The Partner Prospectus

#Part 1: Why TJP Must Exist

#The problem every partner already feels

A sheriff sees the same names coming back through booking. A clinic director sees crisis beds filled by untreated trauma. A victim advocate sees a survivor who never got an answer to "Why?" A legislator sees a corrections budget that grows while the public feels no safer. These are four views of one problem: harm that is punished but not understood, and so repeats.

#What TJP does about it

TJP reframes the narrative of harm, healing, and prevention. That is our vision. Our mission is to implement the principles and practices of Transformative Justice across all sectors of South Carolina.

In plain words, TJP does three things:

1. It changes the person. Thirteen courses on the brain, trauma, shame, addiction, empathy, communication, and systems teach why harm happens, starting with their own.
2. It changes the product. In the Think Tank residents research; in the Task Force they build, pilot, and deliver prevention tools aimed at real South Carolina harms.
3. It changes the community. Through four channels (written, recorded, live visitors, and training other incarcerated people), those tools reach schools, congregations, youth programs, and agencies.

#Why partners, and why now

TJP cannot do this alone, and should not try. A prevention tool never tested outside is a guess. A Keystone scored only by its builders is a pat on the back. A trauma course without licensed professionals is a risk. Partners are how TJP stays honest, safe, and useful.

#What makes TJP different

#Part 2: How Outreach Works at TJP (Read This First)

#The three levels of leadership

TJP is not a resident-led initiative. Three levels of leadership govern it. Partners should know this on the first page, because it tells them who they are dealing with.

#The CLEAN Code for outreach

Every person who does outreach for TJP follows five rules. We call them the CLEAN Code.

#Part 3: The Leave-Behind (One-Page TJP Overview)

Photocopy this page on its own and hand it to any visitor, official, or potential partner.

#Transformative Justice Project (TJP): At a Glance

A South Carolina Department of Corrections program, governed by SCDC, a Board of Volunteers, and an institutional Interdepartmental Committee.

Our Vision. TJP reframes the narrative of harm, healing, and prevention.

Our Mission. To implement the principles and practices of Transformative Justice across all sectors of South Carolina.

What TJP is. A 48-bed, multi-year program with cohorts of 12 to 15 residents who study the science of harm and healing, then design, test, and deliver prevention tools for South Carolina communities, working in the Think Tank (research) and the Task Force (build, pilot, deliver).

The 13 courses (10 weeks each; research, then build and pilot, then deliver):

The Keystone. Teams of 3 to 5 pick one real, bounded South Carolina harm and build a complete, ready-to-use intervention package. An external panel scores it on Specificity, Evidentiary Rigor, Deployability, Honesty, and Adoption Potential. Adoption is tracked at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.

Three levels of governance. Oversight: SCDC Division of Programs, Reentry, and Rehabilitative Services. Direction: the Board of Volunteers. Supervision: the Interdepartmental Committee (Associate Warden for Programs, Programs Supervisor, Chaplains, Education Leader).

Four channels to the community. (1) Written guides and curricula. (2) Recorded audio and video. (3) Live, approved visitors. (4) Training other incarcerated people.

Safety. Peer facilitators are educators, never therapists. Trauma-related sessions are always led by staff, with licensed professionals.

What we need. A closed, no-internet computer lab; recording equipment; durable furniture; textbooks for 13 courses; licensed mental health professional hours; a university research partner; external review panelists; mentors; printing; an Annual Summit.

How to help. Contact the TJP Board of Volunteers through the institution's Programs office. Every gift and hour is logged and reported monthly to all three levels of leadership.

"Harm that is understood can be prevented."

#Part 4: The HOPE Pitch and How to Read the Sector Profiles

#The HOPE Pitch

Every pitch in this document follows one simple shape. We call it HOPE.

#What "hot button" means

A hot button is what a person or organization cares about most: what they worry about, what they are blamed for, and what they are measured on. Find that, and you know what to say.

#The TJP Needs Analysis categories (for connecting dots)

#The ways partners can help (TJP leadership's list, plus more)

#Part 5: The Sector Profiles

#Sector 1: Behavioral Health (Mental Health)

Who to contact. The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD), Office of Mental Health. In 2025, South Carolina merged the former Department of Mental Health, DAODAS, and the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs into this one cabinet agency. Its Office of Mental Health runs community mental health centers and forensic services statewide. Note: "the Department of Mental Health" that TJP leadership named is now this office. Also: NAMI South Carolina; the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at MUSC (see Sector 3).

Their hot buttons.

• People cycling between crisis care, jail, and prison without lasting recovery.
• Continuity of care at reentry: the gap between the prison gate and the first clinic visit.

What TJP offers them.

• Trauma-literate peers: residents who have studied Porges, van der Kolk, Levine, and Mate in depth, and who know the difference between education and therapy.
• A bridge into services: TJP graduates who understand why treatment matters and can encourage others to keep appointments after release.
• Tools for their clients: plain-language guides (for example, a family guide to trauma responses).

The ask.

• Provide licensed clinician hours for trauma-adjacent sessions (Courses 3, 4, 5).
• Review TJP's safety and scope rules for trauma content.
• Serve on Keystone review panels.

The pitch. We know your centers see the same people return in crisis, and we know the hardest gap in South Carolina is the one between the prison gate and the first appointment. The Transformative Justice Project is building a group of residents who understand trauma, the nervous system, and addiction at a depth most people never reach, and who know they are educators, not therapists. What we need from you is the part we must never fake: licensed professionals in the room when our courses touch trauma. In return, you gain trained peers who push others toward care, practical guides your staff can use, and measured results shared under a formal agreement. We are asking for one thing first: a meeting to review our trauma safety rules and scope, so the work is safe from the start.

