Final Prisoner Mission is the poster youngster affiliation for hashish advocacy and rights within the USA with its reason behind getting non-violent hashish prisoners out of Federal incarceration and again dwelling with their households.
I can’t argue with that, you possibly can’t argue with that and a number of celebs and hashish corporations are joyful to fund them to the hilt because it makes for excellent PR and is a good way to assuage that nagging guilt that while they’re minting cash others are nonetheless locked up for no good purpose for the forseeable future.
Final Prisoner Mission write in the wrapping up part of their 2024 report
We proudly take part in evaluations by charity monitoring teams. The Final Prisoner Mission has achieved a 4-Star Charity designation from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency Ranking on Candid, the world’s largest supply of knowledge on non-profit organizations. These rankings places us within the high 0.1% of charities nationally when it comes to transparency.
Right here’s a roll name of only a small proportion of the names which have supported the organisation over the previous 5 years.
If there was a hashish trade aristocracy this is able to be it
Ascend
Curaleaf
Jim Belushi
Leafly
Weedmaps
Wana
Dr Bronners
Dutchie
Ayr
Scotts
Leafly
Cover
RAW
Pharmacann
Benzinga
TerrAscend
Truelieve
A couple of current issues popped into the CLR in-tray over December that gave me pause for thought on LPP and the way the group defines itself and what it truly does as we transfer into 2026
Initially a linked in publish about wages on the organisation popped up in my feed and considerably shocked me, subsequently and completely unrelated a supply spoke to CLR asking the open query asking whether or not the organisation has moved from being a prisoner advocacy organisation to only being one other coverage outfit and all that that entails when it comes to spend on issues aside from direct prisoner advocacy
Then as issues all the time are available threes I additionally seen by way of a report in on-line rag Hollywood Unlocked that LPP Advocacy Affiliate Donte West was lately to be present in a Indonesian courtroom alongside Jarred Shaw in his excessive profile medical hashish gummies case that has now been finalised
Hollywood Unlocked write ..Donte West, who served as Shaw’s worldwide humanitarian negotiator and advocate, was current in courtroom for the decision. Working side-by-side with Indonesian authorized counsel and in direct coordination with the U.S. Embassy, West pushed a humanitarian-centered protection that introduced Shaw’s medical actuality entrance and heart.
The report doesn’t point out whether or not West was there on his personal dime, on Shaw’s dime, the NBA’s dime, Grissom Miller’s Regulation Agency dime or on LPP’s dime. However for an organisation that has a plethora of circumstances of “unknown” folks sitting in US jails for years it does appear reasonably odd that one in all “their” folks is jetting throughout the Pacific to be there by the facet of a excessive profile baskeball participant and performing as an middleman between native attorneys, the US embassy and the Indonesian justice system. It might be attention-grabbing to find out how this outing was funded ?
The optimistic consequence then reported by way of a Hollywood media outlet
Lastly the open query. Will the Trump auto-pen challenge undo their good work and will / have they made accomodations for the arbitrary nature of the present administration
All numbers are quoted as $USD
2020
In 2,075,822.65
Out 745,890.23
2021
In 3,608,667.00
Out 2,675,017.00
2022
In 3,388,551.00
Out 4,113,135.00
2023
In 2,974,496.00
Out 3,042,077.00
2024
In 2,266,193.00
Out 2,738,267.00
TOTAL
In 14,313,729.65
Out 13,314,386.23
Leaving them + 999,343.42 at finish of reporting season 2024
The necessary factor to focus on is the 2020 & 2021 have been the years which have supported the next years with 2024 clawing again the discrepancies of 23 & 24 however unquestionably the spend is up and analyzing that spend is the nub of the difficulty
If we take a look at how they then outline their incomings and spending 12 months by 12 months
2020
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $1,134,071.89
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $719,192.77
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $181,363.79
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE: $41,194.20
OUT
PROGRAM SERVICES: $333,106.40
SUPPORT FUND: $195,706.88
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $111,990.41
DEVELOPMENT: $105,086.54
2021
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $1,164,241
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $1,385,326
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $1,005,246
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE: $53,854
OUT
PROGRAMS: $1,947,496
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $488,312
DEVELOPMENT: $239,209
2022
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $884,615
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $1,556,129
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $913,965
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE: $33,842
OUT
PROGRAMS: $3,098,156
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $605,865
DEVELOPMENT: $409,114
2023
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $649,886
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $1,435,328
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $859,678
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE $29,604
OUT
PROGRAMS: $2,511,538
MANAGEMENT: $251,365
DEVELOPMENT:$279,174
2024
IN
GENERAL DONATIONS: $619,379
PARTNERS FOR FREEDOM: $902,433
ROLL IT UP FOR JUSTICE: $704,325
SALES AND OTHER REVENUE $40,056
OUT
PROGRAMS: $2,270,151
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL: $192,916
DEVELOPMENT: $275,200
Patterns now begin to emerge.
