarily grate steadfast individuals who have supported us in past five years. Their strong belief in our missi day to push ourselves further. Our success is th
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this month. To mark this view to share all of the growth ty, organization.
that it’s much more than just a stimonials throughout rk, as well as the courage and
eful for the many generous and n a multitude of ways over these ion and goals inspires us every heir success.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jennifer Thompson President
Kimberly Cook Secretary & Treasurer
Herman Atkins Roy Austin Lara Bazelon Sloan Buccola Mary Lou Leary David Onek
OUR STAFF Katie Monroe Executive Director
Kristina Rose Director of Strategic Partnerships
Brittany Shefter Director of Programs
Stephanie Feller Director of Program Implementation
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
Note from our Founder & Executive Director Dear Friends:
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Five years ago, Healing Justice was founded and began its long and inspiring journey to the current moment. Back then, in 2015, it was just the two of us. Fast forward to 2020 - we’ve added three professional staff to our team, hosted 14 Healing Justice Retreats for directly impacted people, been awarded a Federal grant, trained hundreds of criminal justice practitioners, and developed peer-topeer tools that can be used to build confidence, strength, and healing in the lives of the people we serve. Our work has led to long-term, life-changing results for many. In addition to the accomplishments shared in this review, we have undertaken many new projects, including the creation of a permanent home for our healing and restorative justice programs. Though it is still off on the horizon, this vision becomes clearer each day, and we look forward to continuing to share with you the news of this growth and other accomplishments. To all of you who have joined us, supported us, and rooted for us from the very beginning: thank you. You are a huge reason we are celebrating this important milestone in our organization’s history. We could not do our work without you, and we look forward to continuing our work with you and beside you to ensure that all who have suffered the trauma caused by wrongful convictions have access to the services and support they need. Here’s to another 5 years of Healing Justice!
Jennifer Thompson, Founder 5 Y EA R REVIEW / APR IL 2 0 2 0
Katie Monroe, Executive Director
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
OFFERING RECOVERY / A PERSONAL STORY
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A crime survivor, who was assaulted as a child, learned years later that her attacker had not been caught and that an innocent man had been convicted and imprisoned instead. The news left her devastated and frightened, but no one stepped up to offer protection or support. Under the strain of this re-victimization, this young woman turned to prescription drugs to cope with her immense pain and eventually lost her job and nearly lost her family. At her first Healing Justice Retreat, she began the journey to healing and wholeness after so much loss. Today, she credits her recovery to Healing Justice and, after years of trauma, she no longer feels alone.
OUR MISSION AND OUR WORK
2500+ Convictions overturned in cases involving claims of innocence. 1600+ Individual crime victims and survivors impacted. Thousands of family members also impacted. Countless community members and justice officials affected.
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW OUR HISTORY
OUR PEOPLE
Healing Justice is a national nonprofit organization
Our organization is led by people who have lived
founded in 2015 by Jennifer Thompson based on her
experience. In addition to our Founder and Executive
experience as a crime survivor in a case that resulted
Director, other directly impacted people serve on our
in a wrongful conviction and exoneration. Jennifer
staff, Board of Directors, and Advisory Board. Every
pioneered restorative justice in these cases by
aspect of our work is guided by the people we serve.
befriending the innocent man in her case then going on to support other victims and survivors affected by these cases.
OUR COMMUNITY We serve all who have been directly harmed by wrongful convictions: crime victims and survivors,
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OUR MISSION
exonerated individuals, and both sets of families.
We address the individual and collective harm
We also serve others affected by these cases: jurors,
caused by wrongful convictions, through programs
judges, police, prosecutors, victim advocates, and
that emphasize restorative justice and justice reform.
other justice and social service providers.
OUR VALUES Through all of our work we strive to restore the voices of those harmed and provide them with peer support and individual healing. We also strive to build relationships across all stakeholders to create community healing and prevent future harm.
“Share, cry, release, laugh, heal. That’s what Healing Justice is to me. Thank you for helping put me back together again.”
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NURTURING RESILIENCE / A PERSONAL STORY A mother whose innocent son spent 20 years in prison credits her new life and marriage to attending a Healing Justice Retreat. She arrived at the retreat exhausted and despondent from her family’s long battle. During our Letting Go ceremony, she was finally able to release those decades of pain and loss. When she returned home, her family barely recognized her. The retreat had changed her in deep, essential ways. In response, her boyfriend proposed and they married. The art she created at the retreat became the centerpiece at their wedding, a wedding which she attests was made possible by the healing she experienced at that first retreat.
