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Justice and Accountability Center

EIN 46-1482878 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER OF LOUISIANA (JAC) REMOVES BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND THE ECONOMIC HARMS OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, EMPOWER COMMUNITIES THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND DRIVE POLICY REFORMS TO ENSURE EVERY PERSON HAS THE CHANCE TO THRIVE.

Income
$731,711
Spending
$916,172
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
10.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
7
Highest pay
$50,000, officer

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 68% 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (2)
  1. $664,982 spent. RE-ENTRY PROGRAM: JAC CONTINUED OUR MONTHLY RE-ENTRY LEGAL CLINICS, WHICH WE FACILITATED TWELVE TIMES, SERVING 214 CLIENTS. JAC UTILIZED STAFF AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS, AS WELL AS COORDINATED WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, TO REMOVE LEGAL BARRIERS THAT COULD DERAIL RE-ENTRY SUCH AS ELIMINATING PRESCRIBED TRAFFIC TICKETS, APPLYING FOR (AND APPEALING DENIALS OF) PUBLIC BENEFITS INCLUDING DISASTER BENEFITS, ASSISTING WITH TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIAL (TWIC) CARD WAIVERS AND APPEALS, REINSTATING DRIVER'S LICENSES, ADDRESSING CONSUMER DEBT, AND MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO AMOUNTS THAT ARE MORE MANAGEABLE. WE ALSO HOSTED THREE ADDITIONAL DISASTER-BENEFITS SPECIFIC LEGAL CLINICS FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA WITH FEMA AND SBA. THROUGH OUR REENTRY ATTACHMENT DOCKET PROGRAM WE ELIMINATED 308,856 IN OUTDATED TRAFFIC DEBT AT THE NEW ORLEANS MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC COURT FOR 143 PEOPLE IN 563 CASES, AND 3,695 IN DEBT FOR 12 INDIVIDUALS AT THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT. WE CONTINUED PROVIDING HOLISTIC REENTRY LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS OF THE FINANCIAL ACCESS RESOURCES AND INCLUSION PROJECT OF DISABILITY RIGHTS LOUISIANA, EDEN HOUSE (SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING), AND JUSTICE REINVESTMENT ACT CLIENTS. WE SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF THREE MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE NARROWED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS TO MAINTAIN OR REINSTATE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND CONTINUED OUR WORK TO ELIMINATING USER PAY FEES AND COSTS IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM BY SERVING ON THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON JUSTICE SYSTEM FUNDING AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON MOVING TOWARD A UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM. TOWARDS ELIMINATING THE USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, WE GREW THE LOUISIANA STOP SOLITARY COALITION, WHICH WE FOUNDED AND FACILITATE, TO NEARLY 400 MEMBERS INCLUDING THREE WORKING GROUPS FOCUSING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, JAILS, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. RE-ENTRY PROGRAM: JAC CONTINUED OUR MONTHLY RE-ENTRY LEGAL CLINICS, WHICH WE FACILITATED TWELVE TIMES, SERVING 214 CLIENTS. JAC UTILIZED STAFF AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS, AS WELL AS COORDINATED WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, TO REMOVE LEGAL BARRIERS THAT COULD DERAIL RE-ENTRY SUCH AS ELIMINATING PRESCRIBED TRAFFIC TICKETS, APPLYING FOR (AND APPEALING DENIALS OF) PUBLIC BENEFITS INCLUDING DISASTER BENEFITS, ASSISTING WITH TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIAL (TWIC) CARD WAIVERS AND APPEALS, REINSTATING DRIVER'S LICENSES, ADDRESSING CONSUMER DEBT, AND MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO AMOUNTS THAT ARE MORE MANAGEABLE. WE ALSO HOSTED THREE ADDITIONAL DISASTER-BENEFITS SPECIFIC LEGAL CLINICS FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA WITH FEMA AND SBA. THROUGH OUR REENTRY ATTACHMENT DOCKET PROGRAM WE ELIMINATED 308,856 IN OUTDATED TRAFFIC DEBT AT THE NEW ORLEANS MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC COURT FOR 143 PEOPLE IN 563 CASES, AND 3,695 IN DEBT FOR 12 INDIVIDUALS AT THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT. WE CONTINUED PROVIDING