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REFORM Alliance

Type:

Criminal Justice Reform
Founded:

2019
CEO:

Robert Rooks

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REFORM Alliance is a criminal justice advocacy organization that focuses on left-of-center policy change to reform the probation and parole laws in the United States, primarily at the state levels. It was founded by rappers Meek Mill and Jay-Z, along with six billionaires. 1 It aligns with other criminal justice reform advocacy groups such as #Cut50, Dream Corps, and American Conservative Union (ACU) to advocate for changes that will reduce the number of people in jails and prisons and on supervised release conditions. 2

Background

In 2017, rapper Meek Mill was imprisoned for two to four years for a parole violation. Because of Mill’s celebrity status, there was a public outcry that caused his release after five months. After his release he and others joined together to advocate for probation and parole reforms. 3

Along with Mill, REFORM Alliance was founded by rapper Jay-Z, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, Brooklyn Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, Third Point Management hedge fund CEO Daniel Loeb, Galaxy Digital investment CEO Michael E. Novogratz, and Vista Equity Partners private equity and venture capital firm CEO Robert F. Smith. They donated a combined $50 million to the cause. CNN political commentator Van Jones was appointed CEO. 4 It was launched with a goal of freeing at least one million people in the prison system within five years. 5

REFORM Alliance focuses on probation and parole laws, working in alliance with other criminal justice groups to make changes to shorten probation and parole terms and reduce the number of people in the system. 6

State Legislation

As of May 2023, REFORM Alliance in collaboration with other prison reform coalitions has contributed to the passage of 16 pieces of legislation in 10 states, releasing 650,000 people from the criminal justice system. 7

In October 2020, REFORM Alliance helped to pass a law in California that limits probation terms to one to two years for most offenses. California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed it into law. 8 REFORM Alliance collaborated with Californians for Safety and Justice, American Conservative Union (ACU), #Cut50, and Dream Corps on this initiative. 9

In January 2021, Michigan passed a set of laws supported by REFORM Alliance that will reduce probation sentences, prevent reoccurring extensions, and limit sentences for technical probation violations. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed them into law. 10

In April 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) signed HB 2038 into law, which limits adult probation sentences and incarceration for technical violations. The law was supported by Virginia Delegate Don Scott (D-Portsmouth), REFORM Alliance, and other organizations including American Conservative Union (ACU). 11

REFORM Alliance advocated for reform laws in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, collaborating with criminal justice advocacy organizations in each state, including Americans for Prosperity, American Conservative Union (ACU), FWD.us, Empower Mississippi,  New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 12

Additional Work Areas

In May 2020, REFORM Alliance purchased and delivered over 10 million masks to prisons across the United States to protect inmates from COVID-19 with a donation of $10 million from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s grantmaking fund Start Small. 13

In 2022, REFORM Alliance created a Research and Implementation department to increase its research capabilities to support probation and parole policy change initiatives. 14

In 2022, REFORM Alliance offered half a million dollars in grants to criminal justice advocacy groups in Pennsylvania. 15

In May 2023 Reform Alliance, Michael Rubin, and Kim Kardashian paid off all restitution, fines, and fees for 50 mothers, freeing them from the probation and parole system. 16

Other initiatives include job fairs and setting up coaching centers in probation departments. 17

Leadership

Van Jones was the first CEO of REFORM Alliance from 2019 to February 2021, 18 then he was promoted to co-chair of the REFORM Alliance Action Fund and a member of the board of directors. He is a CNN political commentator and program host. Previously he was a staffer in the Obama administration and founder, president, and board member of left-leaning nonprofit advocacy organization Dream Corps. 19 Jones describes himself as “a longtime progressive activist.” 20

Robert Rooks became CEO in February 2021. 21 Previously he was co-founder and board chair of left-of-center activist organization Alliance for Safety and Justice. 22

Meek Mill is a co-founder and board co-chair. He is a rap recording artist whose experiences with incarceration, probation, and parole led to the formation of REFORM Alliance. 23