H E ALIN G JUSTICE
ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW OUR PROGRAMS
HEALING JUSTICE RETREATS The cornerstone of our work is our Healing Justice Retreats, where we use restorative justice circles to address the harm caused by wrongful convictions. Our retreats create a safe, nurturing, and confidential space in which people who have been harmed in these cases can come together and speak openly about their trauma and loss, provide peer support to one another, identify ways their needs can be met, and begin the road to healing and recovery. Our retreats were designed by Board members and staff in collaboration with nationally-recognized 13
restorative justice leaders. They are led by staff trained to facilitate restorative justice circles, alongside past retreat participants who are trained to facilitate circles in their own communities. We offer a variety of retreats. Some are focused on peer support, where attendees share similar experiences and can directly understand and support one another. Other retreats have a restorative justice focus, during which people with different experiences and perspectives come together to better understand one another. We incorporate continual feedback from retreat participants to ensure that our retreats continue to meet participant needs and provide opportunities for long-lasting healing.
To date, we have hosted 14 retreats and directly served more than 120 individuals through these retreats.
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OUR PROGRAMS
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE & RESOURCES
In addition to support received at retreats, Healing Justice offers opportunities for individual peer-topeer support and direct assistance upon request. We also created virtual peer-support resources that are accessible 24/7 to all those who need them. One is a set of peer videos for crime victims and survivors, to help them feel less marginalized and alone, and to provide them with understanding and validation. The other is a resource guide for exonerated individuals, filled with advice, recommendations, and links to assist them in rebuilding their lives after prison.
“The best therapy I have had in my decade of freedom.�
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW 2015
ANNUAL REVENUE BY TYPE Individual Donations
2017
2018
2019
TOTAL
1,000
11,179
28,754
49,934
73,467
164,334
100,000
240,084
110,000
157,746
517,982
1,125,813
0
0
0
120,327
156,781
277,107
$
Major Gifts
2016
Federal Grants OUR PROGRAMS
JUSTICE REFORM WORK
% OF REVENUE BY TYPE
Our justice reform work is focused on improving awareness about the concentric circles of Individual Donations $ 164,333.74
Major Gifts 1,125,812.56 harm caused by wrongful convictions, on increasing support and services for those who are Federal Grants 277,107.28
harmed, and on preventing future harm. In this work, we collaborate with police, prosecutors, DONATIONS BY YEAR judges, INDIVIDUAL victim advocates, social service providers, innocence organizations, the media, and
ns
others toYear change practices and policies. Donation $ 1,000
2015
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community members
judges, attorneys, police, etc.
2016
2017
2018
2019
11,179
28,754
49,934
73,467
original victims and survivors
Perpetrator
other witnesses jurors
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wrongfully convicted
subsequent victims and survivors
families and loved ones
“THESE RETREATS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MY CONTINUED STRENGTH.”
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW OUR PROGRAMS
LISTENING SESSIONS A signature program of our justice reform work is our Listening Sessions. These sessions create opportunities for harmed individuals to use their voices and experiences to motivate systemic change. The “listeners” are typically criminal justice officials and policymakers who, through hearing the experience of these underserved populations, are better informed about gaps in services and needed reforms to prevent future harm. We have hosted 8 listening sessions 17
to date, in partnership with the US Department of Justice and the Innocence Network.
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MENDING FAMILIES / A PERSONAL STORY
A large and loving family lost their only daughter to murder. The crime, and the confusing justice system process that followed, left the family forever devastated and unable to put the pieces back together again. For almost two decades, they had no place to turn for support or answers – until Healing Justice. After attending a listening session and retreat, the family began to unpack their grief and find healing. They were able to recount happy memories and experience joy and laughter together again.
