What Is the AOT Justice Affinity Group?

A lived-experience leadership pipeline for justice reform and abolition

The AOT Justice Affinity Group is a national, directly impacted-led community centering the voices of people currently incarcerated across the United States. Our mission is to ensure that people in prisons and jails are included in conversations that shape laws, public safety, and justice. We create structured opportunities for incarcerated individuals to share lived experience and policy perspectives that inform reform, abolition, strengthen communities, and advance justice. Our members include individuals who are currently incarcerated and already sharing their voices from inside. This launch formalizes and expands that work, creating a structured platform to elevate their lived experiences and connect them to broader conversations on justice reform and public safety. With more than 1.8 million people incarcerated in the U.S., AOT believes meaningful public safety cannot exist without the voices of those most affected by the system.

How It Works

The Affinity Group connects incarcerated leaders with outside advocates, organizations, and policymakers to support meaningful dialogue and policy impact.

We aim to:

  • Elevate incarcerated voices in policy conversations

  • Build bridges between inside leaders and outside allies

  • Support advocacy that reduces harm and strengthens justice

  • Advance community-driven solutions to mass incarceration

Questions for Members

  • What laws or policies need to change—and why?

  • How have current laws impacted your life?

  • What would you tell decision-makers shaping these policies?

Call to Action

Do you have a family member who is incarcerated?

We invite you to join us in building a national community centered on the voices and lived experiences of incarcerated people. Learn how you can get involved, support the mission, and help advance meaningful justice reform and abolition. For questions, or if you or someone you know would like to join, please email us at vidal@aotny.org. We communicate with our incarcerated members through letter writing and email.