A Call to Innovate Justice Reform in Asia

by Matt Kelley · 2010-01-27 12:08:00 +0100
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Today, the nonprofit International Bridges to Justices launches its second annual grant competition to promote innovative criminal justice reform initiatives. The group has become a leader in exploring the overlap of social enterprise, criminal justice and media, and its work has sparked inspiring developments in far-flung places from Nepal to Burundi to Cambodia.

In recent years, social enterprises and hybrid business models have led to public policy improvements around the globe, but criminal justice reforms have lagged in this space. Even as the world has reconsidered our oversized and ineffective prisons, the types of new businesses and nonprofits to address these deep issues haven't popped up as widely as they have in other issue areas.

This year's JusticeMakers Competition is working to change that. The competition will focus on Asia , and eight grantees chosen on the basis of innovation, efficacy and sustainability will receive training. What's more, they'll also receive $5,000 in funding and be paired with media projects to publicize their groundbreaking work. Applications are due by March 24 and between April and May, people can vote online to choose the winners.

Although I wonder if $5,000 is spreading the organization's support too thinly, IBJ's focus on innovative, sustainable criminal justice reforms is refreshing and absolutely necessary. Kudos to International Bridges to Justice for working to seed reform around the globe, and I look forward to seeing what kinds of ideas they innovate.

Photo Credit: IBJ event in Cambodia

Matt Kelley is the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project and a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow him on Twitter @mattjkelley.
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