The Justice Education Center

What The Justice Education Center does

The Justice Education Center, Inc. is a Connecticut-incorporated non-profit founded in 1976 and headquartered in West Hartford, CT, that designs and delivers programs at the intersection of youth development, criminal justice reform, and community wellness. Its portfolio includes social-emotional learning curricula (ECHO and ECHO Perfect 10), violence reduction initiatives operated in partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut (Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Longevity), workforce credentialing programs for at-risk and justice-involved youth (Building Bridges, Career Pathways), judicial diversion programs (Bias Crimes Diversion for the Connecticut Judicial Branch), police training and reform work (Eyewitness Identification Task Force since 2011), and girls' sports/wellness programming (Inspire). The Center serves children, youth, and adults across at least 11 Connecticut cities, with measurable outcomes including 100% high school graduation among ECHO Perfect 10 seniors, 84.2% graduation at partner sites, and a statistically significant reduction in justice involvement (20% to 7.6%) among Project Safe Neighborhoods participants.

The organization operates a community-led go-to-market model, delivering services directly through partnerships with schools, municipal governments, police departments, labor unions, universities (UConn, Yale), and sports franchises (WNBA Connecticut Sun). Funding is derived from federal grants (notably U.S. Department of Justice), corporate and individual donations, and fundraising events such as the Inspire Invitational golf tournament; no fee-based pricing exists for core programming, which is offered regardless of ability to pay. Recent strategic activity includes the 2024 acquisition of a 120-acre camp property (Camp Inspire, slated to open 2026), the January 2024 launch of Project MOO, and geographic expansion of the Inspire Girls Sport League into additional Connecticut cities, indicating an active programmatic growth posture funded primarily through grants and donations.

Name

The Justice Education Center

Legal name

The Justice Education Center, Inc.

Website

https://justiceeducationcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Justice Education Center is a 48-year-old Connecticut non-profit that delivers youth development, violence prevention, and criminal justice reform programs — including ECHO, Inspire, Project Safe Neighborhoods, and Career Pathways — through direct partnerships with schools, government agencies, labor unions, and community organizations across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Services Non-profit

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Parole Offices and Probation Offices (922150)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI), Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE), Criminal Justice Reform & Legal System Advocacy (BPAGAFAI), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Criminal justice reform
• Violence prevention services
• Community education programs
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: The organization receives federal grants including U.S. Department of Justice funding for Project Safe Neighborhoods and serves as fiscal representative and grants manager for various programs.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The Inspire Invitational golf tournament and other fundraising events generate donations. 100% of proceeds support youth programming including Camp Inspire and Inspire Scholarship Fund.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

The Justice Education Center is a Connecticut-based nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers youth development, criminal justice reform, and community safety programs. Its portfolio includes the Inspire girls' mentoring program, Camp Inspire, ECHO, Career Pathways, Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Longevity, the Bias Crimes/Bullying program, Building Bridges, Community Healing, Project MOO, and the Eyewitness Identification Task Force. Services are delivered free to participants through partnerships with schools, police departments, government agencies, and labor unions.

Product overview

The Justice Education Center is a non-profit organization offering an integrated portfolio of community programs focused on youth development, education, and public safety. The portfolio includes: Inspire (sports, arts, and wellness programming for girls), Camp Inspire (inclusive accessible camp facility), Career Pathways Technology Collaborative (vocational training), ECHO/ECHO Perfect 10 (social and emotional development curriculum), Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Longevity (violence reduction), Bias Crimes Diversion (judicial programming), Eyewitness Identification Task Force (criminal justice reform), Community Healing and Resiliency (wellness programming), Building Bridges (workforce credentialing), and Project MOO (agricultural youth programming). These programs work together to address the educational, wellness, and safety needs of Connecticut's children, youth, and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inspire: Statewide town and city sports, arts, and wellness program for girls in elementary, middle school and high school with emphasis on at-risk communities. Includes Inspire Girls, Camp Inspire, and Inspire Invitational golf tournament.
• ECHO
• Project MOO
• Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)
• Project Longevity
• Building Bridges
• Bias Crimes and Bullying
• Eyewitness Identification Task Force
• Community Healing and Resiliency

