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Justice Policy Institute

EIN 20-0102713 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Justice Policy Institute is dedicated to reducing the use of incarceration and involvement in the justice system by promoting fair and effective policies.

Income
$660,411
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
8
Highest pay
$185,825, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $317,611 spent. Justice Reform efforts in DC, Maryland and Virginia - JPI continued to provide research and policy support for justice reform initiatives in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. JPI supported various coalitions to advance reform initiatives and building strategic partnerships and relationships to enhance justice reform in the region. JPI worked on various policy issues including parole reform, second look, higher education in prison, community investment, electronic monitoring, and youth justice.
  2. $149,457 spent. Other JPI engaged in a variety of other juvenile and criminal justice reform program activities in support of its mission, including serving as a fiscal sponsor for More Than Our Crimes; conducting research and policy work to reduce the use of long prison terms; enhancing community responses to those involved in violent crime and returning to the community after incarceration.
  3. $125,494 spent. Public Information Officers Learning Collaborative - JPI served as a project partner and convenor of the Public Information Officers Learning Collaborative in partnership with the Georgetown University Center for Youth Justice (formerly Center for Juvenile Justice Reform), providing support to youth justice and child welfare PIOs from across the country.
  4. $90,340 spent. IRAA Implementation Support Support to District-wide efforts to build a comprehensive response to the needs of those released under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016 (IRAA) and the Second Look Act of 2020, including providing coordination among funded legal services and reentry service providers.
  5. $71,634 spent. Emerging Adult Justice Reform Work in Washington, DC JPI worked in coalition with partner organizations and advocates related to advancing implementation of the Emerging Adult Strategic Plan (18-to-24-year-olds) as required under the Amended Youth Rehabilitation Act of 2018. As part of this work JPI published the report Building a Brighter Future: A Plan to Invest in DCs Emerging Adults, as well as participated in the Columbia University Emerging Adult Justice Projects innovation site cohort.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Institute for Justice (Arlington, VA), EIN 52-1744337. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.