Museum and Memorial Our Work News About Donate About EJI The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. EJI challenges poverty and racial injustice, advocates for equal treatment in the criminal justice system, and creates hope for marginalized communities. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. We challenge the death penalty and excessive punishment and we provide re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people. EJI works with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal treatment. We are committed to changing the narrative about race in America. EJI produces groundbreaking reports, an award-winning calendar, and short films that explore our nation’s history of racial injustice. And in 2018, we opened the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice as part of our national effort to create new spaces, markers, and memorials that address the legacy of slavery, lynching, and racial segregation, which shapes many issues today. EJI provides research and recommendations to assist advocates and policymakers in the critically important work of criminal justice reform. We publish reports, discussion guides, and other educational materials, and our staff conduct educational tours and presentations for thousands of students, teachers, faith leaders, professional associations, community groups, and international visitors every year. Our Work Criminal Justice Reform We challenge the death penalty, extreme sentences for children, excessive punishment, and abusive prison conditions through litigation, advocacy, and education. Racial Justice We share America’s history of racial injustice, from enslavement, racial terror lynchings, and segregation to mass incarceration. Public Education We engage communities in conversation about the legacy of racial injustice, informed by reports, online experiences, and hands-on projects. Museum and Memorial We create opportunities for honest reflection about our history and its legacy in spaces that inspire. Our Team We are highly motivated, hardworking professionals committed to serving our clients, engaging with communities, and advocating for justice and equality. Since EJI’s founding 30 years ago, our staff has grown to over 150 people. See our staff Support EJI EJI is one of the nation’s most effective legal advocacy organizations, earning a perfect score from Charity Navigator. Donate Read our Annual Report Follow EJI facebook twitter instagram youtube Home Museum and Memorial News About Contact Get Involved Donate Shop 122 Commerce Street Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 269-1803 contact_us@eji.org Subscribe to our newsletter © Equal Justice Initiative 2021