The Sentencing Project
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
The Sentencing Project firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Sentencing Project industry classification
Industry- 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
Where The Sentencing Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Sentencing Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- 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
The Sentencing Project product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Sentencing Project
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Sentencing Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Sentencing Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Campaign Legal CentercoreCampaign 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 CrimescoreMore 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 CoalitioncoreMaryland 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 SocietycoreThe 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)coreABLE 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 NevadacoreMass 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 MarylandsecondaryCommon 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 JusticesecondaryOut 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 AtlantasecondaryComing 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)secondaryYouth & 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
The Sentencing Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
The Sentencing Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Sentencing Project compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Sentencing Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Sentencing Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Sentencing Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Sentencing Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Sentencing Project
What does The Sentencing Project do?
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.
Is The Sentencing Project a public or private company?
The Sentencing Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Sentencing Project founded?
The Sentencing Project was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Sentencing Project based?
The Sentencing Project is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Sentencing Project make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are The Sentencing Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JustLeadershipUSA, Council on Criminal Justice, Vera Institute of Justice, Brennan Center for Justice, FWD.us, Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and Pretrial Justice Institute. Broad incumbents are National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Center for American Progress (Criminal Justice) and American Civil Liberties Union (Criminal Justice).
Does The Sentencing Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Sentencing Project.
What industry is The Sentencing Project in?
The Sentencing Project's product category is Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAIAFAD, Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails). Its NAICS code is 922 and its SIC code is 8111.