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Life After Justice

EIN 46-0678444 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 49% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 283 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Life After Justice (LAJ) fights to free the wrongfully convicted and provides support in reclaiming their lives after justice. Created by exonerees, the majority exoneree-led Board of Directors' approach is rooted in the knowledge, expertise, and understanding from the lived experience of its leadership.

Income
$113,155
Spending
$997,998
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
25.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
9
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$77,184, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 782% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 283 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 2024, 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. $334,015 spent. Strategic Litigation for Impact and Precedent - LAJ re-examines wrongful convictions nationwide, offering high-quality legal representation that uncovers new evidence and secures freedom for the innocent. The initiative builds legal precedent to address systemic failures and pairs litigation with reentry support, advancing both individual justice and long-term systemic change. LAJ played a pivotal role in securing the freedom of Terence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne, two men wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for decades.
  2. $97,758 spent. National Campaign to Amplify the Voices of America's Wrongfully Convicted and Their Loved Ones- The National Amplification Campaign is the first national survey created by and for the wrongfully convicted and their loved ones. LAJ is spearheading an unprecedented nationwide survey to uncover factors and solutions to build an ecosystem of support through understanding the effects of wrongful incarceration. This research will serve as the cornerstone of LAJ's program development and advocacy initiatives, enabling LAJ to respond to the true needs of this unique population on their journey to thrive - not just survive - post-release.
  3. $28,433 spent. Holistic Mental Health and Wellness Empowerment Pilot Program - A first-of-its kind direct response to the urgent need for comprehensive care tailored to address the profound trauma and lasting effects of wrongful incarceration, LAJ delivers free, trauma-informed care designed for the wrongfully convicted and their families, integrating mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional healing. The program removes systemic barriers to access and trains clinicians in a unique curriculum to serve this community. With demand rising, LAJ is setting a new standard for post-exoneration care.
  4. $5,126 spent. Incentivized Informants Research Project -The Incentivized Informants Project is a first-of-its kind research project focused on examining the role of incentivized informants in known wrongful convictions. Incentivized witness testimony is a leading cause of wrongful convictions, contributing to more than 15% of wrongful convictions that were later overturned through DNA testing. LAJ's research involves reviewing 2,101 cases-out of the first 3,500 known exonerations in the National Registry of Exonerations-that involved false or perjured testimony, to determine which cases involved incentivized informants. LAJ has completed a preliminary review of 98% of wrongful convictions involving perjury or false accusations (2,058 out of 2,101 cases) and has identified at least 983 cases likely involving incentivized informants. LAJ is conducting research to build a database of these cases that will be used to educate and inform key stakeholders on this issue.
  5. $28,151 spent. Programming Administration

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.