On the in facet normal donations are on their method down and company donations have gotten more and more necessary to the organisation by way of their Companions for Freedom & Roll It Up For Justice applications.
There additionally appears to be a flatlining impact 2023-24 for these company donations which suggests in future years gross sales and advertising on the organisation wil develop into more and more necessary as the large donors lose the will to be seen as champions of these much less lucky.
Additionally RAW have simply purchased into the bottomless pit that’s Excessive Occasions, he’s recognized for being overly beneficiant for the precise causes on these points however how lengthy can these organisations depend on solar king’s Kesselman’s royal like benificence.
I additionally word this Dutchie program the place they match buyer donations. Primarily Dutchie are lifting the cash from their purchasers twice. As soon as by earnings from gross sales and is it potential that accounting managed a write off?. Then on the again of the nice nature of their clients they introduced within the lions share.
. Does LPP nominate all this cash as a company donation or is / was it break up into 50/50 Normal, Company?
Learn extra at https://enterprise.dutchie.com/dutchie-lpp
See the place this hyperlinks – https://give.lastprisonerproject.org/give/395648/#!/donation/checkout
As all the time definitions are considerably imprecise with emphasis being utilized to the catch all phrase “Applications” . I’ve connected all of the reviews to thie piece (see under) so it makes it simpler to try to outline the fluff from the truth. This can all the time be tough to outline the place the cash is spent inside in applications and the way a lot of that cash truly find yourself with explicit incarcerated people and their familes
PROGRAM EXPENDITURE
2020 $333,106.40
2021 $1,947,496
2022 $3,098,156
2023 $2,511,538
2024 $2,270,151
Once more we see a flatlining as we spherical out 2024
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL
2020 $111,990.41
2021 $488,312
2022 $605,865
2023 $251,365
2024 $192,916
Issues obtained very out of hand in 2021-22 after which have calmed down since though that low quantity in 2024 seems like massaging once we take a more in-depth take a look at government salaries
As of 2026, compensation knowledge for Sarah Gersten, the now former Govt Director and Normal Counsel of the Final Prisoner Mission (LPP), is offered by IRS Kind 990 filings for fiscal years 2020 by 2023.
The LPP web site exhibits her nonetheless to be holding a postion as director on the board she introduced the next by way of linked in in November.
After six extremely significant years main the Final Prisoner Mission, it’s time for a brand new chapter—for myself and for the group.
At our Journey to Justice gala final week, I introduced my choice to step down as Govt Director. It has been the honour of a lifetime to assist construct this group from the bottom up into the powerhouse it’s immediately, representing over 300 constituents, undoing over 400 years of unjust incarceration, passing legal guidelines that cleared lots of of 1000’s of wrongful convictions, and dispersing practically $4 million on to these most harmed by the battle on medicine.
Whereas I’ll be stepping away from the chief function, I’ll be staying part of LPP as a member of the Board of Administrators, persevering with to assist our workforce and mission in a brand new capability.
I’m additionally past thrilled to share that Stephanie Shepard will step in as Performing Govt Director. Stephanie is a passionate advocate and highly effective voice for justice. Her management, lived expertise, and unwavering dedication to our mission make her the best particular person to information LPP into its subsequent chapter.
As for me, I’m enthusiastic about what’s subsequent (which deserves its personal publish—extra on that quickly!)