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is a founding partner and board member. 24 He is a hip-hop recording artist and businessman with an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion as of May 18, 2023. 25

Michael Rubin is co-founder and board co-chair. 26 With a net worth of $11.4 billion as of May 18, 2023, Rubin is the founder and CEO of Fanatics, an online sports merchandising retailer. 27

Clara Wu Tsai is a founding partner and board member. She is a businesswoman, investor, and philanthropist and founder of the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation which is focused on racial activism. 28

Michael Novogratz is a founding partner and board member. 29 He is founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital as well as private grantmaking foundation Galaxy Gives and board chair of Bail Project which focuses on eliminating cash bail. 30

Robert Kraft is a founding partner and board member. He is founder, chairman, and CEO of the Kraft Group. 31

Robert F. Smith is a founding partner and board member. He is founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm. 32

Laura Arnold is a founding partner and board member. She is co-founder and co-chair of left-of-center philanthropy Arnold Ventures. 33 In 2012, she became a full-time philanthropist. 34

In 2021, Priscilla Chan, pediatrician and wife of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, joined the board of REFORM Alliance. 35

References

  1. Lisa Respers France. “Jay-Z and Meek Mill launch prison reform organization.” CNN entertainment. April 21, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/24/entertainment/jay-z-meek-mill-prison/index.html
  2. “Successes.” REFORM Alliance – Our Work. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/successes/#
  3. Kelly Wynne. “After Kanye’s Call-Out, Find Out What Meek Mill Actually Believes About Prison Reform.” Newsweek. July 22, 2020. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.newsweek.com/after-kanyes-call-out-find-out-what-meek-mill-actually-believes-about-prison-reform-1519791
  4. Lisa Respers France. “Jay-Z and Meek Mill launch prison reform organization.” CNN entertainment. April 21, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/24/entertainment/jay-z-meek-mill-prison/index.html
  5. Carl Lamarre. “Meek Mill, Jay-Z & Sixers Co-Owner Michael Rubin Launch New Criminal Justice Reform Organization.” Billboard. January 23, 2019. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/meek-mill-jay-z-reform-alliance-criminal-justice-reform-8494699/
  6. Dee Lockett. “Jay-Z and Meek Mill Launch Prison-Reform Alliance, Pledge $50 Million.” New York Magazine – Vulture. January 23, 2019. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/jay-z-meek-mill-launch-prison-reform-alliance-pledge-usd50m.html
  7. Shawn Grant. “Kim Kardashian, Michael Rubin, and REFORM Alliance Unite to Clear Restitution Debts for Women on Probation/Parole.” The Source. May 16, 2023. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://thesource.com/2023/05/16/kim-kardashian-michael-rubin-and-reform-alliance-unite-to-clear-restitution-debts-for-women-on-probation-parole/
  8.  Melissa Roberto. “Jay-Z, Meek Mill’s REFORM Alliance celebrate ‘major victory’ with Calif. Gov. Newsom passing probation bill.” Fox News. October 1, 2020. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jay-z-meek-mill-reform-alliance-major-victory-california-governor-newsom-pass-probation-bill
  9. “Successes.” REFORM Alliance – Our Work. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/successes/#
  10. Tara C. Mahadevan. “Michigan Passes Set of Prison Reform Laws Backed by Meek Mil, Jay-Z, and Michael Rubin’s REFORM Alliance.” Complex. January 5, 2021. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.complex.com/life/2021/01/michigan-passes-prison-reform-laws-backed-by-jay-z-meek-mill-michael-rubin-reform-alliance
  11.  Shawn Grant. “Michael Rubin and Meek Mill’s REFORM Alliance Hit Legislative Victory in Virginia.” The Source. April 13, 2021. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://thesource.com/2021/04/13/michael-rubin-and-meek-mills-reform-alliance-hit-legislative-victory-in-virginia/
  12. “Successes.” REFORM Alliance – Our Work. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/successes/#