OUR PROGRAMS
PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & TRAINING As part of our justice reform work, we collaborated with the US Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime to create resources for better serving crime victims and survivors around exonerations. These “Post-Conviction Survivor Resources” include specialized information and tools and for victim service providers, allied professionals, crime victims and survivors, and the media, all housed on a user-friendly website www.survivorservices.org. Healing Justice also routinely provides presentations, training, and technical assistance on both the state and local level to stakeholder organizations and agencies across the country. We have partnered with numerous national organizations, including the National Crime Victims Law Institute, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the National Association of Social Work, and the national Innocence Network, among others. We have also provided training and other assistance in the following states: AZ, CA, DE, LA, MT, NC, NY, PA, TX, and VA. We utilize all of these opportunities to provide harmed individuals an opportunity to have their voices heard.
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“Tremendously helpful on my issues. Coping with everything is a very hard thing to do without this kind of help. Explaining our anger here is so easy. It took a big weight off my chest.”
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
ACTIVITIES + EVENTS APRIL Launched organization.
JULY - Hired Executive Director. NOVEMBER - Hosted first all-day listening session for people directly impacted by wrongful convictions.
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2015
FEBRUARY - Co-hosted two full days of listening sessions in partnership with the National Institute of Justice and the Office for Victims of Crime. MARCH - Hosted first Healing Justice Retreat. APRIL - Hosted a mini-retreat and listening session for those directly impacted by wrongful convictions. APRIL - Provided training for innocence organizations and staff on the importance of listening to those with lived experiences.
2016
MAY - Hosted second all-day listening session for people directly impacted by wrongful convictions. JULY - Co-hosted national training webinar with the Office for Victims of Crime’s Training and Technical Assistance Center. JULY - Presented to prosecutors from across the country at the annual meeting of the Association of Prosecuting Attorney’s Major County Prosecutors Council. NOVEMBER - Provided training at annual conference for the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. NOVEMBER - Hosted second Healing Justice Retreat. DECEMBER - Hosted statewide training for criminal justice professionals in Virginia, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
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MARCH - Hosted third Healing Justice Retreat. MARCH - Hosted first expressive art workshop for those directly impacted by wrongful convictions. MARCH - Hosted two listening sessions for those directly impacted. MARCH - Hired first social work staff. APRIL - Hosted fourth Healing Justice Retreat. APRIL - Dedicated first memorial tree to survivors of wrongful convictions.
2017
MAY - Provided statewide training for police chiefs in Delaware, in collaboration with the Delaware Police Chiefs’ Council. JUNE - Launched photography exhibit of expressive art created by directly impacted people, in partnership with the Muhammad Ali Center. JULY - Hosted fifth Healing Justice Retreat. AUGUST - Launched graduate-level student field internship program with School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University OCTOBER - Received two-year funding award from the US Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime. OCTOBER - Provided statewide training for justice professionals in Louisiana, in partnership with Louisiana Correctional Association. NOVEMBER - Hosted sixth Healing Justice Retreat. DECEMBER - Release of minidocumentary, Just Wrong: The Aftermath of Wrongful Convictions, co-planned and co-produced with the National Institute of Justice.
MARCH - Hosted second annual expressive art workshop for directly impacted people. MARCH - Conducted national training on the experiences and needs of crime victims and survivors around exonerations, in partnership with the national Innocence Network. MARCH - Presented about intersection of social work and innocence work, at National Innocence Network annual conference.
2018
APRIL - Hosted seventh Healing Justice Retreat. MAY - Hosted retreat and listening session at the US Department of Justice for crime victims and survivors. JUNE - Hosted eighth Healing Justice Retreat. SEPTEMBER - Hosted ninth Healing Justice Retreat. OCTOBER - Launched virtual peer support circles. NOVEMBER - Presentation at Georgetown Law Center on national book release of Rectify: The Power of Restorative Justice After Wrongful Conviction, which covers Healing Justice’s work. DECEMBER - Hosted tenth Healing Justice Retreat. DECEMBER - Hosted first collaboration and presentation with University of Maryland School of Social Work, about the re-entry needs of exonerated individuals.
MARCH - Hosted eleventh Healing Justice Retreat. MARCH - Conducted agency-wide training at Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. APRIL - Launched new Healing Justice website and logo. APRIL - Hosted annual expressive art workshop for directly impacted people. MAY - Hosted second collaboration and presentation with University of Maryland School of Social Work, about the reentry needs of exonerated individuals.
