WHO WE ARE

For over 36 years, Georgia Justice Project (GJP) has served Georgians impacted by the criminal legal system. Our mission strengthens our community by demonstrating a better way to represent and support those individuals. GJP’s overall goals are two-fold; to lower the number of people under correctional control and reduce barriers to reentry.

The need for this work is great. The U.S. leads the world in incarceration rates with 20% of all incarcerated people but only 4% of the world’s population. Sadly, Georgia is 46% higher than national figures. 1-in-18 Georgians are also under correctional control (which includes people in jail or prison and under probation or parole), compared to 1-in-37 nationally. Additionally, 4.6 million people have a Georgia criminal history, approximately 40% of adults.

GJP’s work addresses all stages of the criminal justice system—from arrest to reentry—and we approach social change in three distinct ways:

First, GJP directly represents thousands of Georgians each year on a range of legal issues including holistic criminal defense, reentry representation for incarcerated individuals, early termination of probation, and criminal record clearing—all provided free of charge to clients.

Second, GJP uses that direct service experience to advocate for a better Georgia on a systemic level. GJP’s policy work has resulted in 21 changed Georgia laws reducing barriers to reentry. Our most recent policy victories include expanding expungement to include convictions for the first time in Georgia and creating a path for rehabilitated Georgians to pursue early termination of probation.

Lastly, GJP works statewide to educate individuals, communities, legal professionals, and service providers on criminal justice and reentry issues.