Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Parole Justice Works

EIN 84-3593844 · Sherman Oaks, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceWeak26 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PAROLE JUSTICE WORKS SEEKS TO EDUCATE ATTORNEYS, PEOPLE IN PRISON, AND SURVIVORS OF VIOLENT CRIME ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PAROLE PROCESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; TO PROMOTE MEANINGFUL AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPANT INVOLVEMENT IN THE PAROLE PROCESS AND THE SYSTEM; AND TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PAROLE PROCESS AND THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

Income
$713,944
Spending
$737,912
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$156,000, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $30,625 spent. (1) PROVIDE FREE LEGAL TRAINING TO CALIFORNIA'S BOARD OF PAROLE HEARINGS APPOINTED COUNSEL WHO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA PRISONS AT THEIR PAROLE HEARINGS, (2) PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO THESE ATTORNEYS TO ENSURE THAT THE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL ARE BEING MET, (3) MAINTAIN A FREE LISTSERV WHERE PAROLE ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE STATE CAN BE KEPT UP TO DATE ABOUT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES SURROUNDING THE PAROLE PROCESS, (4) COMMUNICATE TO SURVIVORS OF VIOLENT CRIME ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN THE PAROLE PROCESS AND PROVIDE RELEVANT RESOURCES, AND (5) EDUCATE PEOPLE IN PRISON AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT THE PAROLE PROCESS AND PROVIDE RELEVANT RESOURCES.
  2. $560,853 spent. (1) PROVIDE FREE LEGAL TRAINING TO CALIFORNIA'S BOARD OF PAROLE HEARINGS APPOINTED COUNSEL WHO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA PRISONS AT THEIR PAROLE HEARINGS, (2) PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO THESE ATTORNEYS TO ENSURE THAT THE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL ARE BEING MET, (3) MAINTAIN A FREE LISTSERV WHERE PAROLE ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE STATE CAN BE KEPT UP TO DATE ABOUT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES SURROUNDING THE PAROLE PROCESS, (4) COMMUNICATE TO SURVIVORS OF VIOLENT CRIME ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN THE PAROLE PROCESS AND PROVIDE RELEVANT RESOURCES, AND (5) EDUCATE PEOPLE IN PRISON AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT THE PAROLE PROCESS AND PROVIDE RELEVANT RESOURCES.
  3. (1) PROVIDE FREE LEGAL TRAINING TO CALIFORNIA'S BOARD OF PAROLE HEARINGS APPOINTED COUNSEL WHO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA PRISONS AT THEIR PAROLE HEARINGS, (2) PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO THESE ATTORNEYS TO ENSURE THAT THE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL ARE BEING MET, (3) MAINTAIN A FREE LISTSERV WHERE PAROLE ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE STATE CAN BE KEPT UP TO DATE ABOUT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES SURROUNDING THE PAROLE PROCESS, (4) COMMUNICATE TO SURVIVORS OF VIOLENT CRIME ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN THE PAROLE PROCESS AND PROVIDE RELEVANT RESOURCES, AND (5) EDUCATE PEOPLE IN PRISON AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT THE PAROLE PROCESS AND PROVIDE RELEVANT RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 June 2020.

    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.