The need it fills. N5 Clinical hours (primary); N7 Review panels; N6 Research.

#Sector 2: Substance Use and Recovery

Who to contact. BHDD Office of Substance Use Services (formerly DAODAS), which covers prevention, treatment, and recovery support statewide; FAVOR Upstate (Faces and Voices of Recovery), a recovery community organization offering free peer recovery support in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Other recovery community organizations and county alcohol and drug authorities: verify locally.

Their hot buttons.

• Overdose deaths, especially in the weeks after release from prison, when tolerance is low.
• Stigma that keeps people from asking for help.

What TJP offers them.

• Course 8, Ask a Different Question (Mate, Stringer): residents learn addiction as a response to pain, not a moral failure. This is the language the recovery movement already uses.
• Potential future peers: residents with deep training who may pursue peer support certification after release (verify eligibility rules locally).

The ask.

• Co-facilitate or guest-teach sessions in Course 8, and donate recovery literature.
• Mentor residents who plan a recovery-support career.
• Provide a reentry connection to recovery community centers after release.

The pitch. You know the most dangerous weeks in recovery are often the first weeks home. The Transformative Justice Project is preparing people for those weeks years ahead of time. In our course Ask a Different Question, residents study addiction the way your peer specialists already talk about it: as pain looking for relief, not as a character flaw. They then build real prevention tools for families and young people, and test them before they are shared. We would be honored to have recovery voices in the room. We are asking you to guest-teach one session, share recovery materials for our library, and consider a warm connection for graduates when they come home. In return, you gain future peers who already speak your language and tools your centers can use.

The need it fills. N4 Textbooks; N8 Mentors; N5 Clinical hours (for clinical content only).

#Sector 3: Victim Services and Survivors

Who to contact. The South Carolina Attorney General's Crime Victim Services Division, including the Crime Victim Ombudsman; SCDC Victim Services; SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services Victim Services; the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN), which provides free legal services to victims of violent crime statewide; the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA), a coalition since 1981 working with 22 member organizations; the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVRTC) at MUSC, founded in 1977.

Their hot buttons.

• Survivors' safety and their right not to be re-traumatized.
• Survivors' unanswered questions, especially "Why did this happen?" and "Will it happen to someone else?"

What TJP offers them.

• The Personal Narrative: accountability statements written in orientation that may be offered to support healing only when a survivor's therapist deems it appropriate and the survivor chooses, including to survivors who were not the writer's own victims.
• Course 2, The Unmaking of a Criminal (Zehr): restorative justice taught with the victim at the center.

The ask.

• Advise TJP on a victim-centered protocol for the Personal Narrative (this is essential before any statement leaves the building).
• Serve on Keystone review panels, especially for domestic violence and abuse projects.
• Provide specialized training to staff on trauma-informed, survivor-centered practice.

The pitch. We want to begin with what matters most to you: survivors come first, and no program should ever use their pain as a stage. The Transformative Justice Project asks residents to take full responsibility for harm, in writing, and to study why harm happens so they can help prevent it. Some survivors have told advocates they want answers and assurance that it will not happen to someone else. We will not decide that for anyone. We are asking you to help us design the rules: when, how, and whether a written accountability statement is ever offered, and only through a survivor's therapist and choice. We also invite you to score our residents' prevention projects, because nobody knows better whether a plan would truly protect people.

The need it fills. N7 Review panels (primary); N5 Clinical hours (protocol review); N10 Summit.

#Sector 4: Judges and the Courts

Who to contact. The South Carolina Judicial Branch, including its treatment courts (drug courts and mental health courts) and the SC Courts Mental Health Initiative. Individual circuit and family court judges: approach only through appropriate, ethical channels (verify locally with Court Administration).

Their hot buttons.

• Fair, lawful outcomes and public confidence in the courts.
• Seeing the same defendants again.

What TJP offers them.

• The restorative lens: Course 2 (Zehr) teaches residents to name harm, needs, and obligations, the same questions many treatment courts ask.
• A perspective on sentencing and treatment: Keystone projects often study what happened at key forks in the road, including court decisions. Judges can see what intervention points look like from the other side.
• Keystone review panel seats: judges and retired judges bring unmatched credibility to scoring "Deployability" and "Honesty."

The ask.

• Serve on (or recommend retired judges for) a Keystone review panel.
• Attend a Channel 3 live presentation during an approved visit.
• Connect TJP to treatment court coordinators who might pilot a TJP tool.
• Attend the Annual Summit.

The pitch. Every week you make decisions with limited options and little information about what actually changes a person. The Transformative Justice Project is a place where residents study the science of harm and then build prevention tools aimed at real South Carolina problems, the same problems that fill your docket. We are not asking you to comment on any case or endorse anyone. We are asking for your judgment in a different room: to sit on a panel that scores residents' Keystone projects for specificity, evidence, honesty, and whether they would actually work. Your perspective would make those projects stronger and more credible. And you would see, firsthand, what accountability looks like when it is taught rather than only sentenced.

The need it fills. N7 Review panels (primary); N10 Summit.

