Publication Date: August 15, 2025
Today marks the close of a bold, essential chapter in criminal justice reform: the 30-year journey of the Justice Policy Institute has come to an end.
What JPI Stood For—and Still Stands For
For three decades, JPI advanced equity, evidence, compassion, and community: not as marketing buzzwords, but as guiding principles for reform. From dismantling punitive policies to proposing humane, data-driven alternatives, JPI shaped the narrative around justice for millions.
What makes their body of work enduring is not only the policies but the people behind them: the researchers, advocates, storytellers, and organizers whose knowledge, lived experiences, and fierce determination build the foundation of real, actionable change.
The Final Reports: A Lasting Beacon of Insight
Even as the organization winds down, JPI isn’t leaving quietly. They recently released:
A report on the economic and workforce benefits of higher education in Virginia prisons, and,
Their final white paper, Sentenced to Grow Old, analyzing the human and fiscal impacts of an aging prison population across Illinois, Iowa, and Texas.
🔖 Read their 2025 Annual Report here.
These aren’t just valedictory notes; they’re parting gifts. Clear-eyed, deeply researched, and urgently relevant, they stand as a reminder: real progress begins with understanding the full scope of injustice.
Knowledge That Doesn’t Vanish
Here’s the future-forward part: JPI isn’t deleting their work behind them. Their website, filled with research, data, and deeply personal stories, will remain online for several more years.
That means students, advocates, journalists, policymakers, and everyday changemakers can continue to access the tools that fueled so much progress.
The Human Heart of JPI
Beyond policy wins and title pages, it was JPI’s staff, the day-to-day heroes, who breathed life into reforms. Their expertise, empathy, and resolve powered each white paper, each blog post, and each campaign.
“Extraordinary” doesn’t even begin to describe it. Now, as alumni, this remarkable group continues their influence across the broader justice movement.
A Parting Thought from the Founder
JPI’s founder, Vinny Schiraldi, captured the spirit of their mission:
“When we started JPI decades ago, the thirst for incarceration in the U.S. seemed unquenchable, and the field was much less developed and robust.”
That statement, still relevant today, reminds us that the thirst for punitive justice hasn’t been entirely slaked. Yet, the path JPI helped charter remains stronger now because of their work.
Why This Moment Matters—and Why You Should Care
- A Legacy That Persists: JPI closing doesn’t mean their mission fades. Their principles, research, and impact live on—accessible and actionable.
- A Call to Action: Explore their final papers, share their findings, and apply their lessons. The justice system needs voices grounded in evidence, equity, and care more than ever.
- A Human Story Behind the Policy: Remember that reform isn’t just about data or laws; it’s driven by people. The legacy of JPI is carried forward by countless individuals now working across the justice ecosystem.
Wrapping It Up
The Justice Policy Institute may be closing its doors, but its spirit, its urgency, its clarity, its compassion, remains very much alive.
This is our invitation: don’t let the knowledge and ideals JPI cultivated go cold. Dive into their resources. Learn from their insights. And continue building a more just, less carceral society.
Because in so many ways, their work is our work now.
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