For now, to our companions, supporters, and group: thanks to your belief, vitality, and perception on this work. The battle to finish this nation’s unjust drug battle is much from over, and I stay up for persevering with it alongside all of you.
Her reported compensation for the requested interval is as follows:
- 2023: $186,012 (Base compensation).
- 2022: $156,000 (Base compensation), plus $6,734 in different compensation.
- 2021: $178,922 (Base compensation), plus $6,946 in different compensation.
- 2020: $123,542 (Base compensation), plus $7,345 in different compensation.
- 2019 (Partial): $103,000 (Base compensation), plus $2,403 in different compensation.
In complete data inform us she has earnt 2019-2023 $USD770,913.00 below the aegis of the LPP charity
Incoming Govt Director Stephanie Shepard’s renumeration is considerably tougher to outline with present publicly accessible data.
As soon as once more Non Revenue explorer tells us
Primarily based on publicly accessible nonprofit data, Stephanie Shepard’s reported compensation from the Final Prisoner Mission for a particular fiscal 12 months (possible 2022 or 2023) was $93,417.
This determine is a part of her general compensation which included different advantages, totaling $99,396.
Reported Wages.
- Whole Compensation: $93,417
- Different Advantages/Compensation: $5,979
- Whole Funds: $99,396
For different years within the 2020-2024 interval, particular particular person compensation figures for Stephanie Shepard weren’t detailed within the search outcomes, although she held the roles of Director of Advocacy and later Performing Govt Director. One public file submitting (possible an earlier 12 months) listed her as a Board Chair with $0 compensation.
Subsequent up is Mary Bailey, the Managing Director of the Final Prisoner Mission.
As with Shepherd we don’t get a full rundown through the years however what we do know is that her’s and Shepherd’s renumeration is in the identical ballpark for LPP work.
Bailey obtained a reported compensation (Supply: ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer and Charity Navigator) of $119,555 (or $119,600 in barely completely different reviews) lately.
This data is offered in public nonprofit compensation data.
A abstract of Mary Bailey’s reported compensation as Managing Director in numerous reporting intervals.
- Most up-to-date interval proven: $119,555 or $119,600
- Prior interval: $102,787
- Precedent days: $82,500
These figures signify her compensation from the group and don’t embrace associated or different types of compensation within the accessible knowledge
I used to be unable to find renumeration for the remainder of the “workforce” as highlighted on their web site and a few may fit on a voluntary foundation.
it could be attention-grabbing to see this documented publicly
Renumeration although is barely half the story as Gerston breathlessly informs us in her…. I’m leaving ….Linked In publish
At our Journey to Justice gala final week, I introduced my choice to step down as Govt Director. It has been the honour of a lifetime to assist construct this group from the bottom up into the powerhouse it’s immediately, representing over 300 constituents, undoing over 400 years of unjust incarceration, passing legal guidelines that cleared lots of of 1000’s of wrongful convictions, and dispersing practically $4 million on to these most harmed by the battle on medicine.
DEVELOPMENT
2020 $105,086.54
2021 $239,209
2022 $409,114
2023 $279,174
2024 $275,200
TOTAL $1,307,783.50
The phrase improvement might imply a number of issues however I’m guessing it’s cash spent on white papers, lobbyists, advertising and the like.
I’m assuming authorized charges and many others are drawn from “Applications”. As soon as once more it could be attention-grabbing to study extra about this expenditure and have copies of any paid for analysis, opinons and many others printed to the positioning ?
There’s this web page https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/coverage however primarily it says we went there, stayed in a resort, in all probability spent cash on dinners and coverage/ lobbyist wonks .
I do know that is how US politics works however as with each different side of the hashish trade LPP appear to be extra within the recreation of coverage creation and administration than the direct ongoing relationships with prisoners and their households in 2025 which so far as i recall was the unique meant modus operandi of the group when it launched in 2018-19
Even their web site can solely carry us to 4 success tales hidden half method down this web page https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/launch
I’m positive there are in all probability extra people they’ve instantly helped however shouldn’t these tales come entrance and heart?
