named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Appeals Litigation
Trains and supports pro bono attorneys to represent incarcerated individuals appealing parole denials, providing malpractice insurance and supervision.
Community Care
Provides direct support to individuals upon release, including transportation from prison, assistance with securing housing, employment, public benefits, medical care, and essential purchases.
Parole Preparation
Trains volunteer teams to work with incarcerated individuals preparing for parole hearings, including conducting prison visits, interview preparation, and creating advocacy materials.
Policy Advocacy
Statewide advocacy efforts through the People's Campaign for Parole Justice coalition to reform New York's parole process and promote compassionate release policies.
S.O.S. Support Group
Weekly support group run by Community Engagement staff for survivors of long-term incarceration to share experiences and support each other during reentry.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Reentry Support Services 3 activities
- Parole preparation and interview support for incarcerated individualsProvides direct support to incarcerated individuals serving life sentences by preparing them for parole interviews through volunteer teams who conduct prison visits, phone calls, mail correspondence, advocacy material preparation, and interview coaching. The program achieves a release rate of over 60%, more than double the statewide average.
- Post-release reentry and community support servicesSupports formerly incarcerated individuals with transportation upon release, essential purchases (e.g., cell phones, groceries, medication), access to public benefits, housing, employment, medical and parole appointments, and ongoing emotional and mental health support through the weekly S.O.S. ("Survivors of the System") in-person support group.
- Referral intake and case acceptance processAccepts referrals from family members, loved ones, or advocates of incarcerated individuals seeking parole preparation support and responds to all referral form submissions within two weeks.
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 2 activities
- Advocacy for parole system reformPartners with organizations across New York State to advocate for reform of the parole process and amplifies the voices of directly impacted individuals in policy discussions.
- Research and publication on racial disparities in paroleCo-authored a report on racial disparities in New York State's parole system and proposed evidence-based reform measures.
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Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Leadership development for formerly incarcerated individualsEngages long-term program participants in facilitating weekly support groups and trainings and supports their leadership in statewide advocacy efforts as directly impacted leaders.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Legal representation and litigation support for parole appealsProvides legal support by training and supervising pro bono attorneys to represent incarcerated individuals appealing parole denials, with cases typically lasting 6 to 12 months. Established an in-house Litigation Unit in 2023 to manage cases and support attorneys.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Publication and distribution of creative work by incarcerated individualsSupports and funds the publication, platforming, and distribution of creative work by incarcerated individuals and connects them with external platforms to expand opportunities.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Volunteer recruitment and training for parole preparation and legal advocacyRecruits and trains community volunteers to support parole preparation and appeals litigation, including prison visits, advocacy packet development, and legal representation. Over 1,000 volunteers have been trained since founding, with visits conducted at 45 prisons across New York State.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.44M
Contributions & grants$1.44M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.39M
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead29%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$1.11M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$796K
Cash$585K
Investments$0
Liabilities$183K
Net assets$613K
Liquid reserves5.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +44.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE LEWIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $125K |
board members · 10
- ALEJO RODRIGUEZ — BOARD MEMBER
- ISSA KOHLER-HAUSSMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- ISSAC ZAUR — BOARD MEMBER
- JASON D WILLIAMSON — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSE DI LENOLA — BOARD MEMBER
- MARTHA RAYNER — BOARD MEMBER
- NORA CARROLL — CO-PRESIDENT
- PAUL CATES — BOARD MEMBER
- ROSLYN D SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
- STEVEN ZEIDMAN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Individual Donors Funder — Individual donations constitute more than 50% of Parole Prep's budget.
- Lifers Organization at Otisville Correctional Facility Partner — Collaborated with incarcerated leaders to convene a summit on parole reform and co-found the Parole Preparation Project.
- Parole Attorneys Listserv Partner — Collaborative network for pro bono attorneys to receive case updates and discuss parole appeal strategies.
- Parole Board Government — Submits advocacy materials and engages with the Parole Board on behalf of applicants.
- People’s Campaign for Parole Justice Coalition — Founding and core member of the People’s Campaign for Parole Justice, a statewide coalition advocating for parole reform in New York State.
- Survivors of the System (S.O.S.) Partner — Support group run by Parole Prep’s Community Engagement staff to provide peer-based emotional and mental health support.
- The Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at New York University School of Law Partner — Collaborated with Parole Prep on a 2021 report analyzing racial disparities in New York's parole system.
- The Law Office of Michelle L. Lewin Partner — Provides legal mail handling and administrative support for correspondence with incarcerated individuals.
- The New Yorker Partner — Published a profile on a Parole Prep applicant, highlighting the organization's work and the parole system.
- The People's Campaign for Justice Coalition — Collaborates on statewide Parole Justice advocacy events, including at the New York State Capitol.
- Vera Institute of Justice Partner — Collaborated with Parole Prep on a 2021 report on parole disparities and reform in New York State.
- Willie Kearse Partner — Art Program Associate for ABCA, contributing to the organization's arts programming and therapeutic mission.
- statewide listserv of other practioners Network — Connects volunteer attorneys through a statewide professional network for peer support and information sharing.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Art as Transformative Engagementmethodology: art-as-therapyBy using creative arts and writing as therapeutic and evidentiary tools, the organization builds confidence and humanizes incarcerated individuals in parole proceedings because creative expression demonstrates rehabilitation, fosters hope, and connects individuals to broader communities.
- Integrated Legal and Community Advocacymethodology: integrated legal and community supportBy combining pro bono legal representation with sustained community volunteer support and creative engagement, the organization strengthens parole applications and appeals because interdisciplinary advocacy increases credibility, accountability, and emotional resonance in decision-making forums.
- Peer-Partnered Reentry Support Modelmethodology: peer_led_leadershipBy centering lived experience in program design and pairing formerly incarcerated individuals as peer leaders with those preparing for release, the organization improves reentry outcomes because peer relationships foster trust, model transformation, and increase engagement in rehabilitation and advocacy efforts.
- Redemption-Centered Parole Advocacymethodology: redemption-based parole reformBy shifting the focus of parole review from the original crime to the individual's current character, rehabilitation, and capacity for redemption, the organization increases the likelihood of release because commissioners are more likely to grant parole when presented with a narrative of transformation and personal growth.