#Sector 5: Prosecutors, Defenders, and the Bar

Who to contact. The South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination, which supports the state's circuit solicitors and oversees pretrial intervention and diversion programs; individual Circuit Solicitors' Offices, many of which run diversion and alternative courts; the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense, which oversees public defenders statewide; the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program (in 2025, 856 attorneys gave 29,609 hours to 1,524 clients in 45 of 46 counties).

Their hot buttons.

• Solicitors: public safety, victims' voices, and diversion programs that actually work.
• Public defenders: heavy caseloads, and clients with trauma, addiction, and mental illness that no one addressed earlier.
• Both: reoffending, and the lack of good community programs to divert people toward.
• The Bar: meaningful pro bono work and access to justice.

What TJP offers them.

• Diversion-ready tools: Keystone packages built for specific harms (for example, a youth anger course or a domestic violence prevention guide) that could be offered through diversion programs, after testing.

The ask.

• Review a Keystone project in their area of practice.
• Help identify one real diversion program that could pilot a TJP tool.
• Serve on a review panel, or review TJP materials for legal accuracy (Bar volunteers).
• Teach record-clearing basics for reentry (general education only, not individual legal advice).

The pitch. Diversion only works if there is something good to divert people toward. The Transformative Justice Project trains residents to study real South Carolina harms, trace the moments where things went wrong, and build tested, ready-to-use prevention programs. Some of those programs could serve the very people your office sees before their cases become prison sentences. We are asking you to review one project in your area and tell us honestly whether it would work in your circuit. If it would not, tell us why; we will fix it. If it would, help us find one place to pilot it. Every result is measured and reported, so you will know exactly what you are recommending.

The need it fills. N7 Review panels; N6 Research (pilot data).

#Sector 6: Law Enforcement

Who to contact. The South Carolina Sheriffs' Association (since 1913, serving all 46 sheriffs); the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and the Law Enforcement Training Council; municipal police departments (verify locally); NAMI South Carolina's Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program, a free five-day training for officers.

Their hot buttons.

• Officer safety and the risk that any encounter turns violent.
• Mental health calls that officers were never trained for.
• Youth violence and gang recruitment.
• Repeat offenders.

What TJP offers them.

• Course 6, The Engine of Violence (Gilligan, Brown, Tangney): why shame drives violence, and what de-escalates it.
• Course 11, Acts of Violence Are Failed Requests (Rosenberg): Nonviolent Communication skills that pair with de-escalation training.
• Youth intervention tools: prevention packages aimed at the points where young people are recruited into violence.

The ask.

• Provide specialized training (for example, a CIT instructor presenting to residents on how officers experience a crisis call).
• Attend a Channel 3 presentation on shame and violence.
• Serve on a Keystone panel for violence prevention projects.

The pitch. Your officers walk into the most dangerous moments in South Carolina, often with people in crisis whose anger started long before the call. The Transformative Justice Project studies exactly that: why shame turns into violence, how the body reacts to threat, and what words actually calm a situation down. Our residents are building prevention tools for the young people you worry about most, before they ever meet an officer in the worst moment of their lives. We are asking you to send one trainer, perhaps from your crisis intervention program, to share how officers see these encounters. Residents will learn from you, and you will see what violence prevention looks like from the people who once caused harm and now work to stop it.

The need it fills. N7 Review panels; N8 Mentors (specialized training); N10 Summit.

#Sector 7: State Legislators and Local Decision Makers

Who to contact. Members of the committees that shape corrections and criminal justice. As listed on the South Carolina Legislature's website in September 2026: the Senate Corrections and Penology Committee (Chair: Sen. Shane R. Martin); the Senate Judiciary Committee (Chair: Sen. Luke A. Rankin); the House Judiciary Committee (Chair: Rep. Weston J. Newton), which includes a Criminal Laws Subcommittee; and the House Legislative Oversight Committee, which reviews SCDC. Also: each legislator whose district includes the institution. Committee leadership changes; verify locally. For local leaders: the Municipal Association of South Carolina, the South Carolina Association of Counties, and county councils, mayors, and school boards near the institution and in residents' home counties.

Their hot buttons.

• Taxpayer cost, public safety in their district, and whether programs deliver results voters can see.

What TJP offers them.

• Measured results: The TJP Evidence System tracks validated measures, behavior, and products for years, not weeks.
• A low-cost model: donated goods and volunteer partners stretch every public dollar.
• District impact: prevention tools delivered to schools, churches, and youth programs in their communities.

The ask.

• Visit TJP during an approved tour.
• Connect TJP to agencies, schools, and youth programs in their district that could pilot a tool.
• Attend the Annual Summit.

The pitch. South Carolinians want two things from their prisons: safety now, and fewer victims later. The Transformative Justice Project is designed to deliver both, and to prove it. Residents study the science of harm and then build prevention programs for real problems in our communities, from youth violence to domestic abuse. Every step is measured, from validated tests to whether a school or church adopts the tool. Much of the equipment and expertise is donated. We are not asking for a bill or a budget line. We are asking you to see it: one visit, forty-five minutes, and a short monthly summary of results. Then decide for yourself whether this is the kind of program South Carolina should grow.

The need it fills. N10 Summit; indirectly all needs (network and decision makers).

#Sector 8: Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services

Who to contact. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (PPP), which supervises about 20,000 people in the community and serves victims; the Board of Paroles and Pardons.

Their hot buttons.

• Successful supervision: people who keep jobs, housing, and treatment.
• Revocations and new offenses.

What TJP offers them.

• Better-prepared people: TJP graduates arrive with years of training in emotional regulation, communication, and accountability.
• Evidence: long-term data on behavior change that may inform supervision planning (only as shared under approved agreements).

