Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI)
@promiseofjustice.bsky.social
PJI fights for the dignity, freedom, and autonomy of those targeted and touched by the criminal legal system and for an end to mass incarceration in Louisiana.
Pinned
About PJI — The Promise of Justice Initiative
www.promiseofjustice.org
We are a different kind of civil rights org. We don’t follow a national agenda or framework. We confront issues & take on cases that, very often, no other org will venture to challenge. Our work blurs the traditional lines of litigation and advocacy. Learn more: www.promiseofjustice.org/about
ICYMI: Along w/our co-counsel, we recently filed a new class action lawsuit against the DOC on behalf of plaintiffs incl. Lisa and Jaren. LA.’s disregard for people’s freedom underscores why our state remains the incarceration capital of the world.
September 28, 2026 at 8:22 PM
ICYMI: Along w/our co-counsel, we recently filed a new class action lawsuit against the DOC on behalf of plaintiffs incl. Lisa and Jaren. LA.’s disregard for people’s freedom underscores why our state remains the incarceration capital of the world.
When a person has served their time in prison or jail, Louisiana has a constitutional obligation to release them immediately. However, thousands of people in Louisiana are imprisoned for days, weeks and even months past their release date by the Department of Corrections (DOC) annually.
September 18, 2026 at 6:16 PM
When a person has served their time in prison or jail, Louisiana has a constitutional obligation to release them immediately. However, thousands of people in Louisiana are imprisoned for days, weeks and even months past their release date by the Department of Corrections (DOC) annually.
The people we elect make decisions that affect our everyday lives. Legislators create laws and decide how public money is spent. Governors decide whether to sign those laws and oversee how they’re carried out. District Attorneys decide how those laws are used in individual cases.
September 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The people we elect make decisions that affect our everyday lives. Legislators create laws and decide how public money is spent. Governors decide whether to sign those laws and oversee how they’re carried out. District Attorneys decide how those laws are used in individual cases.
Join us on Wednesday at 4:30 PM for a training on District Attorneys, Brady v. Maryland, the SCOTUS decision that discusses how prosecutorial misconduct occurs when the state withholds favorable material evidence, and the duty of prosecutors to disclose favorable evidence.
September 5, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Join us on Wednesday at 4:30 PM for a training on District Attorneys, Brady v. Maryland, the SCOTUS decision that discusses how prosecutorial misconduct occurs when the state withholds favorable material evidence, and the duty of prosecutors to disclose favorable evidence.
Last week we hosted our Not In My Name (NIMN) kickoff event in Baton Rouge. We heard from youth, credible messengers, and directly impacted people about how thriving communities can be created t/o LA. that prioritize restorative systems rooted in...
August 21, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Last week we hosted our Not In My Name (NIMN) kickoff event in Baton Rouge. We heard from youth, credible messengers, and directly impacted people about how thriving communities can be created t/o LA. that prioritize restorative systems rooted in...
We're hiring at PJI and looking to hire a narrative storyteller to join our Storytelling Team! They will bld stories that fight against the dominant narratives/policies that have led to the acceptance of state violence & the criminalization of ppl, Black ppl specifically.
promiseofjustice.org/jobs
promiseofjustice.org/jobs
August 19, 2026 at 7:20 PM
We're hiring at PJI and looking to hire a narrative storyteller to join our Storytelling Team! They will bld stories that fight against the dominant narratives/policies that have led to the acceptance of state violence & the criminalization of ppl, Black ppl specifically.
promiseofjustice.org/jobs
promiseofjustice.org/jobs
August is Black Philanthropy Month w/Give 8/28 falling on Aug 28. Black Philanthropy Month is a global celebration of the long, powerful tradition of Black people investing in Black communities. It's a reminder that our giving has never been about charity; it's about the belief that we keep us safe.
"The rights of Black people are under attack in Louisiana. At the Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI), we are a multicultural organization with a dedicated team from all around our community.
