Restore Justice Foundation (RJF) is a criminal justice policy organization focusing on youth and young adults incarcerated in Illinois. RJF seeks to expand parole, reduce or eliminate mandatory minimum prison sentences, abolish or limit the felony murder rule, and eliminate sentencing enhancements. Restore Justice Foundation asserts that the American criminal justice system is systematically racist.

Organization and History

Restore Justice Foundation was formed in 2014 in Chicago, Illinois after a previous inception as the Changing the World Foundation in 2012. ¹ RJF focuses on youth, defined as those under the age of 25, in Illinois who are involved in the criminal justice system, seeking to reduce mandatory prison sentences, curtail truth-in-sentencing laws, and increase opportunities for diversion to probation instead of prison. ² RJF’s efforts include conducting research, outreach, training, and partnerships. ³ RJF’s sister organization, Restore Justice Illinois, focuses on direct legislative advocacy. ⁴

Issues

Restore Justice Foundation asserts that it is critical to acknowledge the role racism purportedly plays at every stage of the criminal legal system. ⁵ RJF seeks to “build racial equity” and “reduce the harms of the criminal legal system.” ⁶ Restore Justice Foundation’s three main key issues include sentencing guidelines and reform, prisoner release and re-instituting parole, and incarceration conditions. ⁷

RJF argues against mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines and wants criminal enhancement laws, such as for using a weapon while committing a crime, repealed. ⁸ In 2021, Restore Justice Foundation applauded a new law limiting the scope of the felony murder rule in Illinois but argued it should be further limited or abolished. ⁹ RJF’s executive director, Jobi Cates, has advocated for abolishing the felony murder rule entirely calling it draconian especially for youth. ¹⁰

After Illinois passed a law in 2019 that new inmates under the age of 21 may be eligible for parole, RJF argued that the law did not go far enough and wants parole consideration expanded for all ages and applied retroactively for those incarcerated prior to 2019. ¹¹ Restore Justice Foundation has supported ending solitary confinement as a punitive measure and applauded a newly created family liaison within the department of corrections to hear complaints and report to the legislature. ¹²

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, RJF demanded that Illinois release any elderly prisoner with fewer than 12 months left on a sentence and people serving class 2-4 felonies who are vulnerable to serious illness or death due to underlying medical conditions; commute the sentence of anyone over the age of 60 with fewer than five years remaining to time served; review releasing anyone over the age of 55 who is within two years of release date; direct state’s attorneys to initiate sentence reductions for decades-old convictions; and review cases where a youth was given a long prison sentence and who would now be eligible for parole under the 2019 law and apply it retroactively. ¹³

Programs

Restore Justice Foundation provides in-person and virtual training on criminal law issues. ¹⁴ Training programs include legislative advocacy, building relationships with legislators, and self-advocacy training for loved ones of those incarcerated. ¹⁵ RJF holds weekly virtual meetings during the spring legislative session providing “advocacy team” members updates and information to contact elected officials on criminal justice reform issues. ¹⁶ Restore Justice Foundation also organizes an advocacy day each legislative session to sending voters to meet with legislators at the state capitol in Springfield, Illinois. ¹⁷

Restore Justice Foundation runs a 14-week Future Leaders Apprenticeship Program for formerly incarcerated youths who were incarcerated for 20 or more years. ¹⁸ Those selected that have an interest in advocacy in the criminal justice system receive training plans for career and educational goals, support and coaching with an opportunity to work at Restore Justice Foundation or an affiliated group, and support from RJF’s professional and career network. ¹⁹

Finances

In 2019, Restore Justice Foundation reported total assets of $118,693. ²⁰ According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2019 Restore Justice Foundation recorded $451,008 in revenue and $350,150 in expenses. ²¹ In 2018, Restore Justice Foundation had $306,636 in revenue and $335,949 in expenses. ²² RJF has received a $350,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation and money from the Crossroads Fund, a racial and economic advocacy organization in Illinois. ²³

Leadership

Joanna “Jobi” Cates is founder and executive director at Restore Justice Foundation. ²⁴ Previously, she was senior director for Chicago and the Midwest at Human Rights Watch. ²⁵ Cates has worked at Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Youth, Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, Chicago Public Schools, The Commercial Club of Chicago, and the City of Chicago. ²⁶ As a consultant, Cates has managed projects for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ²⁷ She is a member of the Asset Funders Network, a left-of-center grant making organization that advocates for economic equity stating the country’s legal and socioeconomic system is built on racism. ²⁸ Cates contributed to Democrat Daniel Biss’ campaign for governor of Illinois in 2018. ²⁹