The ask.

• Provide specialized training: a presentation on what successful supervision looks like.
• Advise TJP on reentry planning.
• Serve on a Keystone panel.

The pitch. The people you supervise succeed or fail in the first months home, and much of that depends on skills they did or did not build inside. The Transformative Justice Project spends years building those skills: managing stress, communicating under pressure, owning harm, and helping others. Our residents also build tools, such as short guides on trauma and shame, that your officers could use with the people on their caseloads. We are asking for one presentation from your staff on what success on supervision really takes, so our residents can prepare for it. We will share what we learn and measure what changes. Our goal and yours are the same: people who come home and stay home.

The need it fills. N8 Mentors (specialized training); N6 Research; N7 Review panels.

#Sector 9: Juvenile Justice and Youth Prevention

Who to contact. The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ), including its Prevention and Intervention programs, Community Juvenile Arbitration, and volunteer program. In 2023, SCDJJ launched a Credible Messengers Initiative with the Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement (CM3) and the local nonprofit Path2Redemption. Youth organizations: local Boys and Girls Clubs (for example, of the Midlands and of the Lowcountry) and Big Brothers Big Sisters (for example, of the Upstate and of the Lowcountry).

Their hot buttons.

• Keeping young people out of the adult system, and out of DJJ in the first place.
• Youth violence, gangs, and guns.

What TJP offers them.

• Credible messenger training: Course 13, No One Educates Alone (Freire, hooks), trains residents to teach from lived experience.
• Prevention packages for young people: Keystone projects built for specific forks in the road (school discipline, first arrest, gang recruitment).
• Recorded messages (Channel 2): approved audio or video from residents that youth programs could use, where policy permits.

The ask.

• Pilot a TJP youth tool with a small group and report results.
• Advise on what reaches young people, so residents build the right thing.

The pitch. We share your goal: reach young people before the system does. Our residents are adults who remember exactly where their own paths turned, and the Transformative Justice Project trains them to turn that memory into careful, tested prevention tools. In our final course, residents learn to teach as credible messengers: not to preach, but to be honest about what reached them and what did not. We are asking you to help us build the right thing. Tell us what your young people need. Then, when a tool is ready, let us pilot it with a small group and measure the results together. If it works, it is yours to use. If it does not, we will learn and fix it.

The need it fills. N7 Review panels; N6 Research (pilot data); N2 Recording (youth messages).

#Sector 10: Universities and Researchers

Who to contact.

• University of South Carolina: Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice; College of Social Work (criminal justice research area, including incarceration's effects on families and trauma); the South Carolina Restorative Justice Initiative at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law.
• Clemson University: Center for Public Safety Research (Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice); Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life.
• College of Charleston: listed as South Carolina's partner in the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program.
• Furman University: Furman Prison Education Partnership, which has worked with Perry Correctional Institution using the Inside-Out model.
• Wofford College (South Carolina Innocence Initiative), Winthrop University (criminology and criminal justice), and South Carolina State University (criminal justice): smaller partners for panels, interns, and course sessions.
• Benedict College: prison education program; in August 2026 a student at Broad River Correctional Institution became the first person in SCDC history to earn a four-year degree through it.
• Claflin University (Pathways from Prison), Southern Wesleyan University, and Voorhees University: Second Chance Pell institutions.
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC): National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.

Their hot buttons.

• Publishable research with strong design and long follow-up.
• Community engagement and service-learning that deans and accreditors value.

What TJP offers them.

• A research site with cohorts (A, B, C, D) over a planned five-year horizon.
• Longitudinal data from The TJP Evidence System: validated instruments at week 1, week 10, and 6 months; behavioral markers; product artifacts; adoption tracked at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Access only under an IRB-approved, SCDC-approved agreement.
• Publications: co-authored evaluations of a program that is designed to be measured from day one.

The ask.

• Serve as TJP's lead evaluation partner (design the study, handle IRB, analyze data).
• Provide graduate students for approved research or teaching roles, and explore an Inside-Out style class.
• Serve on Keystone panels (faculty are ideal for "Evidentiary Rigor").

The pitch. Researchers tell us the same thing: good data from inside prison walls is rare, and long-term data is rarer still. The Transformative Justice Project was designed to be measured from the first day. Every cohort takes validated measures at the start, the end of each course, and six months later. We track behavior, the prevention tools residents build, and whether communities actually adopt them, out to three years. We want a university partner to own the science: to design the evaluation, handle IRB approval, and publish honestly, whatever the results. In return, you gain a rare research site, co-authored publications, grant partnerships, and field experience for your students. We are asking for one meeting between your faculty, our Board of Volunteers, and SCDC to scope a study.

The need it fills. N6 Research (primary); N4 Textbooks; N7 Review panels; N10 Summit.

#Sector 11: Prison Education and Learning Networks

Who to contact.

• Edovo: a nonprofit learning platform offering educational, vocational, and rehabilitative content to incarcerated learners at no cost to them. TJP has zero internet, so Edovo could reach residents only through SCDC-approved devices (verify locally); its printed or exported materials may still help.
• The Inside-Out Center (Temple University): trains faculty to run courses where campus and incarcerated students learn together.
• Bard Prison Initiative's Consortium for the Liberal Arts in Prison: advises colleges building prison education programs (no South Carolina member listed as of September 2026).
• Prison Mindfulness Institute: creator of Path of Freedom, a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence curriculum with a facilitator training pathway.
• Compassion Prison Project (see note below).