  13. Angel Au-Yeung. “Twitter Billionaire Jack Dorsey Is Giving $10 Million To Get Protective Equipment To U.S. Jails And Prisons —Now Coronavirus Hot Spots.” Forbes. May 11, 2020. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2020/05/11/twitter-billionaire-jack-dorsey-is-giving-10-million-to-get-protective-equipment-to-us-jails-and-prisons—now-coronavirus-hotspots/?sh=632a8da22694
  14. Shawn Grant. “REFORM Alliance Announces the Launch of Research Reports to Enhance the Understanding of the Impact of Probation & Parole.” The Source. October 19, 2022. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://thesource.com/2022/10/19/reform-alliance-announces-the-launch-of-research-reports-to-enhance-the-understanding-of-the-impact-of-probation-parole/
  15. “Meek Mill, REFORM Alliance announces community grant program to fight criminal justice reform.” ABC Action News Philadelphia. March 8, 2022. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://6abc.com/meek-mill-reform-alliance-criminal-justice-community-grant-program/11631157/
  16. Shawn Grant. “Kim Kardashian, Michael Rubin, and REFORM Alliance Unite to Clear Restitution Debts for Women on Probation/Parole.” The Source. May 16, 2023. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://thesource.com/2023/05/16/kim-kardashian-michael-rubin-and-reform-alliance-unite-to-clear-restitution-debts-for-women-on-probation-parole/
  17. Leslie D. Rose. “REFORM Alliance Continues Its Push For Criminal Justice 5 Years After #FreeMeek Movement.” Yahoo!news. May 25, 2022. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://news.yahoo.com/reform-alliance-continues-push-criminal-151840307.html
  18. “The system is broken.” REFORM Alliance CEO Robert Rooks takes on criminal justice.” YouTube – CBS News. February 9, 2021. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcqt_fgI6Yk
  19. LinkedIn – Van Jones. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/van-jones-7160bb4b/
  20. “The Change-Maker.” Van Jones website. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://vanjones.net/
  21. “The system is broken.” REFORM Alliance CEO Robert Rooks takes on criminal justice.” YouTube – CBS News. February 9, 2021. Accessed May 17, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcqt_fgI6Yk
  22. LinkedIn – Robert Rooks. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-rooks-747299124/
  23. “Meet REFORM.” REFORM Alliance – About. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/meet-reform/
  24. “Meet REFORM.” REFORM Alliance – About. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/meet-reform/
  25. “Jay-Z.” Forbes profile. May 18, 2023. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/profile/jay-z/?sh=74320a4a59cf
  26. “Meet REFORM.” REFORM Alliance – About. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/meet-reform/
  27. “Michael Rubin.” Forbes profile. May 18, 2023. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/profile/michael-rubin/?sh=7dc74a1b3da9
  28. “Clair Wu Tsai.” Yale University. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://city.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2022-09/Clara%20Wu%20Tsai%20Bio%20July%202022.pdf
  29. “Meet REFORM.” REFORM Alliance – About. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/meet-reform/
  30. “Mike Novogratz (He/Him).” Galaxy Gives – About Us. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.galaxygives.com/team/mike-novogratz
  31. “Meet REFORM.” REFORM Alliance – About. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/meet-reform/
  32. LinkedIn – Robert F. Smith. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertfredericksmith/
  33. “Meet REFORM.” REFORM Alliance – About. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/meet-reform/
  34. Taylor Nicole Rogers. “Meet Laura Arnold, the billionaire philanthropist taking on the parole system with Jay-Z and Meek Mill.” Business Insider. August 18, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/laura-arnold-billionaire-philanthropist-parole-system-jay-z-meek-mill-2019-8
  35. John Lynch. “Priscilla Chan joins executive board of Reform Alliance alongside Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Michael Rubin, Van Jones, and others.” Business Insider. October 22, 2021. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/priscilla-chan-joins-reform-alliance-executive-board-2021-10
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