Latest News

Black Lives Matter: the role of Justice Defenders in advancing racial equality

Reflections from our founder on our work, the ethos of BLM, and our global reckoning of the costs of racial inequality.

Covid-19 response: a three-part plan

Our response to the pandemic will be three-fold: a fines fund, tech advocacy, and sanitation partnerships.

Covid-19 response: reflections on the lockdown

We’re asking ourselves: what does it look like to radically decongest prisons at this time?

Covid-19 response: a message for our community

Hear from our Founder, Alexander McLean, on how we're navigating this COVID-19 pandemic.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2019

Although women and girls account for a far smaller share of total homicides than men, they bear by far the greatest burden of intimate partner/family‐related homicide, and intimate partner homicide.

Morris Kaberia’s visit to South Africa (INN)

The was a gathering of individuals and organisations representing the work of justice reform, from around the world. Read more about his experience.

Graduates: Dickson Munene and Hamisi Mzari

Throughout this year we have shared the stories of every one of our 16 Kenyan law graduates. Each of them have completed their studies with the University of London, as part of .

One Year On: Morris Kaberia

On 20th September 2018, Morris Kaberia was released from Kamiti Maximum Prison, in Kenya, n. Less than a year later he was leading a successful legal challenge on the remission of sentences which will ensure the release of others, unlawfully detained, across the country.

A Visitor's Perspective: Beyond the Prison of a Prisoned Mind

"We should be open to the idea that there are proven leaders within the prison population in Kamiti ..."

Paralegals in Kenya and Uganda receive training on bail and appeal procedures from legal experts

Magistrates and legal experts from across the judiciary have come together to share their practical knowledge. Ensuring trainees are immersed into the legal world, even from behind prison bars.

Law books fuel the defence

Inmates at Luzira Prison share how access to quality reading material has helped them prepare their defence for court.

Jane's story: From death row, to paralegal officer

As one of our trained paralegals in Langata Women's Prison in Kenya, Jane is enabling fellow incarcerated women to access essential legal services. Fostering hope for a more just world.

Annet spent 14 years dealing with the consequences of her husband's death sentence

“My husband committed a crime, so he had to pay for it. Though it put me in a difficult situation.”

Sarah spent more time in prison before her trial, than if she was sentenced

“Being in prison: days are like months and months are like years.”

Betty is close to completing her law degree from within prison

"Using the knowledge I have acquired from Justice Defenders, I managed to convince the judge in my appeal process, overturning my death sentence."

Release: Joseph Karanja, pioneer and free man

Joseph Karanja has spent 20 years in prison. He was arrested in 2000 and sentenced to death at his trial in 2001. However, in 2009 he was one of 4,000 prisoners whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.

Gilbert Niwamanya

Gilbert, aged 36, is the Welfare and Rehabilitation Officer at Luzira Maximum Security Prison, Kampala, where he’s worked for the past 5 years.

George Karaba

George has spent almost 20 years behind bars. Arrested in 2002, he was sentenced to death in 2006. This was commuted to a life sentence in 2009. In 2018 he graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Law degee [LLB], with support from our Justice Changemaker programme.