Chicago Justice Project

What Chicago Justice Project does

Chicago Justice Project (CJP) is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that uses public records laws, litigation, and data analysis to expose the operations of courts, police, and prosecutors. It compiles justice-system data, takes legal action when agencies withhold information, and publishes findings to identify patterns of harm — most notably contributing research that catalyzed the first major reform of the Chicago Police Board in over 50 years.

Its core offerings are organized around four workstreams: Litigation (public-records legal advocacy), Open Data Advocacy (research and data publication), Public Policy (reform recommendations), and public education via the Chicago Justice Podcast, which features interviews with researchers and reform advocates. Supporting the mission is CJP Nation, a structured volunteer and intern pipeline spanning data analysis, web development, fundraising, and audio/video production. Distribution is direct-to-public through the CJP website, the Chicago Justice Podcast, YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Twitter/X, and a newsletter.

The business model is that of a donation-funded 501(c)-style nonprofit with 16 employees, a single Chicago headquarters, and no disclosed commercial revenue lines. Outreach is regional (Midwest/Illinois) with recent editorial expansion toward national criminal-justice topics via the podcast. The organization is founder-led by Executive Director Tracy Siska, who also hosts the podcast.

Name

Chicago Justice Project

Legal name

Chicago Justice Project

Website

https://chicagojustice.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago Justice Project is a Chicago-based nonprofit that uses public records laws, litigation, and data analysis to expose court, police, and prosecutor practices, serving communities and policymakers seeking criminal justice transparency and reform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Criminal Justice Advocacy and Research Services

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Legal Counsel and Prosecution (922130), Police Protection (922120), Courts (92211)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Archives, Records & Information Governance (BPAIAAAG), Records Digitization & Archiving (Legacy Files, Retention Support) (BPAAAKAG)

Keywords

• Criminal justice research
• Public records advocacy
• Legal transparency services
• Data-driven advocacy
• Criminal justice reform

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chicago Justice Project uses public records laws to uncover data about how courts, police, and prosecutors operate that is often hidden or difficult to access. When agencies refuse to share information, the organization takes legal action to permanently open those records. It also conducts open data advocacy, public policy research, and produces the Chicago Justice Podcast to help communities identify patterns of harm and push for meaningful criminal justice reform.

Product overview

Chicago Justice Project is a nonprofit organization that operates as a unified advocacy and research entity focused on criminal justice transparency. Its core offerings include the Chicago Justice Podcast for public education, Litigation services using public records laws, Open Data Advocacy for research, and Public Policy reform efforts. The CJP Nation volunteer program supports these activities through skilled contributions in research, data analysis, and communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chicago Justice Podcast: The organization's podcast that examines stories about crime and public safety, featuring data-driven analysis and conversations with researchers and reform advocates.

Products and services

• Chicago Justice Podcast A data-driven podcast that analyzes crime narratives, justice policies, and power structures through interviews with researchers, reform advocates, and system insiders. Covers topics including racial bias, police violence, surveillance, incarceration, and policy failures, and is aimed at the general public interested in criminal justice issues.
• Litigation Legal advocacy service that uses public records laws to uncover hidden criminal justice data and takes legal action against agencies that refuse to share information, permanently opening those records to the public.
• Open Data Advocacy Research and advocacy effort focused on obtaining and publishing public data about courts, police, and prosecutors to increase transparency and accountability in the justice system.
• Public Policy Policy research and advocacy work that helps communities understand justice system patterns and push for meaningful reform leading to safer and more just systems.
• CJP Nation A volunteer and engagement program bringing together interns, volunteers, and professionals to support justice reform through research, public policy, data analysis, and public education, including opportunities in web development, fundraising, audio/video production, and social media.

Quantifiable outcome

• Led to first major reform of the Chicago Police Board in over 50 years, including requiring individual board votes and written explanations published online, term limits for board members and leadership, and granting the Board authority to make public policy recommendations

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Marshall Project: The Marshall Project is a national nonprofit news outlet covering the U.S. criminal justice system. It is comparable to CJP because both use journalism and data-driven storytelling to expose criminal justice system failures, although The Marshall Project operates at national scale while CJP is regionally focused.
• Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch is a global nonprofit that investigates and reports on human rights abuses, including policing and criminal justice. It is comparable to CJP's advocacy and documentation mission but operates globally with institutional resources CJP does not have.
• ProPublica: ProPublica is a major investigative nonprofit newsroom that has done extensive public records and data-driven reporting on policing and criminal justice. It is comparable to CJP in its methodology of using data and public records to drive accountability, though it operates at a much larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Invisible Institute: Invisible Institute is a Chicago-based nonprofit investigative production house focused on police accountability, public records, and storytelling. It is one of CJP's closest direct peers given its shared geography, public records litigation, and documented impact on Chicago Police accountability.
• City Bureau: City Bureau is a Chicago-based civic journalism nonprofit that uses public records, community reporting, and documenters programs to increase local government accountability. It is a strong direct peer to CJP given its shared Chicago focus, civic documentation mission, and emphasis on publicly accessible data.
• The Appeal: The Appeal is a nonprofit criminal justice media outlet that combines journalism, policy analysis, and advocacy to cover prosecutors, policing, and incarceration. It overlaps directly with CJP's public policy and open data advocacy work and publishes some stories in the Chicago market.
• MuckRock: MuckRock is a nonprofit news organization that helps journalists and citizens file, track, and publish public records requests. It is a direct peer to CJP's litigation and open data advocacy, providing shared infrastructure and philosophy around public records-driven accountability.

Regional players

• ACLU of Illinois: ACLU of Illinois is a regional affiliate of the ACLU that litigates and advocates on civil liberties and criminal justice issues in Illinois. It shares CJP's Chicago focus and litigation-driven accountability model, although it is significantly larger and works across a broader civil liberties agenda.

Others

• The Intercept: The Intercept is an investigative news outlet that relies on leaked and public records to expose government misconduct. It is thematically related to CJP because both rely on records-driven accountability journalism, though The Intercept operates at a much larger national scale.
• Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence: Brady United is a nonprofit that combines legal advocacy, public records, and policy reform to address gun violence. It is thematically adjacent to CJP because both use litigation and data-driven advocacy to drive accountability, though Brady focuses on gun violence rather than broader criminal justice transparency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CJPJustProj
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCb_KAJefF-IOVK5wCfusblw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChicagoJusticeProject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-justice-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Chicago Justice Project