Political Advocacy Groups

"The Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations...the Alliance has worked to advance the cause of justice for all Americans, strengthen the public interest community's ability to influence public policy, and foster the next generation of advocates." (http://www.afj.org)

"We believe that prisons should be used only for those who absolutely must be incarcerated and that those who are incarcerated should have all of the resources they need to turn their lives around. We also believe that human rights documents provide a sound basis for ensuring that criminal justice systems meet these goals." (www.curenational.org)

"Our mission is to advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug misuse and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies." (http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/mission/)

"FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization fighting for fair and proportionate sentencing laws that allow judicial discretion while maintaining public safety." (www.famm.org/aboutus.aspx)

"The Institute for Justice is the nation’s premier libertarian public interest law firm. IJ litigates in courts across the country preserving freedom of opportunity and challenging government’s control over individuals’ lives." (http://www.ij.org)

"The Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) is the nation's largest non-profit, non-partisan coalition of law enforcement professionals, crime victims, and concerned citizens united for justice. With a major focus on public education, LEAA is dedicated to providing hard facts and real-world insights into the world of law enforcement and the battle against violent crime. LEAA fights at every level of government for legislation that reduces violent crime while preserving the rights of honest citizens, particularly the right of self-defense."

"Mission Statement: 1. Increase public support for non-punitive, non-coercive marijuana policies. 2. Identify and activate supporters of non-punitive, non-coercive marijuana policies. 3. Change state laws to reduce or eliminate penalties for the medical and non-medical use of marijuana. 4. Gain influence in Congress. Vision Statement: MPP and MPP Foundation envision a nation where marijuana is legally regulated similarly to alcohol, marijuana education is honest and realistic, and treatment for problem marijuana users is non-coercive and geared toward reducing harm." (http://www.mpp.org/about/mission-statement.html)

"Since 1977, the National Center on Institutions & Alternatives, Inc. has provided individual care, concern, and treatment for intellectually disabled individuals and those involved with the criminal justice system." (www.ncianet.org)

"NCADV (located in Denver, CO) is a grassroots non-profit membership organization working since 1978 to end violence in the lives of women and children. " (http://www.webmerchants.com/ncadv/)

"NORML's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty." (http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3414)

"PERF is a police research organization and a provider of management services, technical assistance, and executive-level education to support law enforcement agencies. PERF helps to improve the delivery of police services through the exercise of strong national leadership; public debate of police and criminal justice issues; and research and policy development." (www.policeforum.org/about-us/)

"An independent and unique resource for policing, the Police Foundation acts as a catalyst for change and an advocate for new ideas, in restating and reminding ourselves about the fundamental purposes of policing, and in ensuring that an important link remains intact between the police and the public they serve." (www.policefoundation.org)

"RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization…RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice." (www.rainn.org/about-rainn/mission-statement)

"Stop the Drug War (DRCNet) calls for an end to drug prohibition (e.g. some form of legalization) worldwide and its replacement with a sensible regime of control through regulation. In the interim, DRCNet supports philosophically compatible policy reforms and programs to reduce the excesses of the drug war and its attendant harms. DRCNet works for these objectives through a range of educational programs that are global in their impact; through lobbying efforts focused primarily on the US; through a philosophy of providing support infused within all our programs to our allies in the cause; and to some degree with programs that seek directly to reduce the harms of current policies and of addiction, which indirectly serve our educational and advocacy efforts." (http://stopthedrugwar.org/about/mission)

"The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration." (www.sentencingproject.org/template/page.cfm?id=2)