FAMM 2024 Annual Report

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POLICY

STORYTELLING

OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

MEDIA HITS & ENGAGMENT

FINANCIALS

FAMM BOARD OF DIRECTORS & DONORS

New Leadership. Sharpened Vision. Stronger Impact.

Dr. Shaneva D. McReynolds, Ph.D.

President, FAMM

A Letter from Our President

Dear Friends,

It is my distinct honor to write to you as the newly appointed President of FAMM. As I reflect on this moment and what it means for our organization, I am filled with gratitude—for the trust you’ve placed in us, for the legacy we inherit, and for the lives we’ve been called to serve.

FAMM was born out of a bold belief: that families should never be destroyed by unjust and excessive sentences. That belief remains as true today as it was in 1991. But 33 years later, the fight has evolved—and so have we.

With new leadership comes new energy—and a sharpened vision. We are taking stock of who we are, how we work, and what it means to truly stand with families impacted by incarceration. We are digging deeper into the intersections of policy and people, lifting up lived experience, and confronting the systems that perpetuate harm. Our vision is clear: a justice system that values human dignity, individual accountability, and second chances.

Over the past year, we’ve laid the groundwork for a future that honors our founding purpose while amplifying our impact:

We’ve strengthened relationships with directly impacted communities, ensuring our advocacy is shaped by those closest to the problem—and the solution.
We’ve expanded our efforts in state-level reform while keeping our eyes on federal policies that fuel mass incarceration.
We’ve invested in our team, deepened cross-sector partnerships, and enhanced our ability to respond swiftly to policy threats and opportunities.

This is what stronger impact looks like. It’s not just about changing laws—it’s about changing lives.

As a woman who has lived through this system as a wife, mother, advocate, and survivor, this mission is deeply personal. I know what it means to cling to hope when systems feel immovable. I also know the power of people—people like you—who stand up, speak out, and make justice real.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. Thank you for believing in the power of second chances. And thank you for walking with us as we step boldly into FAMM’s next chapter.

With purpose and hope,

Dr. Shaneva D. McReynolds (Ph.D.)
President, FAMM

Wife, Survivor, Advocate, Leader: Shaneva's Road to FAMM

Dr. Shaneva D. McReynolds (Ph.D.) joined FAMM in 2021 as the Illinois Policy Consultant, advocating for a fair and effective justice system that upholds the values of individual accountability and dignity while promoting public safety in our communities. Shaneva first connected with FAMM in 2013 during her fight to free her husband, who was facing a 235-month sentence handed down on October 20, 2005. She is honored to now work for the organization that played a role in her personal journey.

Before joining FAMM full-time, Shaneva had a distinguished 20-year career working for government contractors in the Department of Defense industry, most recently serving as the Vice President of Contracts Management. During her tenure, she earned the Certified Federal Contract Management professional designation.

Shaneva holds a doctoral degree in Public Policy & Administration from Walden University, where she graduated cum laude and was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and an MBA with a concentration in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix.

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Policy

Victory in Congress!

In 2024, Congress passed the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a bill FAMM first introduced in 2019. It received strong bipartisan backing and broad external support from groups including the Council of Prison Locals, American Conservative Union, ACLU, National District Attorneys Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The law establishes the first formal oversight of the federal prison system by creating an inspection unit within the Office of Inspector General and an Office of the Ombudsman to investigate individual complaints. Incarcerated individuals and their families can submit concerns directly to the Ombuds.

The bill passed the House with a vote of 392-2, and the Senate approved it unanimously.

Five wins in the states!

The 2024 legislative season saw five exciting victories for FAMM’s state legislative agenda:

Alabama (SB 322)

This bill requires the Department to create a constituent services position at every facility, standardize inquiry and complaint forms, publicize them, review all incoming correspondence and assign it to a specific employee, and provide copies of responses to a newly created liaison with the legislative Joint Prison Oversight Committee. It also enhances oversight of Alabama’s beleaguered prison system, which is the subject of a forthcoming trial between the state and the Department of Justice over conditions.

Maryland (SB 134)

Michigan (SB 599)

SB 599 improves the state’s medically frail release policy. The bill expands eligibility and allows for people released under the medically frail criteria to go home rather than solely to a nursing facility. This bill will increase the number of medically frail releases from 1 over the last 5 years to approximately twenty per year; a small but meaningful amount. [Insert Policy Image

FAMM filed a brief arguing that when determining whether a prior drug offense counts as an ACCA predicate, a sentencing court should look to the federal drug schedule that was in law at the time of the instant firearm offense. Congress makes changes to the drugs that are criminalized under federal law, and an individual should not be subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum, in part, based on a conviction that would no longer be a federal drug case.

This case was argued before the Supreme Court on November 27, 2023. We are now awaiting a decision.