HOLISTIC REENTRY LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS OF THE FINANCIAL ACCESS RESOURCES AND INCLUSION PROJECT OF DISABILITY RIGHTS LOUISIANA, EDEN HOUSE (SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING), AND JUSTICE REINVESTMENT ACT CLIENTS. WE SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF THREE MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE NARROWED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS TO MAINTAIN OR REINSTATE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND CONTINUED OUR WORK TO ELIMINATING USER PAY FEES AND COSTS IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM BY SERVING ON THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON JUSTICE SYSTEM FUNDING AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON MOVING TOWARD A UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM. TOWARDS ELIMINATING THE USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, WE GREW THE LOUISIANA STOP SOLITARY COALITION, WHICH WE FOUNDED AND FACILITATE, TO NEARLY 400 MEMBERS INCLUDING THREE WORKING GROUPS FOCUSING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, JAILS, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES.
  2. $38,415 spent. EXPUNGEMENT PROGRAM: JAC HELD 12 EXPUNGEMENT WORKSHOPS IN 2021, PROVIDING ADVICE OR REPRESENTATION TO 166 INDIVIDUALS, UTILIZING APPROXIMATELY 20 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND VOLUNTEERS TO FACILITATE THE WORKSHOPS. WE RE-LAUNCHED OUR EXPUNGEMENT WEB-BASED APP, WHICH WAS ACCESSED BY OVER 2,000 PEOPLE DURING 2021. THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXPUNGEMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE LOW- INCOME, AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM OVERPOLICED NEIGHBORHOODS, WHO WE SERVE THROUGH EXPUNGEMENT WORKSHOPS FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM EIGHTEEN PARISHES THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA. WE CONTINUED TO FACILITATE THE LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON AUTOMATED EXPUNGEMENTS, THE "CLEAN SLATE TASK FORCE,- AND WHILE THE AUTOMATED EXPUNGEMENT BILL WE SUPPORTED DID NOT PASS, WE CONTINUED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY BASED COALITION AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR A LAW FOR MORE PEOPLE ON MISDEMEANOR PROBATION TO HAVE ACCESS TO RECORD CLEARING. WE JOINED THE FAIR CHANCE HIRING ACT COALITION AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE ACT'S PASSAGE, WHICH PROHIBITS EMPLOYERS FROM CONSIDERING ARRESTS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN CONVICTION DURING THE HIRING PROCESS. EXPUNGEMENT PROGRAM: JAC HELD 12 EXPUNGEMENT WORKSHOPS IN 2021, PROVIDING ADVICE OR REPRESENTATION TO 166 INDIVIDUALS, UTILIZING APPROXIMATELY 20 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND VOLUNTEERS TO FACILITATE THE WORKSHOPS. WE RE-LAUNCHED OUR EXPUNGEMENT WEB-BASED APP, WHICH WAS ACCESSED BY OVER 2,000 PEOPLE DURING 2021. THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXPUNGEMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE LOW- INCOME, AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM OVERPOLICED NEIGHBORHOODS, WHO WE SERVE THROUGH EXPUNGEMENT WORKSHOPS FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM EIGHTEEN PARISHES THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA. WE CONTINUED TO FACILITATE THE LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON AUTOMATED EXPUNGEMENTS, THE "CLEAN SLATE TASK FORCE,- AND WHILE THE AUTOMATED EXPUNGEMENT BILL WE SUPPORTED DID NOT PASS, WE CONTINUED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY BASED COALITION AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR A LAW FOR MORE PEOPLE ON MISDEMEANOR PROBATION TO HAVE ACCESS TO RECORD CLEARING. WE JOINED THE FAIR CHANCE HIRING ACT COALITION AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE ACT'S PASSAGE, WHICH PROHIBITS EMPLOYERS FROM CONSIDERING ARRESTS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN CONVICTION DURING THE HIRING PROCESS.

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 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 2024.

    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 January 2014.

    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.

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.