2024 Year-in-Review: SIX transformative accomplishments you helped make possible
By: KELLI ROSS METZ
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the incredible strides we’ve made together toward building a fairer and more effective criminal legal system. Thanks to your partnership, lives have been changed for the better, and justice has been advanced in meaningful ways.
Here are SIX transformative accomplishments you helped make possible this year:
1. Speeding Justice and Reducing Incarceration in Charleston, SC
Through our groundbreaking randomized control trial (RCT) in Charleston, SC, nearly 200 people had their cases resolved sooner than ever before, avoiding unnecessary incarceration and promoting stability in their lives. Over 18 months, we helped save hundreds of years of potential incarceration while improving public safety. And this is just the beginning—we’re distilling key insights from this work to guide similar reforms nationwide.
2. Influencing Policy Through Groundbreaking Research
Our first law review article, published in the San Diego Law Review, examined the impact of prosecutorial decisions on racial disparities in traffic stops. This research has already influenced policy discussions, including testimony before the Chicago Police Commission, and inspired reforms in Minnesota and beyond.
3. Strengthening Prosecutorial Efficiency in Memphis, TN
In Shelby County, TN, we collaborated with prosecutors to tackle overwhelming caseloads. Together, we designed the “First 60 Days” project—a system to prioritize high-stakes cases and ensure serious crimes don’t fall through the cracks. This innovative approach is setting a new standard for managing justice more effectively.
4. Building New Partnerships Across Georgia
In Georgia, we partnered with district attorneys offices in Augusta and Douglas County to streamline case processing and improve efficiency. These collaborations are already driving critical data-informed insights and operational improvements that will ripple throughout the state.
5. Empowering Future Leaders Through Academic Partnerships
From hosting MIT interns to expanding our collaborations at Vanderbilt and George Washington University, we’re equipping the next generation of justice innovators. In 2024, our academic partnerships earned us the GW Learning through Action Award and paved the way for new initiatives in 2025.
6. Amplifying Justice Conversations Nationwide
Our team was invited to share insights at major events coast to coast, from the American Bar Association to the Prosecutor Leaders of Now’s AI and Prosecution Conference. We also joined top academic institutions like Berkeley and Vanderbilt to advance critical dialogues on justice reform.
These milestones represent just a fraction of what your support has achieved. But there’s so much more to do. Thank you for standing with us in the pursuit of justice and equality. Together, we’re making a lasting impact.
