Advancing Real Change, Inc. creates a more just world by advancing empathy, dignity, and equity within and beyond the criminal legal system. Our work investigating the life histories of people accused of crimes and training defenders nationwide reduces extreme sentences and promotes true justice.
Support Making Steps Towards JusticeOur criminal legal system too often relies on false narratives: that some crimes render people unworthy of mercy, that individuals cannot change, and that everyone chooses the life they have. These fictions lead to dehumanization, discriminatory sentencing, and mass incarceration.
The truth is that everyone has redeeming qualities, the capacity to grow and change, and particular experiences that impact their decisions. Advancing Real Change, Inc., unearths the life histories of people facing extreme sentences so we can share the truth about our clients with the judges, juries, and prosecutors who decide their fates. Sharing their true life histories leads to more humane sentences and a more just criminal legal system.
Advancing Real Change, Inc., is transforming the lives of individuals and making a long-term impact on the criminal legal system.
of our clients receive shorter and more humane sentences
of our cases have been in high-needs jurisdictions in the past 5 years
criminal defense team members have accessed our training and resources
Transforming lives
Our client, Cory Maples, was originally sentenced to death in 1995, and his sentence was overturned in 2022. ARC joined the defense team later that year and began the enormous task of investigating Cory’s life after decades of litigation. We spent thousands of hours working to understand Cory’s history and in May 2024, 9 of the 12 jurors – all residents of a smaller county in Alabama – voted for a life sentence. A few weeks ago, the judge agreed, bringing the 30 years of litigation in Cory’s case to an end.
The application for this training is now closed. Please direct all training questions to Mary Roberts at [email protected]. The training,…
Presenter: Dr. Jill Patterson
Registration is now open for the 2023 virtual Strategy Session, which will be presented online for the federal capital defense…
This two-day training, Re-Thinking Justice: Mitigation Impacting the U.S. Legal System is an opportunity for defenders to engage with experts…
Keynote Speaker: Herman Lindsey
The application for this training is now closed. Please direct all training questions to Mary Roberts at [email protected]. The training,…
Presenter: Dr. Jill Patterson
It is only with a true understanding of the individuals accused of crimes that judges, juries, prosecutors, and other decision-makers…