Justice Forward Virginia is a non‑partisan advocacy organization founded by public defenders to advance evidence‑informed criminal justice reform across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The group drafts and lobbies for state legislation, educates and mobilizes the public, and coordinates coalition campaigns on policing, pretrial, sentencing, indigent defense, and related criminal legal system changes.
Statewide criminal justice reforms including police accountability and limits on surveillance, pretrial reform and bail alternatives, sentencing and probation reforms including repeal of mandatory minimums, improvements to indigent defense and post‑conviction relief, and drug policy and decarceration measures.
Primarily funded by individual donations, grants and contributions; operates alongside an affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation for tax‑deductible support while its 501(c)(4) arm conducts direct lobbying and advocacy.
Justice Forward Virginia Foundation (501(c)(3)), criminal defense groups such as the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), coalition partners including CannaJustice/Marijuana Justice, and leadership figures such as Executive Director Rob Poggenklass and policy staff including Bryan Kennedy.
Non‑profit advocacy organization (501(c)(4))
