Jesse Lava

Jesse Lava's career is about transforming hearts and minds to promote social justice. He now runs Brave New Foundation's Beyond Bars campaign, which produces videos and engages social media to fight mass incarceration in the United States. The campaign's most important job is storytelling; it inspires change by illuminating the lives of those ensnared in our nation's dysfunctional criminal justice system. Previously, Jesse has done communications for progressive groups, worked to reclaim the national values debate from the religious right, and campaigned door-to-door for political candidates. He got his bachelor's from Wesleyan University and a master's in public policy from Harvard University.

VIDEO: Why This Company Wants You in Prison

VIDEO: Why This Company Wants You in Prison VIDEO: Why This Company Wants You in Prison

It has something to do with the $1.7 billion they made off the privatized incarceration industry just last year.

Nov 5, 2013 / Jesse Lava and Sarah Solon

When Did ‘To Serve & Protect’ Become ‘To Seize & Profit?’

When Did ‘To Serve & Protect’ Become ‘To Seize & Profit?’ When Did ‘To Serve & Protect’ Become ‘To Seize & Profit?’

How police across the country are using civil asset forfeiture to seize people’s houses, cars and cash to make money for their departments.

Oct 29, 2013 / Jesse Lava and Sarah Solon

Criminalizing Immigrants Shouldn’t Be a Business Opportunity

Criminalizing Immigrants Shouldn’t Be a Business Opportunity Criminalizing Immigrants Shouldn’t Be a Business Opportunity

But the private prison company GEO Group is making huge profits locking up immigrants who are often guilty only of the crime of being undocumented.

Oct 23, 2013 / Jesse Lava and Sarah Solon

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