2019
JULY - Hired Director of Strategic Partnerships. AUGUST - Hired Director of Program Implementation. SEPTEMBER - Hosted twelfth Healing Justice Retreat. NOVEMBER - Completed creation of peer-to-peer support videos for crime victims and survivors. DECEMBER - Hosted thirteenth Healing Justice Retreat. DECEMBER - Conducted nationwide training for victim service providers and allied professionals at National Training Institute.
FEBRUARY - Conducted national web-based training in partnership with the Quattrone Center on the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. FEBRUARY - Hosted national webinar in collaboration with the Office for Victims of Crime. FEBRUARY - Launched new website, Post-Conviction Survivor Resources, which hosts all of the information, tools, and resources created under the collaboration with the Office for Victims of Crime.
2020
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MARCH - Hosted fourteenth Healing Justice Retreat. MARCH - Released peer-to-peer support guide for exonerees and family members. APRIL - Released five-year review in celebration of five-year anniversary, and created strategic plan for next five years.
APRIL Celebrating FIVE YEARS!
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H E ALIN G JUSTICE
ANNUAL REVENUE ANNUAL REVENUE 2015-2019 2015-2019
$800,000
$748,230
$800,000
$748,230
$156,781
$600,000
$156,781
$600,000
$517,982
$400,000 $400,000 $200,000 $200,000 $0 $0
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$328,007
$251,263 $0
$101,000
$251,263
$0
$0 $240,084
$100,000 $0
$240,084
2015
2016
$101,000 $100,000
$138,754
$328,007 $120,327
$0 $138,754
$120,327 $157,746
$110,000 $0 $110,000
2017
$517,982
$157,746 $49,934
$73,467
$49,934 2018
$73,467 2019
2016 $11,179 2017
$28,754
$1,000
$11,179
$28,754
Federal Grants
Major gifts
Individual Donations
Federal Grants
Major gifts
Individual Donations
$1,000
2015
2018
2019
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS 2015-2019 2015-2019
$80,000 $80,000
$73,467
$60,000
$73,467
$60,000
$49,934
$40,000
$49,934
$40,000 $28,754
$20,000
$28,754
$20,000 $1,000
$0 $0
$1,000 2015
$1,000
2015
$11,179 $11,179
2016 2016
2017 2017
$1,000
Individual Donations Individual Donations
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2018 2018
2019 2019
Fed Fed
ANNUAL
Individual
Major Gift
Federal G
DONATIONS BY TYPE
% OF RE
DONATIONS BY TYPE 2015-2019
Individual
2015-2019
Major Gift
Federal G
17.7%
10.5%
Federal Grants
Individual Donations
INDIVIDU Year Donation
2015-2019
DONATIONS By Type 24
71.8%
Major gifts
2015
ANNUAL REVENUE BY TYPE Individual Donations
$
Major Gifts Federal Grants
2016
2017
2018
2019
TOTAL
1,000
11,179
28,754
49,934
73,467
164,334
100,000
240,084
110,000
157,746
517,982
1,125,813
0
0
0
120,327
156,781
277,107
% OF REVENUE BY TYPE Individual Donations
$
Major Gifts Federal Grants
164,333.74 1,125,812.56 277,107.28
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS BY YEAR Year Donation
$
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
1,000
11,179
28,754
49,934
73,467
H E AL I N G J U S T I C EP ROJEC T.ORG
H E ALIN G JUSTICE
TOP REASONS TO SUPP
1 Our mission is unique. Healing Justice is the on aftermath of wrongful convictions to all harm
2 Our people are unique. Healing Justice is led by i directly harmed by a wrongful conviction. 25
3 Our programs are unique. Healing Justice offe all who are harmed by wrongful convictions t And, above all, Healing Justice transforms lives.
You can be a key part of that transformation by making a financ wrongful convictions and helps us improve the justice system to D ONAT E HER E
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THANK YOU for making your tax-deductible donati
We appreciate any amount.
PORT HEALING JUSTICE
nly organization focused solely on the extensive med.
individuals with lived experiences, who have been
ers specialized programs that are proven to help to heal and rebuild their lives.
cial donation that helps us provide support to people harmed by o prevent future harm. on today.
Or mail a check to:
Healing Justice / 2221 South Clark Street, 11th Floor / Arlington, VA 22202
H E AL I N G J U S T I C EP ROJEC T.ORG
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!
Healing Justice is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. All dontations are tax-deductible.
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