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Equal Justice USA
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| Equal Justice USA | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | New York, N.Y. |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Shari Silberstein, Executive director |
| Website: | Official website |
Equal Justice USA, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has advocated for criminal justice reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty.[1]
Mission
The website for Equal Justice USA listed the following vision statement:[1]
| “ | We imagine a justice system that provides effective, trauma-informed responses to violence and crime; invests in accountability that is restorative; supports those harmed by crime; coordinates with other systems to address trauma and promote the health and safety of communities; and seeks to acknowledge and repair historical trauma, racial bias, and lack of trust - particularly in disenfranchised communities.[2] | ” |
Background
As of 2016, Equal Justice USA was an organization that advocates for change in the criminal justice system. The group worked with people of color, conservative activists, progressive activists, and evangelicals to train activists in techniques for grassroots organizing. They organized three distinct campaigns, the campaign to end the death penalty, an advocacy network for trauma victims, and a program to secure expanded victim services like training and funding for victims' rights groups.[3]
Work
Equal Justice USA has been known for its advocacy work to eliminate the death penalty. According to The Washington Post, the organization has done a significant amount of outreach with evangelical voters to gain support for the death penalty's elimination on religious and moral grounds. The group started a distinct program aimed at conservatives, called Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty.[4]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details Equal Justice USA’s ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for Equal Justice USA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| Nebraska Death Penalty Repeal, Referendum 426 | 2016 | Opposed[5] | |
Leadership
As of 2016, Shari Silberstein was the executive director of Equal Justice USA. According to the organization's website, the following individuals are members of the group's board of directors:[6]
- Eunice Timoney Ravenna, Chair
- Jesselyn McCurdy, Secretary
- Jane Henderson, Treasurer
- Ursula Bentele
- Lisa Good
- Jonathan Gradess
- James Queen
- Richard Schrader
- Sonya Shah
Finances
The following is a breakdown of Equal Justice USA's revenues and expenses as submitted to the IRS for the 2012 to 2014 fiscal years:
| Annual revenue and expenses for Equal Justice USA, 2012–2014 | ||
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2014[7] | $1,908,124 | $1,559,657 |
| 2013[8] | $1,512,294 | $1,512,829 |
| 2012[9] | $963,711 | $1,316,800 |
Tax status
Equal Justice USA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Its 501(c) designation refers to a section of the U.S. federal income tax code concerning charitable, religious, and educational organizations.[10] Section 501(c) of the U.S. tax code has 29 sections that list specific conditions particular organizations must meet in order to be considered tax-exempt under the section. Organizations that have been granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service are exempt from federal income tax.[11] This exemption requires that any political activity by the charitable organization be nonpartisan in nature.[12]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Equal Justice USA'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Equal Justice USA, "About Us," accessed September 6, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Equal Justice USA, "What We Do," accessed September 6, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Meet the red-state conservatives fighting to abolish the death penalty," June 3, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, "Campaign Statements," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Equal Justice USA, "Staff and Board," accessed September 6, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "Equal Justice USA IRS Form 990 (2014)," accessed September 6, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "Equal Justice USA IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed September 6, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "Equal Justice USA IRS Form 990 (2012)," accessed September 6, 2016
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Exempt Purposes - Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Life Cycle of a Public Charity/Private Foundation," accessed July 10, 2015
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Exemption Requirements - 501(c)(3) Organizations," accessed January 13, 2014
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