Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier (JUST) is a community organization dedicated to dismantling mass incarceration and mass policing in the Southern Tier. We work to prevent abuse and deaths in our county jail, reduce the rate of incarceration, and develop alternatives to incarceration. We advocate for currently and previously incarcerated persons, their families and loved ones, through direct support, community education, political action, public protest and legal action to address abusive, neglectful and discriminatory practices in the jail and justice system.

JUST advocates for change in social conditions and institutions that contribute to mass incarceration, including poverty, racism, the criminalization of persons with disabilities, and the school-to-prison pipeline. We collaborate with other organizations to promote rehabilitation, education, and persistent community engagement as alternatives to incarceration that enable individuals to be contributing members of society.

JUST programs include:

  • Book Drive:  a book of their choice to persons inside the jail, donate here
  • Inside Solidarity: in-person visits, text calls and support to those inside, especially those without local family
  • Jail voting rights: in the 2020 elections we sent in registration and absentee ballot materials.  As one person inside wrote us after the elections, “I would like to start this letter by saying thank you.  I was able to vote because you sent me an application for an  absentee ballot…” 
  • Referrals and support to Walk with Me: a reentry program (flyer)
  • Public education: in schools, churches, community organizations… and protests
  • Bail and court work, including class action and advocacy lawsuits
  • Advocacy work with elected officials locally and in Albany, particularly in relation to bail reform, oversight, and disability, women, and health issues.
  • Research and documentation on abuse and deaths in the jail

Join us in this work!

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Contact Us:
General questions/email: justice.southern.tier@gmail.com
Membership inquiries: justmembership21@gmail.com  
Print mail: P.O. Box 93, Bible School Park, NY 13737

Images from Rally Outside Broome County Office Building January 28, 2017