Their hot buttons.

• Trained facilitators inside facilities.

What TJP offers them.

• A trained, organized group of learners who can pilot and critique curricula.
• Peer facilitators (Channel 4) who could help deliver approved programs to others.

The ask.

• Supply printed curriculum materials (for example, Path of Freedom books, Trauma Talks workbooks) for use on paper.
• Provide specialized facilitator training for staff.

The pitch. You have spent years building learning that reaches people others gave up on. The Transformative Justice Project would like to learn from you and give something back. Our residents study trauma, mindfulness, and compassion in depth, then build and pilot their own prevention curricula. They are exactly the learners who can tell you, honestly and in detail, what works and what wobbles. We work on paper and on a closed computer network, so printed materials matter enormously. We are asking for your printed curriculum materials and one conversation about facilitator training for our staff. In return, you gain a serious pilot group, structured feedback, and a partner that may one day contribute new, tested content to your library.

The need it fills. N4 Textbooks; N9 Printing; N8 Mentors (training).

#Sector 12: Faith Communities

Who to contact.

• Kairos Prison Ministry of South Carolina: part of an interdenominational Christian ministry founded in 1976, with Kairos Inside retreats, Kairos Outside (for women with incarcerated loved ones), and Kairos Torch (youth).
• Prison Fellowship: a national ministry that advocates for justice reform in South Carolina and helped pass the Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform Act of 2010 (Senate Bill 1154).
• South Carolina Christian Action Council: an ecumenical council of Christian bodies working for unity and shared ministry across the state.
• SCDC Pastoral Care Services and institutional chaplains (who already sit on the Interdepartmental Committee).
• Local pastors' networks, ministerial alliances, and interfaith councils near the institution: verify locally.

Their hot buttons.

• Redemption, reconciliation, and restored families.
• Ministry that bears lasting fruit, not one-time events.

What TJP offers them.

• Kairos-compatible restorative work: TJP courses deepen what a Kairos weekend opens, with years of study on shame, empathy, and accountability.
• Course 10, Redemptive Compassion, and Course 2 (Zehr, whose restorative justice work grew partly from faith communities).
• Congregational reentry support tools: guides that help a congregation welcome a returning member safely and wisely.

The ask.

• Mentor TJP residents (through SCDC volunteer registration).
• Form a congregational reentry circle for a graduate coming home.
• Pilot a TJP youth tool in a church youth program.
• Attend the Annual Summit.

The pitch. You already believe no one is beyond redemption. The Transformative Justice Project puts that belief to work. Our residents spend years facing the harm they caused, studying why people hurt one another, and building tools that help families, congregations, and young people prevent harm before it starts. Many of our residents first felt hope through ministries like yours; TJP gives that hope structure and a job to do. We are asking your congregation to walk with us: mentor a resident, help us test a youth program, or form a small circle that welcomes a graduate home. Redemption is not only something that happens inside. It is something a community practices when a person comes back.

The need it fills. N8 Mentors (primary); N4 Textbooks; N9 Printing; N10 Summit.

#Sector 13: Reentry Organizations

Who to contact.

• JUMPSTART SC (Spartanburg): a Christ-centered prison ministry and reentry organization, active since 2008, with in-prison discipleship, transition support, Restoration Village housing, and social enterprises; it partners with SCDC and PPP.
• Alston Wilkes Society: a statewide nonprofit founded in 1962, with residential reentry centers, veterans' housing, youth services, and community service coordinators in all 46 South Carolina counties.
• Turn90 (North Charleston): founded in 2014, providing cognitive behavioral training, transitional work, job placement, and housing help for men after prison.
• South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families: statewide fatherhood programs that help fathers reconnect with their children (verify reentry-specific services locally).
• SCDC Reentry Services, which begins planning 24 months before release.

Their hot buttons.

• Participants who arrive ready: stable, motivated, and self-aware.
• Housing and jobs, which are scarce.

What TJP offers them.

• Participants with years of preparation in regulation, communication, and accountability.
• Peer leaders who can model the change for others in their programs.

The ask.

• Provide a reentry pathway for TJP graduates (housing, employment, mentoring).
• Mentor residents in the months before release.
• Pilot a TJP tool in a reentry group.

The pitch. You know better than anyone that reentry begins long before release. The Transformative Justice Project prepares residents for years, not weeks. They study the brain, trauma, shame, and habits, and they practice leading others. By the time they reach your door, they have already built and tested programs to prevent harm. We would like to begin the relationship early. We are asking you to mentor residents in the months before release, lead one session on what the first ninety days really look like, and consider a place in your program for graduates who fit. In return, you get participants ready to lead, tools your staff can use, and results you can show your funders.

The need it fills. N8 Mentors (primary); N6 Research (outcomes after release).

#Sector 14: Justice Reform Advocates

Who to contact.

• SC4CJR (South Carolina for Criminal Justice Reform): public education, policy advocacy, research, and reentry support.
• Justice 360 (Columbia): capital defense, juvenile sentencing, systemic reform.
• ACLU of South Carolina: including its Youth Justice Reform Now campaign.
• South Carolina for Restorative Justice: grassroots, survivor-led, focused on the school-to-prison pipeline.
• Alliance for Safety and Justice / Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice: a national survivors' network. No South Carolina chapter verified; verify locally.

Their hot buttons.

• Evidence that rehabilitation works, to support policy change.
• Youth justice and alternatives to long sentences.

What TJP offers them.

