Survivors Justice Project

The Survivors Justice Project fights for  the decarceration of survivors of domestic violence. 

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A person with short, reddish-brown hair and wearing a green shirt stands inside an elevator, facing the door. The elevator door has two black paw prints on it and a small window showing a blue sky with a white cliff and a few clouds. The elevator has the number 5 above the door, a keyhole to the right of the door, and a control panel with buttons below.

The Survivors Justice Project (SJP) is a collective of activists, lawyers, social workers, students, and researchers—many of whom are survivors themselves—working for the decarceration of domestic violence survivors.

SJP was born out of the successful campaign to pass the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) led by the Coalition for Women Prisoners. Since 2020, with the explicit mission of ensuring robust implementation of the DVSJA, SJP has provided knowledge, data, tools, and resources aimed at assisting survivors of domestic violence by lessening the harms of the criminal legal system.

See How We Do It

A diverse group of people attending a presentation in a conference room. A speaker stands at a podium with a projection screen behind him, showing slides. The room has a ceiling with lights, a projector, and several tables with attendees taking notes.

A conference room filled with people attending an event titled 'Beyond Survival,' which is a film screening and panel discussion about domestic violence survivors in New York. There is a large screen displaying the event details, and panelists are seated at a table in front of the audience.

Our trainings help survivors, their advocates, service providers and lawyers understand, apply, and utilize the DVSJA.

SJP provides trainings related to understanding and using the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) as well as working with survivors who have been arrested, prosecuted, and punished. 

Learn More

Screen Beyond Survival & Host a Panel Discussion.

This inspiring film tells the story of the DVSJA and honors the resilience of the currently and formerly incarcerated survivors who fought for it.

Learn more

Request a Screening

If survivors had been sentenced under the DVSJA originally, it would have avoided over 629 years of prison time.

Young woman in a gray and blue jacket holding a bouquet of flowers outside on a paved road, wearing a face mask pulled down, with bare trees and a house in the background.

So far, 82 survivors have been resentenced after filing DVSJA applications, resulting in over 240 years of needless incarceration saved from what would have been their earliest possible release, and eliminating 20 potential life sentences.

The numbers tell a powerful story of the DVSJA’s impact and SJP’s work.

The DVSJA has helped many survivors, but data shows it has the potential to reach many more. Dig into the resentencing numbers on who has—and hasn't—been able to use the DVSJA, and other critical points. 

Dig into the Data

SJP has conducted 64 training sessions for more than 3,000 individuals, responded to over 700 communications with people in jails and prisons, and offered technical assistance to dozens of attorneys and legal teams.

Support Our Work:

Help us realize the potential of the DVSJA for ALL 

Your donation will support SJP’s work to fight for decarceration through the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA). 

This will fund advocacy for and alongside survivors of abuse who are facing criminal prosecution or are currently/formerly incarcerated. Every donation strengthens our capacity to educate, support, advocate, and uplift.  

Donate

The Survivors Justice Project fights for the decarceration of survivors of domestic violence.

The Survivors Justice Project (SJP) is a collective of activists, lawyers, social workers, students, and researchers—many of whom are survivors themselves—working for the decarceration of domestic violence survivors.