The Sentencing Project

What The Sentencing Project does

The Sentencing Project is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 that conducts research, policy advocacy, and public education aimed at ending mass incarceration and advancing racial, economic, and gender justice in the U.S. criminal legal system. It serves four primary constituencies: justice-impacted individuals and their families, criminal justice reform advocates and partner organizations, federal and state policymakers, and the general public/media. The organization delivers its work through free digital content rather than a unified technology platform—core assets include the U.S. Criminal Justice Data Tool and Detailed State Data Tool (interactive state-level incarceration databases), a Resource Library of publications and fact sheets, the Second Look Network (a coalition of attorneys providing direct legal representation to incarcerated individuals, launched in 2023), and recurring research series such as "One in Five" and "Counting Down."

The organization does not develop or sell proprietary technology products; its "technology" footprint consists of public-facing data dashboards, a content management system for publications, and standard CRM/email infrastructure for advocacy mobilization. It carries a Charity Navigator four-star rating and a 2024 Candid Seal, indicating recognized financial accountability and transparency. It maintains a social media following of over 100,000 across Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X, and operates a national footprint across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, primarily through digital distribution, press engagement, legislative testimony, and coalition partnerships.

The Sentencing Project's revenue model is donations and charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and supporters (it is a registered 501(c)(3), EIN 52-1472546). All research, data tools, and advocacy materials are provided free of charge; there is no pricing model or paid product tier. Its go-to-market motion is research-driven advocacy: staff analysts publish reports and data tools, campaign strategists mobilize coalitions and legislative testimony, and the Second Look Network provides direct legal services to incarcerated individuals seeking sentence relief. Notable organizational anchors include its 40-year operating history, PhD-credentialed research staff, and partnerships with organizations such as Campaign Legal Center, the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition, the Pennsylvania Prison Society, and Common Cause Maryland.

Name

The Sentencing Project

Legal name

The Sentencing Project

Website

https://sentencingproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sentencing Project is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 that produces research, data tools, and policy advocacy to end mass incarceration, serving policymakers, justice-impacted individuals, reform advocates, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Parole Offices and Probation Offices (922150), Correctional Institutions (922140)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails) (BPAIAFAD), Juvenile Justice System (Courts & Detention) (BPAIAFAF), Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE)

Keywords

• Criminal justice research
• Sentencing reform advocacy
• Mass incarceration policy
• Felony voting rights
• Youth justice reform

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Sentencing Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 52-1472546) that relies primarily on donations from individuals, foundations, and supporters. The website features a dedicated donation portal at secure.sentencingproject.org/a/donation. Revenue is used to fund research, advocacy programs, public education, and operational activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Sentencing Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and advocacy organization that produces policy research, data tools, and publications on U.S. mass incarceration, racial disparities, felony disenfranchisement, and youth incarceration. It conducts federal and state-level policy advocacy and operates the Second Look Network, a coalition of attorneys providing direct legal representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences.

Product overview

The Sentencing Project offers a portfolio of research tools and advocacy programs focused on criminal justice reform. Its core digital products include the U.S. Criminal Justice Data Tool and Detailed State Data Tool, which provide state-level incarceration data for youth and adults, alongside a comprehensive Resource Library containing publications, fact sheets, and policy briefs. The Second Look Network is a key advocacy program providing direct legal representation to incarcerated individuals. The organization publishes research series such as 'One in Five' examining racial inequities, and maintains advocacy campaigns at national, state, and local levels. The portfolio does not follow a unified platform-plus-modules architecture but rather operates as interconnected research and advocacy offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Second Look Network: A coalition of attorneys and mitigation specialists across the country providing direct legal representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences. Launched in 2023.