• Data (as approved and published) showing what happens when people are given serious education and responsibility.
• A model that shows transformative justice is practical, measured, and governed.

The ask.

• Spread the vision and mission to their networks.
• Advocate in the legislature for policies that support programs like TJP (on their own behalf; TJP does not lobby).
• Connect TJP to decision makers and funders.
• Attend the Annual Summit.

The pitch. You spend your days making the case that people can change and that South Carolina can be both safer and fairer. The Transformative Justice Project is building the proof. Our residents study harm and healing, then build prevention programs that are tested, measured, and reviewed by outside experts. The program is governed by SCDC, a Board of Volunteers, and an institutional committee, so its results are credible to people who do not already agree with you. We are asking you to tell our story accurately, invite us into your networks, and attend our Annual Summit. When our published results are ready, they will be yours to use in making the case for change.

The need it fills. N10 Summit; network and decision-maker connections for all needs.

#Sector 15: Workforce and Business

Who to contact. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), whose Second Chance program places a staff member at an SCDC facility and supports returning citizens through SC Works centers (federal bonding, Work Opportunity Tax Credit information, job fairs during Second Chance Month in April); the South Carolina Technical College System and local technical colleges; the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and local chambers; individual employers and local technology businesses (verify locally).

Their hot buttons.

• Worker shortages.
• Reliable, trainable employees who show up.

What TJP offers them.

• Skills employers ask for: communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, problem solving (the ADOPT process), and meeting discipline (The TJP Meeting Rhythm).
• A documented record: Keystone portfolios and course products that show what a graduate can actually do.

The ask.

• Donate technology: computers, printers, scanner, laminator, label maker (all to run with no internet).
• Provide specialized training (for example, workplace communication, basic IT).
• Offer interviews or hiring pathways for graduates.

The pitch. Employers tell us the hardest things to find are not technical skills. They are people who communicate clearly, solve problems as a team, and stay calm under pressure. The Transformative Justice Project teaches exactly those skills, for years, and asks residents to prove them by building real products for real communities. Our graduates leave with a portfolio, not just a certificate. We are building a computer lab that runs on a closed network with no internet, and we need equipment. Your used business computers, printers, or a scanner could become the tools that residents use to build prevention programs. Every gift is logged and reported. When graduates are ready to work, we hope you will meet them.

The need it fills. N1 Technology (primary); N9 Printing; N2 Recording; N3 Furniture.

#Sector 16: Philanthropy (Foundations and United Ways)

Who to contact. The Central Carolina Community Foundation (Midlands); the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina (nine coastal counties; its Economic Mobility Fund made a $45,000 grant to Turn90 in 2023); other community foundations in the institution's region (verify locally); the United Way Association of South Carolina, which supports local United Ways and runs SC 211, VolunteerSC, and AmeriCorps SC.

Their hot buttons.

• Measurable community impact.
• Reaching root causes, not just symptoms.
• Strong, accountable partners with clear governance.

What TJP offers them.

• Clear governance: three levels of leadership and a monthly report.
• Measured outcomes from The TJP Evidence System.

The ask.

• Grants to the approved fiscal channel for equipment, books, and the Summit (the Board and SCDC determine the right channel; verify locally).
• Attend the Annual Summit.

The pitch. Most grants pay for services that end when the money ends. A gift to the Transformative Justice Project pays for tools that keep working. A set of textbooks serves every cohort for years. A small computer lab lets residents build prevention guides that schools, churches, and youth programs use long after the grant report is filed. We are governed by SCDC, a Board of Volunteers, and an institutional committee, and every gift is tracked in a monthly report to all three. We are asking for a conversation about one focused grant, perhaps the textbooks for our thirteen courses or our computer lab. We will show you exactly where it goes and what it produces.

The need it fills. N1 Technology; N4 Textbooks; N2 Recording; N3 Furniture; N10 Summit.

#Sector 17: Public Health and Violence Prevention

Who to contact. The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), whose Community Violence Intervention and Prevention (CVIP) unit awards mini grants to community partnerships and began building the state's first strategic plan for CVIP programs in 2024. Cure Violence (violence interrupter) sites in South Carolina: we could not verify an active site; verify locally.

Their hot buttons.

• Violence as a public health problem that spreads and can be interrupted.
• Community-based solutions in the places most affected, with real evaluation.

What TJP offers them.

• Violence prevention packages built on the science of shame and threat.
• Evaluation-ready projects with PROOF lines written before building.

The ask.

• Advise TJP on the state CVIP plan so Keystone projects fit real priorities.
• Connect TJP to CVIP grantees who might pilot a tool.

The pitch. Public health treats violence like a disease that spreads from person to person, and that can be interrupted. Our residents know exactly how it spread in their own lives and neighborhoods. The Transformative Justice Project trains them in the science of shame, threat, and communication, and then asks them to build prevention programs with measurable goals written down before anything is built. We are asking you to help us align those projects with South Carolina's new violence prevention plan, so what residents build fits what communities actually need, and to introduce us to one grantee who might test a tool. You gain evaluation-ready ideas from people who know violence from the inside.

The need it fills. N7 Review panels; N6 Research.

#Part 6: The Priority Target List (Top 25)

Tiers. Tier 1: first 90 days. Tier 2: days 91 to 180. Tier 3: months 7 to 12.