Missouri (SB 754)

FAMM introduced language to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine in Missouri and led the advocacy behind its passage and enactment over several sessions. There are now 6 jurisdictions (5 states and the federal government) with this outdated disparity in their criminal code. In addition to improving Missouri’s criminal sentencing law, SB 754 will help the push for the EQUAL Act at the federal level.

Virginia (HB 555/SB 456)

Leading with Expertise!

Throughout 2024, FAMM provided expert testimony to legislative committees across the country as well as non-legislative, educational events. Highlights include:

Canadian Embassy Consular Corps Criminal Justice Panel (February 8, 2024)

Testimony before Nevada Interim Judiciary Committee (February 23, 2024)

Testimony before Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee (May 30, 2024)

Testimony before Michigan House of Representatives Judiciary Committee (June 18, 2024)

Testimony Before Joint Legislative Prison Committee (July 24, 2024)

TribFest 2024 (September 7, 2024)

Visit a Prison!

FAMM continues to challenge policymakers across the country to visit prisons in their districts and state. As we like to say, you don’t know ‘til you go! FAMM tracked more than 50 prison visits in 2024. Highlights of 2024 prison visits tracked by FAMM include a FAMM-led prison visit to the State Correctional Institution in Chester, Pennsylvania. FAMM’s State Legislative Affairs Director Celeste Trusty led State Representatives Ben Waxman and Emily Kinkead on a tour of the facility alongside legislative staff.

Storytelling

FAMM’s Family Outreach and Storytelling team packed a lot into 2024, culminating in a record-breaking number of clemencies granted.

Our Work Included...

Our Clemency Now! Leading With Justice and Mercy campaign, which was heavily focused on member education about the clemency process, storytelling around clemency recipients and applicants, and advocacy to President Biden and governors. The campaign resulted in thousands of clemencies, including more than 4,000 grants from President Biden.

Extensive communications with people in prison, including twice-monthly updates to 41,000 people in federal prisons.

8 virtual Storytelling Workshops for FAMM members -- “FAMM’s Recipe for a Powerful Advocacy Story”; the team also facilitated workshops for coalition partners in New Jersey and Alabama, as well as for a student group at Howard University

6 Advocacy Training workshops on topics like “Getting Smart About Your Lawmaker” and “How to Find Your Loved One’s Court Documents”; each call hosts 30-150 guests

Several “lunch and learns” for staff with visiting affected family members, including one featuring formerly incarcerated Vanessa Rojas, in D.C. to share her experience with D.C. judges and lawyers, and one with family member Santia Nance, who testified in the U.S. Senate on the need for prison oversight.

The team continues to create compelling storytelling content to change hearts and minds, grow our network of affected FAMM members; connect members directly with advocacy work; and educate members, the public, and staff about the impact of the criminal justice system on families, formerly incarcerated people, and people in prison.

Here are some of the things we’re proud of in 2024:

Justin Griggs is a young musician who came to the FAMM offices to talk about his father’s fight for freedom and play his guitar.

Clemency and Redemption: Two Children of Incarcerated Fathers Speak (and Sing) Out | by FAMM Foundation | FAMM | Medium

Returning citizen and reform advocate Maria Garza came to Washington to speak about her advocacy and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Maria Garza | by FAMM Foundation | FAMM | Medium

Office of the General Counsel

FAMM’s Office of the General Counsel made big waves in 2024, advancing compassionate release, shaping key legal victories, and driving reforms from the courts to Congress. Their work brought freedom, accountability, and national attention to the people and issues too often overlooked.

In 2024, our small but mightyOffice of General Counsel was deeply engaged across the organization—providing strategic legal support, shaping policy responses, and helping move our mission forward in meaningful ways.

The Story of Michael Mahoney: What Drives General Counsel Mary Price’s Work on Compassionate Release.

In the Supreme Court, FAMM’s amicus briefs are highly regarded and frequently sought by litigants appearing before the highest court in the land.

A victory in Erlinger v. United States, a case that limited the reach of the notorious 15-year mandatory minimum for being a so-called “Armed Career Criminal.”

Our participation as amicus in three cases, with issues ranging from what is a crime of violence that triggers a long mandatory minimum to who is eligible for a lower sentence under the First Step Act.

In the Lower Courts: Compassionate Release

FAMM Office of General Counsel continued to press the release of women sexually abused in federal prisons, including Dublin FCI, and raised the alarm following the horrific tales of how the BOP sent women miles from their loved ones when it suddenly shut that prison down.

FAMM’s Compassionate Release Clearinghouse secured the freedom of over 30 people from federal prison whose claims ranged from sexual abuse, to medical neglect, to terminal and life-threatening medical conditions.

At the Board of Prisons and Department of Justice:

FAMM Office of General Counsel successfully pushed back on a BOP proposal that would have taken 75% of family financial contributions to their incarcerated loved ones to instead pay court-ordered fees. The BOP withdrew and replaced that proposal with one that addresses many of FAMM’s concerns.