1. Changing the World Foundation, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990-N), 2012; Restore Justice Foundation, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
2. “About Restore Justice.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/about-us/. “Our Focus Areas.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 25, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/learn/our-focus-areas/.
3. ^[1] “About Restore Justice Illinois.” Restore Justice Illinois. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://restorejusticeillinois.org/about-us/.
4. “About Restore Justice Illinois.” Restore Justice Illinois. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://restorejusticeillinois.org/about-us/.
5. “Governor Pritzker Signs Historic Reform Bill into Law.” Restore Justice Foundation. February 22, 2021. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://restorejusticeillinois.org/governor-pritzker-signs-historic-reform-bill-into-law/.
6. Restore Justice Foundation Twitter. July 1, 2022. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://mobile.twitter.com/JusticeRestore/status/1542892817533616128.
7. “Our Focus Areas.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/learn/our-focus-areas/
8. “Our Focus Areas.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/learn/our-focus-areas/.
9. “Impact.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/about-us/impact/#:~:text=HB%203653%2C%20SA%202%20–%20now,deaths%20caused%20by%20third%20parties
10. Cates, Jobi. “Lake County Case Shows Why Illinois Should Abolish the Felony Murder Rule.” Chicago Sun-Times. August 15, 2019. Accessed August 29, 2022. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/8/15/20807715/felony-murder-rule-illinois-gurnee-teens-lake-county-restore-justice-jobi-cates.
11. “HB531: Frequently Asked Questions.” Restore Justice Foundation. December 4, 2019. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://restorejusticeillinois.org/hb531-frequently-asked-questions/.
12. “Impact.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/about-us/impact/#:~:text=HB%203653%2C%20SA%202%20–%20now,deaths%20caused%20by%20third%20parties; “Restore Justice Applauds Governor Pritzker, Senator Fine, Representative Gabel, and the Illinois Department of Corrections for Supporting Families with Incarcerated Loved Ones.” June 10, 2022. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/media-advisory-restore-justice-applauds-governor-pritzker-senator-fine-representative-gabel-and-idoc-for-supporting-families/
13. “Urgent Recommendations: Covid-19 and Prison Communities.” Restore Justice Foundation and Illinois Prison Project. March 17, 2020. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/urgent-recommendations-covid-19-and-prison-communities/; “Updated Recommendations: Covid-19 and Prison Communities.” Restore Justice Foundation and Illinois Prison Project. April 27, 2020. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/updated-recommendations-covid-19-and-prison-communities/.
14. “Upcoming Virtual and In-Person Trainings. Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/events/advocacy-camp/.
15. “Upcoming Virtual and In-Person Trainings. Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/events/advocacy-camp/.
16. “Restore Justice Spring/Summer 2022 Newsletter.” Restore Justice Foundation. May 25, 2022. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/restore-justice-spring-summer-2022-newsletter/.
17. “Virtual Day of Action.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/events/advocacy-day/.
18. “Future Leaders Apprenticeship Program.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 29, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/flap/.
19. “Future Leaders Apprenticeship Program.” Restore Justice Foundation. Accessed August 29, 2022. https://www.restorejustice.org/flap/.
20. Restore Justice Foundation, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
21. Restore Justice Foundation, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
22. Restore Justice Foundation, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
23. “Crossroads Fund Awards More Than $1 Million in Grants.” Crossroads Fund. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://crossroadsfund.org/content/crossroads-fund-awards-more-1-million-grants; “About Crossroads Fund.” Crossroads Fund. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://crossroadsfund.org/content/about-crossroads-fund; “Restore Justice Foundation.” MacArthur Foundation. 2021. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/restore-justice-foundation-10115536/
24. “Jobi Cates.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobicates/.
25. “Jobi Cates.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobicates/.
26. “Jobi Cates.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobicates/.
27. ^[1] “Board of Directors.” Restore Justice Illinois. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://restorejusticeillinois.org/board-of-directors/#cates.
28. ^[1] Cates, Jobi Peterson. “Teens, Booze, Crime, and Courts.” www.medium.com. October 4, 2018. Accessed August 29, 2022. https://medium.com/@jobipetersencates/teens-booze-crime-and-courts-eab0c5bd2c31; “Realizing Economic Justice.” Asset Funders Network. Accessed August 29, 2022. https://assetfunders.org/realizing-economic-justice/.
29. Center for Responsive Politics. “Daniel Biss.” Opensecrets.org. March 22, 2021. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Jobi+cates; “Daniel K. Biss.” Ballotpedia. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://ballotpedia.org/Daniel_K._Biss.