#Part 7: The Partnership Menu

#Four levels of partnership

#What TJP never offers

TJP never offers influence over who enters or leaves the program (that belongs to SCDC and the Interdepartmental Committee); residents' personal stories for marketing; special visits, privileges, or access in exchange for gifts; raw data outside an approved agreement; naming rights over residents or cohorts; or promises about any person's outcome. We measure; we do not guarantee.

How gifts are handled. Every offer goes to the Board, then the Interdepartmental Committee. Donations follow SCDC donation policy and are accepted only by authorized staff (verify locally). Every gift is logged in The TJP Evidence Workbook, appears in The TJP Monthly Report, and is thanked by the Board within 14 days.

#Part 8: The Annual Summit

#Who attends

SCDC leadership, the Board of Volunteers (hosts), the Interdepartmental Committee, TJP residents as approved (presenters), partners at every level, and invited guests such as legislators, judges, agency leaders, and survivors' advocates who are deciding whether to join.

#Format (half day, inside the institution where approved, or a campus version with recorded resident presentations)

What partners see. The products their gifts helped build; validated results, including what did not work; the Adoption Register; and residents speaking for themselves.

#Part 9: The Outreach Pipeline

#The six steps

#The follow-up rhythm

The three-touch rule. If there is no answer after three touches (Day 0, Day 10, Day 30), move the target to "Later" and try again in six months. Never pester.

Meeting Rhythm link. Tactical (weekly) reviews the Outreach Tracker and assigns next steps (Playbook Question 7). Strategic (monthly) picks the next partners. Horizon Review (quarterly) asks which sectors are missing.

#Part 10: Sample Introductory Letter (from the Board of Volunteers)

Use on Board letterhead. Adapt the bracketed parts. Never send a letter written in a resident's name to an outside organization.

[Date]

[Name] [Title] [Organization] [Address]

Dear [Name],

I am writing on behalf of the Board of Volunteers of the Transformative Justice Project (TJP), a program of the South Carolina Department of Corrections at [Institution].

TJP reframes the narrative of harm, healing, and prevention. Our mission is to implement the principles and practices of Transformative Justice across all sectors of South Carolina. Residents study thirteen courses on the science of harm and healing, then research, build, and test real prevention tools for South Carolina communities. The program is governed by three levels of leadership: SCDC's Division of Programs, Reentry, and Rehabilitative Services; our Board of Volunteers; and an institutional Interdepartmental Committee.

I am reaching out because [organization] cares deeply about [their hot button, in their words]. We believe TJP can help by [what TJP offers them, one sentence].

We would be grateful for [one exact ask: a 30-minute meeting / a visit / your review of our trauma safety rules / your advice on one topic]. I have enclosed a one-page overview.

Every partnership with TJP follows SCDC policy, and every contribution is recorded and reported to all three levels of leadership.

Thank you for considering this. I will follow up by [date, 10 days out].

Respectfully,

[Name] [Title], Board of Volunteers, Transformative Justice Project [Contact information approved by SCDC]

Enclosure: TJP Overview

#Part 11: MOU Checklist

An MOU (memorandum of understanding) is a written agreement that says who will do what. It is not usually a contract for money, but it makes promises clear. Every MOU must be reviewed and approved through SCDC before signing.

#Part 12: Signs for the Dorm

#Worksheet 1: Partner Research Sheet

Completed in the Think Tank from printed materials provided by staff. Reviewed by the Board of Volunteers. One sheet per organization.

Their hot buttons (what they worry about, what they are measured on):

Which TJP courses or products speak to them?

Which need could they fill? (circle) N1 Technology / N2 Recording / N3 Furniture / N4 Textbooks / N5 Clinical hours / N6 Research / N7 Review panels / N8 Mentors / N9 Printing / N10 Summit

Possible first ask (one, small, specific):

Risks or cautions (ethics rules, sensitivities, conflicts):

Suggested tier: 1 / 2 / 3 Prepared by: Date: Reviewed by (Board):

#Worksheet 2: Pitch Builder (HOPE)

Draft here. The Board of Volunteers adapts and sends. Target 100 to 150 words.

Partner: Sector:

Full pitch (write it out as "we"):

LESS check:

CLEAN check: Does the pitch ask for anything that sells access, promises outcomes, or comes from a resident? If yes, rewrite.

#Worksheet 3: Outreach Tracker

Kept by the Board of Volunteers or staff. A copy (without private contact details) may be reviewed at the weekly Tactical meeting.

Step key: I = Identify, R = Research, I = Introduce, V = Visit, A = Agree, S = Steward.

Three-touch rule: After three touches with no reply, mark "Later" and set a date six months out.

This month's count: Identified Researched Introduced Visited Agreed Stewarded

#Worksheet 4: Partner Stewardship Log

One page per active partner. Kept by the Board of Volunteers. Summary goes in The TJP Monthly Report.

Partner: Level: Friend / Contributor / Partner / Founding Partner

Agreement date: Review date: SCDC approval on file: Yes / No

What TJP promised them, and did we deliver?

3 Ws for this partnership (review quarterly):

What Worked:

What Wobbled:

What's Next (one change):

Summit invitation sent: Annual impact letter sent:

#What Could Go Wrong

#Further Study

• Howard Zehr, The Little Book of Restorative Justice. The clearest short introduction to victim-centered justice. Read before approaching any victim services partner.
• Danielle Sered, Until We Reckon. How a program for people who committed violence earned the trust of survivors. A model for Sector 3 conversations.
• Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy. Shared language for faith, legal, and advocacy partners.
• Chip Heath and Dan Heath, Made to Stick. Why some messages stick and others vanish. Use when writing pitches.
• Compassion Prison Project, Step Inside the Circle (film). A short film showing childhood trauma inside a prison yard. Useful for faith, mental health, and funder audiences (approval needed to screen).