Products and services

• Inspire A girls' mentoring program at The Justice Education Center that has served over 1,000 girls through cohorts including Camp Inspire subgroups such as PAWS, MOCA, and Inspiring Art. Intended for Connecticut youth participants.
• Camp Inspire A summer enrichment program associated with the Inspire initiative, with sub-programs PAWS, MOCA, and Inspiring Art serving Connecticut youth.
• ECHO A program offering within the Center's youth services portfolio, listed among the organization's active programs.
• Career Pathways A career-readiness and workforce development program offered to youth participants in Connecticut.
• Project Safe Neighborhoods A violence prevention program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, delivered through the Center's community safety portfolio.
• Project Longevity A group violence intervention program listed among the Center's violence prevention offerings.
• Bias Crimes/Bullying Program A program addressing bias-driven crimes and bullying, offered by the Center in partnership with schools and law enforcement.
• Eyewitness Identification Task Force A task force focused on improving eyewitness identification procedures and reducing wrongful convictions, connected to the Center's Lineup Reform initiative.
• Community Healing A community healing program offered as part of the Center's community safety portfolio.
• Building Bridges A community bridge-building program listed among the Center's active programs.
• Project MOO A program offering listed within the Center's youth services portfolio.
• DARE Program (Connecticut) A drug-abuse resistance education program funded by the Connecticut Department of Education, supported by 130+ DARE officers in Connecticut schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of ECHO Perfect 10 seniors graduated from high school
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yale School of Law / Criminal Justice CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2016Coordinated the first National Symposium on Eyewitness Identification Reform at Yale School of Law in June 2016, in concert with the School of Law's Criminal Justice Clinic and National Innocence Project. Policymakers and leaders from 23 states attended.
• U.S. Department of Justice / Office of the U.S. Attorney for District of ConnecticutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 12-year collaboration on Project Safe Neighborhoods to reduce violence and curb juvenile crime. The Center serves as fiscal representative and grants manager. Also supports Project Longevity focused on gun and gang violence reduction in inner cities.
• Connecticut Judicial BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates the Bias Crimes Diversion Program for the Connecticut Judicial Branch, a referral-based program providing a 10-week interactive curriculum for adults accused or convicted of bias crimes.
• Police Officer Standards and Training CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaffs the Eyewitness Identification Task Force. Coordinates training for police and states attorneys on Connecticut's eyewitness identification statutes. Policies and procedures are part of statewide reform package signed into law in 2014.
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and JoinerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Bridges works closely with this labor union to offer comprehensive training and credentialing programs for at-risk youth and young adults and those returning from incarceration.
• Laborers International Union of North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Bridges partnership with this labor union for training and credentialing programs targeting at-risk youth and formerly incarcerated individuals.
• WNBA Connecticut SuncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Inspire girls sports, arts, and wellness program. Programming includes clinics, summer camps and special events. Exploring additional collaboration through the Inspire Sport League.
• UConn Women's Basketball AlumnaecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Inspire programming for basketball clinics, summer camps and special events throughout the year.
• University of ConnecticutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UConn for the Girls Leadership Summit - a one-day event introducing approximately 200-250 girls to female leaders on campus and exposing them to potential majors, careers and areas of interest.
• Sacred Heart University Women's Basketball TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActively involved in developmental clinics for girls in Bridgeport, helping participants learn skills and participate in competitive games.
• Caribe (Bridgeport non-profit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst year partnership with 175 high school-aged girls participating. Year two grew to 400 participants. Programming includes leadership development, teamwork, communication, respect, responsibility and self-development.
• Hartford Sports and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Summer Night Gyms program at 4 locations throughout Hartford, Monday-Friday 4pm-8pm, serving 700-1,000 girls grades K-12.
• Active CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner working with Hartford Sports and Recreation to launch the Summer Night Gyms program and girls basketball programming.
• Wilson Gray YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering to create a girls basketball program in collaboration with Hartford Sports and Rec and Hartford Hurricane Girls basketball.
• Camp Farnham / Clifford BeersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial partnership in New Haven for summer 2023, with 100 girls ages 5-12 participating.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National 4-H Council: National youth development organization delivering hands-on programming in STEM, agriculture, civic engagement, and healthy living. Comparable to JEC's Project MOO agricultural curriculum, Inspire wellness programming, and overall K-12 youth development model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk youth across the U.S. Directly comparable to JEC's youth development, character-building, and workforce preparation mission, though BBBS operates nationally and focuses on 1:1 mentoring rather than JEC's justice-system integration.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit embedding coordinators in K-12 schools to provide integrated student supports including dropout prevention, social-emotional learning, and career readiness. Directly comparable to JEC's ECHO curriculum and Career Pathways school-based delivery.
• Roca, Inc. Massachusetts-based nonprofit focused on violence interruption, reentry support, and workforce development for high-risk young men. Directly comparable to JEC's Building Bridges (formerly incarcerated), Project Safe Neighborhoods, and Project Longevity portfolios.
• City Year: National education nonprofit deploying near-peer AmeriCorps mentors in high-need schools to improve attendance, behavior, and course performance. Comparable to JEC's K-12 social-emotional learning and at-risk youth programming through schools.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from low-income communities with training, credentialing, and corporate placement. Comparable to JEC's Building Bridges labor-union credentialing and Career Pathways Technology Collaborative.
• National Network for Youth: National membership and advocacy organization for youth-serving agencies serving homeless, runaway, and justice-involved youth. Comparable to JEC's at-risk youth, juvenile justice, and diversion program focus.
• Police Athletic League (National PAL): National nonprofit youth crime prevention organization operating through law enforcement partnerships, offering sports, education, and mentoring. Directly comparable to JEC's PAL program delivery and police-community relationship-building work.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National nonprofit operating clubs that provide after-school programming, sports, character development, and career readiness for youth, including at-risk populations. Comparable to JEC's Inspire, ECHO, and Career Pathways programs in target audience and programmatic mix.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: Large established national civil rights and urban advocacy organization offering workforce development, youth education, and justice reform programming. Overlaps with JEC's youth development, workforce, and Project Longevity focus but operates at much larger geographic and programmatic scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Justice-Education-Center/106897946352338
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/justice-education-center-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Justice Education Center