MJI provides presentations to business and fraternal organizations, faith-based communities and academic groups throughout Connecticut about the societal benefits of transformation, reconciliation and reintegration of the formerly incarcerated.

Our presentations are tailored to the audience and their particular interests.

For example:

• Business & fraternal organizations are interested in the budget-breaking costs of maintaining the current system and the impact on public safety
• Faith based communities are generally interested in the need for repentance, redemption and related issues of social justice
• Academic groups, as thought leaders, tend to have an interest in the need to disseminate the shortcomings of our current system as evidenced by independent research in the field.

We continuously hear from our audiences that they never realized how punitive the criminal justice system continues to be once people are released from prison and how stigmatizing the status of being a formerly incarcerated can be in our society.

Many are surprised to learn that formerly incarcerated have such a difficult time finding jobs.

Through these presentations, we frequently meet employers who, in response to our message, express interest in possibly hiring the formerly incarcerated for the first time.

Presentations can be customized and range from 10-60 minutes with an active Q & A.

To see the locations of upcoming speaking engagements, click here.

If you are interested in having MJI speak to your organization, please click here.

Advocacy

MJI monitors proposed Connecticut legislation, tracks national legislative trends, attends legislative hearings and provides expert testimony.

Several of our Directors and members of our book’s editorial board are members of The Connecticut Sentencing Commission.

It is a maxim that elected officials pay attention to letters from their constituents. Most will track constituents’ public issue opinion letters, and sometimes modify their political positions accordingly.

Letters to elected officials do bring about results. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to register your opinion with legislators and other elected officials.

For a list of your legislative delegation and their contact information, click here.

Even more effective than writing is to meet with elected officials personally or to attend public legislative hearings. Historically, people who speak up at legislative hearings have a disproportionate impact on the issue.

For more information, please reach out to cyndy.cloney@maltaji.org