Office of General Counsel helped secure a DOJ civil rights investigation into a horrific private prison in Tennessee. We related accounts from loved ones of men incarcerated in Trousdale Turner detailing medical neglect, sexual and physical abuse, extortion, homicides and overdoses that plague the facility.

In Congress

At the White House

At the US Sentencing Commission

In Congress

FAMM member, Bonnie Hernandez, a survivor of BOP sexual abuse testified before the Senate Criminal Justice Subcommittee about the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

Bonnie won her freedom through the Compassionate Release Clearinghouse with help from Deputy General Counsel Shanna Rifkin.

At the White House

Clemency Now! Campaign:

Office of General Counsel joined Federal Policy at a White House meeting to urge that President Biden consider freeing people on CARES Act Home Confinement and those serving “old law” sentences, disparate crack sentences and excessive sentences that can no longer be imposed. The President’s 2,500 grants of sentence reduction included many people from all the groups we championed.

At the US Sentencing Commission

FAMM member Allen Peithman testified at USSC March 6 public hearing on ending the use of acquitted conduct, a cause that FAMM has raised at the Commission for many years. And, we won! As of November 2024, judges may no longer sentence based on acquitted conduct.

In the States

Office of General Counsel supported efforts to advance compassionate release reforms in eight states. We provided technical assistance, written statements, and testimony to improve programs designed to free from prison people who are elderly, very ill, or at the end of their lives.

In the Media

FAMM’s Office of General Counsel earned quite a lot of media for FAMM this year, including this piece with Shanna Rifkin about our campaign to free sexual abuse survivors from prison and this Rolling Stone article about the botched closure of Dublin FCI.

Media Hits & Engagement

FAMM was mentioned in media nearly 2,500 times in 2021 and had two days with more than 300 media mentions each. We had at least one mention in every state but Alaska. States with high numbers of media mentions include 158 in California, 115 in New York, 88 in Texas, 86 in Pennsylvania, 83 in Virginia, 80 in Florida, and 71 in Wisconsin. FAMM was featured in many major media outlets with both large local reach and national readership.

FAMM Social

FAMM Social hit the ground running this year! We launched our documentary, District of Second Chances, made waves at film festivals, rocked the ClemencyNow Campaign with virtual live event, and topped it all off by celebrating promotion of our new President, Dr. Shaneva D. McReynolds. Talk about a year to remember!

DC Dept. Of Human Services Film Screening

FAMM 2024 Mobilization

Event sign ups

We sent 164 emails for

total recipients

FAMM's database had

records by the end of the year

Total form submissions

Advocacy forms filled

Total messages sent to elected officials

Events Hosted

Elected Officials reached by advocacy form

Financials

In a year defined by renewal and resolve, our financial stewardship reflects the same values that drive our advocacy—integrity, accountability, and impact. This year’s financials illustrate a steadfast commitment to sustainable growth and strategic investment in the communities we serve.

2024 Financial Overview

Assets

Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents: $1,774,801
Cash and cash equivalents - mutual funds: $1,199,131
Investments - fixed income: $485,231
Bequest - current: $517,500
Grants receivable: $2,108,000
Due from related party: $210,415
Other receivables: $6,178
Prepaid expenses: $62,553
Total Current Assets: $6,363,809

Property & Equipment – At Cost
Furniture: $18,516
Equipment: $178,253
Less: Accumulated Depreciation: ($146,961)
Property and Equipment, Net: $49,808

Other Assets
Right-of-use asset – operating lease: $731,747
Bequest receivable – non-current: $902,417
Grant receivable – non-current: $1,813,553
Security deposit: $43,720
Total Other Assets: $3,491,437

Total Assets: $9,905,054

Liabilities and Net Assets

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses: $150,622
Due to related party: —
Lease payable: $117,673
Total Current Liabilities: $268,295
Long term liabilities – Lease payable (non-current): $614,074
Total Liabilities: $882,369

Net Assets
Without Donor Restrictions:
Undesignated: $1,858,382
Designated by Board: $990,000
Total without donor restrictions: $2,848,382
With Donor Restrictions: $6,174,303
Total Net Assets: $9,022,685

Total Liabilities and Net Assets: $9,905,054

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FAMM Board of Directors

Julie Stewart

Chair

Debi Ghate

Secretary

Rajiv Srinivasan

Treasurer

Norman Brown

Member at Large

Donors

Major Donors

Over $100,000

Anonymous
Arnold Ventures
Kaphan Foundation
The Phil Harvey Estate
The Just Trust for Education
Vital Projects Fund
Matthew & Trisha White

Pro Bono Partners

Legal Contributors

Covington & Burling LLP
Kandy Gardner
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Hecker & Fink LLP
Law Office of Peter Goldberger
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Williams & Connolly LLP
WilmerHale

Donation Stats

Giving Highlights

Avg. recurring gift (2024): $19.48
594 donors gave under $1,000
Florida donors gave the most