The True Cost of Misinformation: How False Narratives Undermine Justice Related Policies and Initiatives. 

In today’s fast-paced media landscape, misinformation spreads rapidly—shaping public perception, influencing policy decisions, and driving justice policies that disproportionately harm marginalized communities. From sensationalized crime reporting and misleading political rhetoric to biased social media narratives, misinformation fuels fear-based policymaking that prioritizes punishment over prevention, rehabilitation, and systemic reform.

This panel will bring together journalists, policy experts, advocates, and justice-impacted individuals to examine the real-world consequences of misinformation on justice policy—particularly in areas such as parole, sentencing reform, reentry, and community safety initiatives. Panelists will explore how inaccurate reporting, data misrepresentation, and fear-driven narratives contribute to harsher laws, over-policing, and barriers to meaningful reform, while discussing strategies to promote truth-based storytelling and responsible journalism in shaping a more just system.

Fruits of Labor: Building Pathways from Prison to Prosperity through Trade Unions and Employers

For justice-impacted individuals, stable employment is a cornerstone of successful reentry—yet many face significant barriers to securing meaningful work. Trade unions and forward-thinking employers play a crucial role in closing this gap by providing structured career pathways, fair wages, and long-term stability.

This panel brings together union leaders, employers, workforce development experts, and formerly incarcerated individuals to examine how apprenticeships, vocational training, and second-chance hiring can create sustainable career opportunities. Panelists will highlight proven models, policy initiatives, and industry partnerships that help justice-impacted individuals transition from economic insecurity to thriving careers in skilled trades and beyond.

By redefining the role of labor unions and employers in justice reform, we can transform second chances into lasting success—ensuring that employment serves as a bridge to opportunity rather than a barrier to reentry.

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Reentry Experience for Formerly Incarcerated AAPI and Native Communities The challenges of reentry are well-documented, yet the experiences of formerly incarcerated Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American individuals remain largely invisible in mainstream criminal justice reform discussions. Despite facing unique cultural stigmas, systemic barriers, and a lack of culturally specific support services, these communities are often overlooked in policy debates and reentry initiatives.

This panel brings together justice-impacted individuals, advocates, and community leaders to illuminate the distinct struggles and resilience of AAPI and Native populations during reentry. Panelists will examine the impact of deportation threats, cultural disconnection, the absence of targeted reentry programs, and the deep ties between colonialism and incarceration. The discussion will also highlight community-led solutions, policy reforms, and advocacy efforts designed to ensure these populations receive the resources, dignity, and opportunities they deserve as they rebuild their lives.

By breaking the silence and centering the voices of directly impacted individuals, this conversation aims to challenge assumptions, inform policy, and foster a more inclusive vision of justice reform.

Forgotten & Overlooked: Addressing the Unique Challenges of Women’s Reentry

While the incarceration rate for women has grown twice as fast as for men, the resources available to support their reentry remain severely inadequate. Women returning home from incarceration face unique challenges—from family reunification and childcare to housing, education, workforce development, healthcare, and mental health support. Yet, many reentry programs are designed with men in mind, failing to address the gender-specific barriers that justice-impacted women encounter.

This conversation will bring together formerly incarcerated women, advocates, and policy experts to discuss the urgent need for gender-responsive reentry programs. Panelists will explore innovative solutions, policy reforms, and community-driven efforts that can help women successfully reintegrate into society and break the cycle of incarceration.

Laboring for Pennies: Rethinking the Thirteenth Amendment and Fair Wages in Prison

Across the United States, incarcerated individuals perform essential labor—often for as little as 86 cents per day. From manufacturing and agriculture to facility maintenance, their work sustains industries and institutions, yet they are excluded from basic labor protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. A loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment, which permits involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime, has long enabled the exploitation of prison labor, raising serious ethical and economic concerns.

This panel will bring together legal scholars, activists, formerly incarcerated workers, and labor rights advocates to examine the historical roots of prison labor, its modern implications, and the ongoing fight for fair wages and protections. Panelists will explore how policy reforms, corporate accountability, and labor organizing can help build a more just system—one that upholds dignity, ensures fair compensation, and redefines the role of labor in the justice system.

Beyond Bars: Unlocking Potential, Advancing Reform, and the Transformative Power of Higher Education in Prison

Education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking cycles of incarceration and creating pathways to success. Yet, for too long, access to quality higher education in prison has been limited, despite clear evidence that it reduces recidivism, empowers individuals, and transforms lives.

This panel brings together formerly incarcerated scholars, educators, and policymakers to explore the critical role of prison education in advancing justice reform. Through firsthand experiences and innovative program models, panelists will discuss the challenges and successes of expanding educational access behind bars, the systemic barriers that persist, and the policies needed to create equitable learning opportunities.

By redefining rehabilitation through education, we can shift the narrative around incarceration, equip justice-impacted individuals with the skills to thrive, and build a future where education serves as the foundation for opportunity and lasting change.

Pardons and Redemption: Mercy or a Right?

Pardons have long been viewed as extraordinary acts of mercy, granted sparingly to individuals who demonstrate exceptional rehabilitation or have faced unjust circumstances. But should pardons remain reserved for the few, or should they serve as a pathway to redemption for all who have paid their debt to society and remained crime-free?

This thought-provoking discussion will bring together legal experts, justice-impacted individuals, policymakers, and advocates to explore the evolving role of pardons in the criminal justice system. Panelists will examine the traditional discretionary use of pardons on a case-by-case basis, as well as the argument for a more systematic, rights-based approach—one that grants pardons to individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation over time. Should clemency remain a rare privilege, or should it become a guaranteed step toward reintegration for those ready to contribute to society?

Borders, Bars, and Bias: The Criminalization of Immigration in America

Despite overwhelming evidence that immigrants are not more likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens, U.S. immigration policies continue to be shaped by fear, misinformation, and political rhetoric rather than facts. The criminalization of immigration has fueled mass surveillance, detention, and deportation, expanding a vast enforcement apparatus that disproportionately targets communities of color.

This critical conversation will bring together immigration advocates, legal experts, and justice-impacted individuals to unpack the harmful narratives driving policy decisions and explore the intersection of immigration enforcement, mass incarceration, and systemic racism. Panelists will examine how laws designed to criminalize immigrants impact families, communities, and economic mobility, and discuss ways to advocate for more just, evidence-based immigration policies.

Alice Marie Johnson is a prominent criminal justice reform advocate who transformed personal adversity into a mission for systemic change. Born on May 30, 1955, in Mississippi, she faced significant hardships, including job loss, divorce, and the tragic death of her youngest son. These challenges led her to become involved in a Memphis-based cocaine trafficking operation. In 1996, as a first-time nonviolent offender, she was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 25 years. 

During her 21 years of incarceration, Johnson exhibited exemplary behavior and became an ordained minister, dedicating herself to mentoring fellow inmates and advocating for prison reform. Her case gained national attention when Kim Kardashian West championed her cause, leading to a meeting with President Donald Trump. In June 2018, President Trump commuted Johnson’s sentence, and she was subsequently granted a full pardon in August 2020. 

Following her release, Johnson authored a memoir titled “After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom,” detailing her experiences and the broader issues within the criminal justice system.  She also founded the organization Taking Action for Good (TAG), focusing on criminal justice reform and clemency for deserving individuals. 

In February 2025, President Trump appointed Johnson as the administration’s “pardon czar,” a role in which she advises on clemency cases, reflecting her commitment to justice and second chances. 

Johnson’s journey from incarceration to advocacy underscores the potential for redemption and the importance of reforming punitive policies affecting nonviolent offenders.