Frequently Asked Questions.
Want to learn more about RBIJ? Check out our frequently asked questions below, or email info@rbij.org.
What role do businesses play in reforming the justice system?
Businesses are powerful catalysts for change. When companies use their social capital and big platforms for education and leverage, they create impact. Many corporations have already embraced this position of responsibility, and in the past decade there has been a “moral revolution” in capitalism. Study after study shows that businesses that take on controversial political and social issues can both be effective in creating change and earn more customers by doing so. Criminal justice reform is primed for progress, and it’s a truly bipartisan issue in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The groundswell of support, both political and public, is overwhelming. The stage is set for far reaching reform.
Why should business leaders care about criminal justice reform?
Problems within the criminal justice system do not stay confined — they impact communities in which employees and customers live and work; they impact employers’ ability to access top talent; and they lead to an overall reduction in GDP and economic prosperity. By engaging in criminal justice reform, business leaders can strengthen their economic future. Increasingly, this is the expectation of their consumers. More and more people are expecting their favorite brands to take a stand on critical social issues.
What issues does RBIJ work on? How do you decide when to engage in a campaign?
In addition to helping employers develop and expand their inclusive hiring practices, RBIJ supports a range of policy and advocacy efforts across the United States and United Kingdom, ranging from measures to strengthen the workforce to those that would end cruel and extreme sentencing. RBIJ’s work on policy reform is always guided by experts and leaders on the ground, providing the business voice at key moments to push policy shifts over the finish line.
What is the Workforce & Justice Alliance?
RBIJ’s Workforce & Justice Alliance (WJA) is a community of employers dedicated to advancing systemic change across the country. These companies have committed to leveraging their platforms to advance systemic change in the justice system, share best practices with their peers, and remove workforce barriers for justice-impacted individuals. By joining the WJA, businesses can work to drive meaningful change across the criminal justice system and in our society. Learn more about the WJA here.
What is the American Workforce & Justice Summit?
The American Workforce and Justice Summit is RBIJ’s flagship event, which brings together more than 250 business leaders, policy experts, and justice reformers to explore the impact of justice on the health and vibrancy of the American workforce, how corporate engagement on justice reform can build a stronger economy, and practical steps to deliver meaningful, measurable, and enduring change. More information about the annual Summit, including how to attend, can be found here.
RBIJ never charges businesses to join our efforts. Instead, RBIJ is funded primarily through philanthropic grants. Individuals or businesses interested in donating to RBIJ can find more information on how to do that here.
How is RBIJ funded?