August 14, 2026 at 3:40 PM
August is Black Philanthropy Month w/Give 8/28 falling on Aug 28. Black Philanthropy Month is a global celebration of the long, powerful tradition of Black people investing in Black communities. It's a reminder that our giving has never been about charity; it's about the belief that we keep us safe.
Reposted by Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI)
Keith LaMar has spent three decades in solitary confinement, was sentenced to death for the murder of five fellow prisoners during a 1993 prison uprising. He has always maintained his innocence.
“Consistent Torture”: Keith LaMar Speaks from Ohio Death Row After Getting 3-Year Execution Reprieve
We speak with Keith LaMar, an artist, teacher and writer on death row in Ohio. LaMar, who has spent three decades in solitary confinement, was sentenced to death for the murder of five fellow prisoner...
www.democracynow.org
August 10, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Keith LaMar has spent three decades in solitary confinement, was sentenced to death for the murder of five fellow prisoners during a 1993 prison uprising. He has always maintained his innocence.
Sadly, we learned that Patrick Jones, a person our Civil Litigation team worked with closely on the Farm Line lawsuit, died in custody recently. Patrick was working on the Farm Line the day we conducted our first site inspection nearly two yrs ago and formed an immediate connection w/our legal team.
August 10, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Sadly, we learned that Patrick Jones, a person our Civil Litigation team worked with closely on the Farm Line lawsuit, died in custody recently. Patrick was working on the Farm Line the day we conducted our first site inspection nearly two yrs ago and formed an immediate connection w/our legal team.
#CurrentlyReading ➡️: “…States should adopt the federal approach so that evidence is not admitted because it sounds scientific; it is admitted because it is reliable.”
davisvanguard.org/2026/08/junk...
davisvanguard.org/2026/08/junk...
Federal Rule of Evidence 702 Could Help End Junk Science in Courtrooms - Davis Vanguard
Following the exoneration of Jimmie "Chris" Duncan, legal experts have urged states to adopt Federal Rule of Evidence 702 standards, a measure intended to prevent wrongful convictions stemming from un...
davisvanguard.org
August 8, 2026 at 8:30 PM
#CurrentlyReading ➡️: “…States should adopt the federal approach so that evidence is not admitted because it sounds scientific; it is admitted because it is reliable.”
davisvanguard.org/2026/08/junk...
davisvanguard.org/2026/08/junk...
Join us in #BatonRouge next Wednesday, 8/12 for the kickoff of Not In My Name (NIMN)! NIMN is a gathering of survivors and family members of victims of violence who are organizing to transform systems of harm and exploitation into restorative systems rooted in freedom, dignity, autonomy, and joy.
August 5, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Join us in #BatonRouge next Wednesday, 8/12 for the kickoff of Not In My Name (NIMN)! NIMN is a gathering of survivors and family members of victims of violence who are organizing to transform systems of harm and exploitation into restorative systems rooted in freedom, dignity, autonomy, and joy.
🎉 HAPPY FREEDOMVERSARY! 🎉
Two years ago today, after 34 years of incarceration, former client Jessie Carter was resentenced and gained his freedom after being sentenced to life in prison for murder. Sadly, his trial lasted just under two hours from...
Two years ago today, after 34 years of incarceration, former client Jessie Carter was resentenced and gained his freedom after being sentenced to life in prison for murder. Sadly, his trial lasted just under two hours from...
July 29, 2026 at 4:48 PM
🎉 HAPPY FREEDOMVERSARY! 🎉
Two years ago today, after 34 years of incarceration, former client Jessie Carter was resentenced and gained his freedom after being sentenced to life in prison for murder. Sadly, his trial lasted just under two hours from...
Two years ago today, after 34 years of incarceration, former client Jessie Carter was resentenced and gained his freedom after being sentenced to life in prison for murder. Sadly, his trial lasted just under two hours from...