Products and services

• U.S. Criminal Justice Data Tool

Quantifiable outcome

• One in five Black men born in 2001 is likely to experience imprisonment within their lifetime
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Campaign Legal CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign Legal Center collaborates with The Sentencing Project on jail-based voting resources, co-authoring resources for advocates and jail administrators on implementing voting access programs. The partnership compiles resources and templates for election officials and advocates working to protect ballot access for detained individuals.
• More Than Our CrimescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore Than Our Crimes is a nonprofit that gives voice to Americans incarcerated in federal prison, with special focus on DC residents. They partner with The Sentencing Project on DC voting rights advocacy to address barriers faced by incarcerated DC residents in federal facilities.
• Maryland Youth Justice CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaryland Youth Justice Coalition is a diverse array of organizations dedicated to preventing children from legal system involvement. The Sentencing Project participates in this coalition working to advance the Youth Charging Reform Act limiting automatic charging of youth as adults in Maryland.
• The Pennsylvania Prison SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pennsylvania Prison Society promotes the health, safety and dignity of people behind bars. They partner with The Sentencing Project on Pennsylvania voting rights advocacy and felony disenfranchisement issues.
• Advocacy Based on Lived Experience (ABLE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABLE builds relationships with Kentuckians with lived experience to promote civic participation. They partner with The Sentencing Project on Kentucky voting rights advocacy addressing felony disenfranchisement.
• Mass Liberation Project NevadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMass Liberation Project Nevada supports grassroots organizing to abolish the criminal legal system. They partner with The Sentencing Project on Nevada voting rights advocacy addressing felony disenfranchisement and prison voting access.
• Common Cause MarylandsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommon Cause Maryland is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding democracy. They partner with The Sentencing Project on Maryland voting rights restoration advocacy.
• Out for JusticesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOut for Justice is a grassroots organization engaging and empowering individuals impacted by the legal system. They partner with The Sentencing Project on Maryland voting rights advocacy.
• Coming Good AtlantasecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerComing Good Atlanta supports Aaron Banks, an individual featured by The Sentencing Project who was wrongfully sentenced as a youth. They provide advocacy support alongside The Sentencing Project.
• Healing Futures (Youth & Self-Empowerment Project)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth & Self-Empowerment Project operates the Healing Futures restorative justice diversion program. Their program participant Jay's story is featured by The Sentencing Project to demonstrate alternatives to incarceration.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JustLeadershipUSA: A national organization led by directly impacted people working to end mass incarceration through advocacy, leadership development, and reentry support — closely comparable in mission and constituency focus.
• Council on Criminal Justice: A nonpartisan criminal justice policy research organization that produces data-driven analysis on incarceration trends, sentencing, and reform — closely comparable to The Sentencing Project's research publications and policy-brief portfolio.
• Vera Institute of Justice: A leading research and advocacy organization that works directly on criminal justice reform, including ending mass incarceration, advancing sentencing reform, and producing data and policy analysis comparable to The Sentencing Project's portfolio.
• Brennan Center for Justice: A nonpartisan law and policy institute that conducts research and advocacy on criminal justice reform, voting rights, and constitutional issues, overlapping directly with The Sentencing Project's policy research and voting rights work.
• FWD.us: A bipartisan advocacy organization that campaigns for criminal justice reform, immigration, and tech policy — overlapping with The Sentencing Project in state-level advocacy on sentencing reform and reentry.
• Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Founded by Bryan Stevenson, EJI works to end mass incarceration, challenge excessive punishment, and provide legal representation to people sentenced to extreme sentences — directly comparable in mission, advocacy focus, and direct legal services.
• Pretrial Justice Institute: An advocacy and research organization focused on pretrial reform and reducing unnecessary detention, overlapping with The Sentencing Project's decarceration and racial justice work.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL): A professional bar association that advocates for fair and effective criminal justice, providing direct legal services support, training, and policy advocacy — overlapping with The Sentencing Project on Second Look Network-style direct representation.
• Center for American Progress (Criminal Justice): A broad progressive policy think tank that conducts criminal justice reform research and advocacy as part of a wider policy portfolio, comparable in research methodology and policy-brief output though not specialized in criminal justice.
• American Civil Liberties Union (Criminal Justice): The ACLU runs a major criminal justice reform program including litigation, lobbying, and public education on mass incarceration and voting rights, comparable in advocacy scope and direct legal services though as part of a much broader civil liberties portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SentencingProj
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thesentencingproject
• Facebookfacebook.com/thesentencingproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-sentencing-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesentencingproject

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sentencing Project