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Towards a more just criminal legal system


The mission of Advancing Real Change, Inc. is to create a more just world by advancing empathy, dignity, and equity within and beyond the criminal legal system. Your support makes our work possible.

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What We Do

Our criminal legal system too often reduces individuals accused of crimes to their worst actions. Their redeeming qualities, the community that loves them, and the experiences that brought them into contact with the legal system are ignored, frequently resulting in extreme and inhumane sentences. Advancing Real Change, Inc., works towards a more just and humane criminal legal system by unearthing the life histories of people facing extreme sentences so that true, accurate, and detailed information about their lives can be shared with the judges, juries, and prosecutors who decide their fates.

Our Impact

Advancing Real Change, Inc., is transforming the lives of individuals and making a long-term impact on the criminal legal system.

94%

of our clients receive shorter and more humane sentences

2,500

criminal defense team members have accessed our training and resources

68%

of our cases have been in high-needs jurisdictions in the past 5 years

Upcoming Events

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Ask a Mitigation Specialist

Ask a Mitigation Specialist – January 15

Ask a Mitigation Specialist, a resource program that allows defenders to meet directly and privately with a mitigation specialist for…

  • January 15
  • 3:00 pm EST
  • Salima Pirmohamed and Scarlet Nerad

Capital Defense Community Resilience Forum

Advancing Real Change, Inc. will host quarterly one-hour Zoom calls for capital defenders on Mondays at 2:30 p.m. CT /…

  • January 27
  • 3:30 pm EST
  • Rita Radostitz

Webinars

The Importance of Standards-Based Work

This webinar will share how upholding the ABA Guidelines, the CFSY Guidelines, and caselaw that guides mitigation is more important…

  • January 28
  • 1:00 pm EST
  • Dr. Elizabeth Vartkessian

Report

Towards a More Just World: Ten-Year Strategic Plan

A new strategic plan for Advancing Real Change, Inc. to guide the organization for the next ten years.

  • Published August 10, 2023
  • I’m new to the field, so being able to talk to an experienced veteran was great. I felt supported.”

    Ask a Mitigation Specialist Participant, 2022
  • Thank you so much to the ARC team…. I feel like I now have the tools to really do my job.

    Narrative workshop participant

    Got a question or need help? Let us know!

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    Your support allows us to serve our clients, provide free training and education to defense teams across the country, and offer online resources.

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