"When the state is granted the ultimate power to end a human life, the system executing that power must be flawless and completely transparent. Instead, the American legal system operates under rules where police and prosecutorial misconduct can—and does—flourish with virtually no...
July 21, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"When the state is granted the ultimate power to end a human life, the system executing that power must be flawless and completely transparent. Instead, the American legal system operates under rules where police and prosecutorial misconduct can—and does—flourish with virtually no...
"The labor is described by attorneys as “pointless” — picking rotten watermelons, weeding grass by hand, watering crops with Styrofoam cups (The Appeal, 2024).
The pointlessness is not a flaw in the design. It is the design.
The pointlessness is not a flaw in the design. It is the design.
July 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM
"The labor is described by attorneys as “pointless” — picking rotten watermelons, weeding grass by hand, watering crops with Styrofoam cups (The Appeal, 2024).
The pointlessness is not a flaw in the design. It is the design.
The pointlessness is not a flaw in the design. It is the design.
#CurrentlyReading ➡️: "When the state is granted the ultimate power to end a human life, the system executing that power must be flawless and completely transparent."
www.cato.org/blog/capital...
www.cato.org/blog/capital...
The Impossibility of Reversal: Why Capital Punishment Fails the Test of Accountability
If we lived in a world where police and prosecutors were held personally accountable for misconduct, I’d have no issue with the death penalty remaining on the table for violent offenders. But that isn...
www.cato.org
July 10, 2026 at 3:49 PM
#CurrentlyReading ➡️: "When the state is granted the ultimate power to end a human life, the system executing that power must be flawless and completely transparent."
www.cato.org/blog/capital...
www.cato.org/blog/capital...
Join us tomorrow from 2PM - 8PM at the Music Box for a fundraiser benefitting our org and Backstreet Cult. Museum. Food, drinks, and music from DJ Aliyuhhh & DJWaffl3. Many thanks to Purely Percy for organizing this event and thinking of us!
Grab tix here: www.tixr.com/groups/music...
Grab tix here: www.tixr.com/groups/music...
www.tixr.com
July 3, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Join us tomorrow from 2PM - 8PM at the Music Box for a fundraiser benefitting our org and Backstreet Cult. Museum. Food, drinks, and music from DJ Aliyuhhh & DJWaffl3. Many thanks to Purely Percy for organizing this event and thinking of us!
Grab tix here: www.tixr.com/groups/music...
Grab tix here: www.tixr.com/groups/music...
Jimmie Duncan spent three decades on death row, facing execution, after being convicted with what we now know was junk science. On Monday, the Louisiana Supreme Court overturned his conviction, comparing the evidence to the “trial by water” used by 17th-century witch-hunters.
July 2, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Jimmie Duncan spent three decades on death row, facing execution, after being convicted with what we now know was junk science. On Monday, the Louisiana Supreme Court overturned his conviction, comparing the evidence to the “trial by water” used by 17th-century witch-hunters.
In his reporting, @law360.bsky.social Senior Reporter Marco Poggio fleshes out VOTE v. LeBlanc, our class action lawsuit against Angola Prison for their degrading and dehumanizing practice of forced agricultural labor known as the Farm Line.
June 30, 2026 at 3:05 PM
In his reporting, @law360.bsky.social Senior Reporter Marco Poggio fleshes out VOTE v. LeBlanc, our class action lawsuit against Angola Prison for their degrading and dehumanizing practice of forced agricultural labor known as the Farm Line.
"What is happening on the Farm Line is modern-day slavery, and neither our Constitution nor our collective conscience should tolerate it. If a court finds unconstitutional conduct, it has an obligation to stop it. Our clients deserve more than a recognition that their rights were violated..."
June 26, 2026 at 5:06 PM
"What is happening on the Farm Line is modern-day slavery, and neither our Constitution nor our collective conscience should tolerate it. If a court finds unconstitutional conduct, it has an obligation to stop it. Our clients deserve more than a recognition that their rights were violated..."