The annual reviews push the freed prisoner narrative a bit extra however then because the annual reviews are instruments to lift funds that shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody
How Many Folks Have Been Launched From Federal Jail In The USA For Hashish Offences Due to The Direct Intervention of The Final Prisoner Mission?
This was the reply given
The Final Prisoner Mission (LPP) doesn’t present a single complete variety of folks they’ve “freed” as a result of their work includes various kinds of authorized aid, however their efforts have led to
- A whole bunch of people launched: This consists of constituents who obtained presidential clemency, compassionate launch as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, or sentence reductions secured by authorized advocacy and professional bono attorneys.
- Over 400 years of mixed unjust jail time saved for his or her constituents.
- Over 250,000 hashish offenses cleared (dismissed, modified, recalled, sealed, or reclassified) by coverage initiatives and automated file expungement legal guidelines handed in states like California, Maryland, and Hawai’i, which have offered tangible aid to lots of of 1000’s of people.
Their efforts embody particular person authorized illustration, clemency campaigns, and advocacy for systemic coverage modifications (like automated expungement legal guidelines) to handle the injustices of hashish criminalization.
Record of people freed with LPP authorized illustration?
No complete public record exists of each particular person freed with direct Final Prisoner Mission (LPP) authorized illustration, however a number of particular person names are documented in LPP and companion supplies.
Named people with documented LPP function
From LPP’s personal bulletins and companion releases, the next individuals are explicitly described as receiving direct authorized illustration or intently coordinated authorized assist from LPP in securing launch or clemency for hashish offenses:
-
Andy Cox – Secured compassionate launch from a life sentence for a non‑violent hashish offense in a case dealt with by Goodwin Procter in partnership with LPP’s Hashish Justice Initiative.
-
Thomas Anderson – Recognized as an LPP constituent whose federal hashish clemency was granted by President Biden, with LPP stating it “offered direct authorized illustration, monetary help, and advocacy” in his case.
-
Rory Meeks – Similar LPP announcement lists Meeks amongst constituents for whom LPP offered direct authorized illustration and assist in acquiring federal hashish clemency.
-
Danny Harmon – Included in the identical group of LPP constituents receiving hashish clemency, explicitly tied to LPP’s direct authorized illustration and advocacy.
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Matthew Nicka – Profiled by LPP as a protracted‑time hashish prisoner; LPP later reported that he was amongst 5 constituents granted hashish clemency by President Biden after LPP offered direct authorized illustration and help.
-
Flavio Tamez – Additionally listed as an LPP constituent for whom LPP offered direct authorized illustration, monetary help, and advocacy resulting in federal hashish clemency.
These are the clearest, by‑identify examples in current public sources the place LPP itself or a authorized companion explicitly connects its illustration to an individual’s launch or clemency.
People with LPP‑supported authorized assist (not all the time framed as “illustration”)
Some tales describe LPP arranging or supporting counsel, clemency petitions, or authorized steps, even when the wording is “supported” reasonably than “represented”:
-
“José” (surname not given) – In an LPP social publish, the group notes that it “supported José with a professional bono lawyer who filed his clemency petition” after which offered a reentry grant after his launch.
-
Unspecified “constituents” – LPP’s tales web page and impression supplies reference a number of “tales of freedom,” the place LPP intervention, advocacy, and authorized assist contributed to releases or transitions to dwelling confinement, however many are anonymized or mentioned with out express illustration language.
As a result of many circumstances are described utilizing phrases like “constituent,” “supported,” or “companion counsel,” and a few people are anonymized, it’s not potential from public materials to show all of those right into a exact, exhaustive named record.
Scope and limits of what may be listed
-
LPP and its companions report having delivered hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in professional bono authorized providers and securing freedom or sentence reductions for “lots of” of people, however they do not publish a full roster of names.
-
Confidentiality, security, and privateness considerations possible clarify why many consumers should not publicly recognized by identify, and why some are referenced solely as “constituents” or by first identify.
