The U.S. incarcerates its residents at a substantially higher rate than other developed countries. In particular, people who live in poor communities and communities of color have much higher rates of incarceration. This high rate of incarceration has cost hundreds of billions of dollars. We can improve community safety and avoid the expense and damage of unnecessary incarceration.

Too often, communities hardest hit by crime and incarceration do not have a meaningful say in who wields the power to charge people with crimes, set bail, offer plea bargains, and revoke parole or probation. Most prosecutors run unopposed, and most contested races are arguments about who can punish the most harshly — regardless of the costs.

The Accountable Justice Action Fund supports criminal justice reform, with a focus on reforming prosecution and equipping local and national groups to increase accountability in prosecutorial elections. We're trying to ensure that communities most harmed by crime and incarceration have a meaningful chance to elect prosecutors who will represent their interests, and reduce the social and financial cost of unnecessary incarceration.