As part of our Summer 2026 Internship Program, PJI hosts the Summer Brown Bag Lunch Series. These sessions provide summer interns with an opportunity to learn from organizations, advocates, attorneys, and community leaders working across a range of justice-related issues in Louisiana and beyond.
June 24, 2026 at 1:47 AM
As part of our Summer 2026 Internship Program, PJI hosts the Summer Brown Bag Lunch Series. These sessions provide summer interns with an opportunity to learn from organizations, advocates, attorneys, and community leaders working across a range of justice-related issues in Louisiana and beyond.
#CurrentlyReading➡️: “There were states looking into this after Alabama began... but I think this ruling, and the Supreme Court refusing to lift it will probably encourage states that were thinking about it to abandon that effort, or not to use it.”
lailluminator.com/2026/06/22/r...
lailluminator.com/2026/06/22/r...
Louisiana lawmaker who backed nitrogen executions says other options could be explored • Louisiana Illuminator
The ruling by two federal courts places nitrogen gas executions in limbo with consequences beyond Alabama as other states try to use it.
lailluminator.com
June 22, 2026 at 5:12 PM
#CurrentlyReading➡️: “There were states looking into this after Alabama began... but I think this ruling, and the Supreme Court refusing to lift it will probably encourage states that were thinking about it to abandon that effort, or not to use it.”
lailluminator.com/2026/06/22/r...
lailluminator.com/2026/06/22/r...
“People would rather lose their minds than endure the Farm Line,” Winn said. “To the men still being punished inside Angola: We can’t give up. Our voice is our hope. We have to continue to believe and push. We can end this form of slavery.”
June 17, 2026 at 3:50 PM
“People would rather lose their minds than endure the Farm Line,” Winn said. “To the men still being punished inside Angola: We can’t give up. Our voice is our hope. We have to continue to believe and push. We can end this form of slavery.”
"Angola is and always has been a site of compelled labor."
– Samantha Pourciau, PJI Senior Attorney
Our years-long litigation was able to bring about changes to the conditions incarcerated men have to endure in #Louisiana's extreme heat on the Farm Line.
– Samantha Pourciau, PJI Senior Attorney
Our years-long litigation was able to bring about changes to the conditions incarcerated men have to endure in #Louisiana's extreme heat on the Farm Line.
June 12, 2026 at 4:52 PM
"Angola is and always has been a site of compelled labor."
– Samantha Pourciau, PJI Senior Attorney
Our years-long litigation was able to bring about changes to the conditions incarcerated men have to endure in #Louisiana's extreme heat on the Farm Line.
– Samantha Pourciau, PJI Senior Attorney
Our years-long litigation was able to bring about changes to the conditions incarcerated men have to endure in #Louisiana's extreme heat on the Farm Line.
"The rights of Black people are under attack in Louisiana. At the Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI), we are a multicultural organization with a dedicated team from all around our community.
June 5, 2026 at 9:40 PM
"The rights of Black people are under attack in Louisiana. At the Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI), we are a multicultural organization with a dedicated team from all around our community.
#CurrentlyReading ➡️: "With 18 exonerations from Texas death row, evidence of at least eight wrongful executions... wasted taxpayer dollars, and countless grieving families torn apart, it is clear the death penalty is a failure both morally and systemically." bit.ly/4ujznrJ
Texas’ 600th execution demands a reckoning on death penalty | Opinion
Edward Busby’s execution underscores the arbitrariness, cost and moral failures of Texas’ death penalty system, Nan Tolson writes.
bit.ly
June 4, 2026 at 8:36 PM
#CurrentlyReading ➡️: "With 18 exonerations from Texas death row, evidence of at least eight wrongful executions... wasted taxpayer dollars, and countless grieving families torn apart, it is clear the death penalty is a failure both morally and systemically." bit.ly/4ujznrJ