Given present public sources, probably the most that may be reliably produced is a partial record just like the one above, not a definitive register of everybody freed with LPP authorized illustration
Variety of clemencies tied to Final Prisoner Mission advocacy
The one clearly quantified clemency figures publicly tied to Final Prisoner Mission (LPP) advocacy are 5 named clemencies in 2024 and 9 named clemencies in January 2025, for a complete of 14 recognized LPP constituents.
Documented LPP‑linked clemencies
-
In December 2024, LPP introduced that 5 of its constituents (Thomas Anderson, Rory Meeks, Danny Harmon, Matthew Nicka, and Flavio Tamez) obtained federal hashish clemency from President Biden, explicitly stating LPP offered direct authorized illustration, monetary help, and advocacy.
-
In January 2025, LPP reported that amongst Biden’s practically 2,500 non‑violent drug commutations, 9 LPP constituents could be free, with the motion described because the fruits of LPP’s early launch applications, federal coverage work, and campaigns reminiscent of Countdown4Clemency and Pen to Proper Historical past.
These 14 grants are particularly and by quantity tied to LPP in official statements, however not all names within the 9‑particular person group are listed in public summaries.
What isn’t quantified
-
LPP states that the overall variety of folks incarcerated for hashish who obtained commutations in Biden’s January 2025 motion is not but recognized, and it doesn’t publish a full depend of all clemencies the place its advocacy performed a contributing function reasonably than direct illustration.
-
Different LPP campaigns (letters to governors, state‑stage categorical pardons, Countdown4Clemency, and many others.) are described as influencing broader clemency observe, however they aren’t accompanied by a numeric “clemencies attributable to LPP advocacy” determine.
So, on the general public file there are a minimum of 14 federal clemencies explicitly tied to LPP constituents, whereas any broader tally of clemencies influenced by LPP’s advocacy stays unquantified.
To be clear i sense zero monetary impropriety when taking a look at these numbers. All the things is no doubt above board and to some extent as they spotlight of their reviews, “clear”.
However that solely tells half the story.
The organisation when imagined was designed to instantly assist prisoners caught by the drug battle and it’s value mentioning that the present ED, Stephanie Shepard, was a type of people. I interviewed Shepard in 2024
Final Prisoner venture seems to have misplaced its method and fallen into the lure of changing into a coverage organisation that spends much less time on the person and extra time on the large image no matter which means in US politics in 2026
Like all different US hashish associations it has been sucked into the whirpool of US political strategm that defines success by cash spent, media accessed, egos massaged , galas attended, dinners eaten and so forth and so forth .
As Mayor Mamdani hits the bottom in NY perhaps it’s time that the exit of Gerston alerts a renewed LPP that heads again to it’s roots and concentrates on the person reasonably than the large image.
Sure influencing how pardons are written and countless legislative proposals is all effectively and good however what has it achieved aside from buttering a course of already in play in lots of states
Being seen with the nice and nice and having numerous smily don’t we gfeel good working collectively let’s all have a gold star tradition simply hasn’t obtained sufficient folks out of jail.
From this prism far an excessive amount of cash has been spent for too little consequence.
Let the subsequent chapter at LPP change that. Right here’s hoping.
https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/financial-information
The Final Prisoner Mission is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group, which means presents to the Final Prisoner Mission are absolutely tax-deductible as allowed by regulation. Our Tax ID# is 83-4502829, and proof of our tax exempt standing may be discovered right here.
For questions on new or present donations, contact us at data@lastprisonerproject.org.
Final Prisoner Mission launched in September 2019. Each contribution helps fund our applications that make constituents “absolutely free”. Along with ourlaunch applications, we additionally assist returning residents rebuild their lives by ourreentry applications.Your contribution additionally ensures we are able to proceed to work to pursue systemic reform by ourcoverage and advocacyinitiatives. Past launch, file clearance, and reentry, your assist permits us to assist our incarcerated constituents entry sources like meals, healthcare, and cellphone calls by serving to to fund their commissary accounts.
We proudly take part in evaluations by charity monitoring teams. The Final Prisoner Mission has achieved a 4-Star Charity designation from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency Ranking on Candid, the world’s largest supply of knowledge on non-profit organizations. These rankings places us within the high 0.1% of charities nationally when it comes to transparency.
ANNUAL REPORTS
