Overview

The Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) began over 40 years ago as the sole U.S. organization dedicated exclusively to pretrial system reform. While our expertise is grounded in working with the system “insiders” — judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and others — we have realized that powerful and sustained reforms must come from the people who have been the most deeply harmed by the criminal justice system, usually Black and Latinx communities. Today, PJI serves as a bridge between system actors, who historically hold the power in the legal system, and community members, who have a vision for justice and well-being, to co-create places where all people feel safe, respected, and able to thrive. To achieve this goal, we must work together to identify common values and pursue justice systems that move away from punitive, harmful policies and practices — focusing, instead, on resources that help people heal and live better.