#Sources

All sources were checked in September 2026. Organization details change; verify before contact.

SCDC and state agencies

• SCDC, Programs, Reentry and Rehabilitative Services (Volunteer Services, Pastoral Care, Reentry): https://www.doc.sc.gov/programs
• SCDC Victim Services: https://scdcvictimservices.sc.gov/
• Office of the Governor, behavioral health restructuring law (BHDD): https://governor.sc.gov/news/2025-06/gov-mcmaster-signs-behavioral-health-restructuring-bill-law
• SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities: https://bhdd.sc.gov/
• BHDD Office of Mental Health, inpatient and forensic services: https://www.scdmh.org/inpatient-services/
• SC Department of Juvenile Justice, Prevention and Intervention: https://djj.sc.gov/index.php/programs-and-services/prevention-intervention
• SCDJJ, Credible Messengers Initiative: https://djj.sc.gov/about/updates/credible-messengers-initiative-launched-department-juvenile-justice
• SCDJJ volunteers: https://djj.sc.gov/index.php/programs-and-services/volunteer-scdjj
• SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, About: https://ppp.sc.gov/about-ppp
• PPP Victim Services: https://ppp.sc.gov/victim-services
• SC Attorney General, Crime Victim Services: https://www.scag.gov/crime-victim-services/
• SC Attorney General, Crime Victim Ombudsman: https://www.scag.gov/inside-the-office/crime-victim-services-division/crime-victim-ombudsman/
• SC Department of Public Health, CVIP: https://dph.sc.gov/health-wellness/health-safety/community-violence-intervention-and-prevention-cvip
• SC DPH, statewide CVIP plan announcement: https://dph.sc.gov/news/dph-create-statewide-plan-prevent-community-violence
• SC Department of Employment and Workforce, Second Chance: https://dew.sc.gov/second-chance
• SC Technical College System: https://www.sctechsystem.edu/
• SC Criminal Justice Academy: https://sccja.sc.gov/
• SC Law Enforcement Training Council: https://sccja.sc.gov/law-enforcement-training-council/
• SC Commission on Indigent Defense: https://sccid.sc.gov/
• SC Commission on Prosecution Coordination: https://scprosecutors.sc.gov/commission

Courts and legislature

• SC Judicial Branch, Treatment Courts: https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/treatment-court/home/
• SC Courts Mental Health Initiative: https://www.sccourts.org/resources/general-public/sc-courts-mental-health-initiative/
• Senate Corrections and Penology Committee: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/senatecorrections.php
• Senate Judiciary Committee: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/senatejudiciary.php
• House Judiciary Committee: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/HouseJudiciaryCommittee/
• House Legislative Oversight Committee, Corrections: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/HouseLegislativeOversightCommittee/AgencyPHPFiles/Corrections.php

Law enforcement and behavioral health nonprofits

• South Carolina Sheriffs' Association: https://www.sheriffsc.org/about
• NAMI South Carolina, Crisis Intervention Team: https://namisc.org/support-and-education/mental-health-education/cit/
• FAVOR Upstate: https://favorupstate.org/about/

Victim services

• South Carolina Victim Assistance Network: https://scvanlegal.org/ and http://www.scvan.org/
• SCCADVASA: https://www.sccadvasa.org/about-2/
• MUSC National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center: https://medicine.musc.edu/national-crime-victims-research-treatment-center
• Alliance for Safety and Justice (overview; no SC chapter verified): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_for_Safety_and_Justice and https://cssj.org/

Universities and education

• USC Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/criminology_and_criminal_justice/
• USC College of Social Work, Criminal Justice research: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/socialwork/research/research_areas/criminal_justice/index.php
• USC School of Law, South Carolina Restorative Justice Initiative: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/law/centers/scrji/
• Clemson Center for Public Safety Research: https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/departments/sacj/research/affiliates.html
• Clemson Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life: https://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/ifnl/index.html
• Inside-Out Center, Higher Education Partners (College of Charleston): https://www.insideoutcenter.org/higher-education-partners.html
• Furman Prison Education Partnership: https://thepaladin.news/articles/furman-prison-education-partnership-connects-students-and-incarcerated-people
• Wofford College, South Carolina Innocence Initiative: https://www.wofford.edu/about/news/news-archives/2025/bringing-injustice-to-light
• Winthrop University, Criminal Justice: https://www.winthrop.edu/majors/23/degree-program/criminal-justice
• South Carolina State University, Criminal Justice: https://scsu.edu/academics/programs/criminal-justice.php
• Benedict College Prison Education Program: https://blc.benedict.edu/second-chance-pell-program/
• WACH, first four-year degree through Benedict partnership (Aug. 31, 2026): https://wach.com/news/local/2026-08-31-scdc-inmate-first-to-earn-four-year-degree-through-benedict-college-hbcu-partnership-broad-river-correctional-institution-graduate
• Claflin University Pathways from Prison: https://www.claflin.edu/DivisionofAcademicAffairs/special-programs-and-opportunities/claflin-university-center-for-social-justice/claflin-university-pathways-from-prison-program
• SCICU, Second Chance Pell institutions: https://scicu.org/second-chance-pell-initiative-four-scicu-institutions-expanding-educational-opportunities-for-prisoners/
• Bard Prison Initiative, Consortium for the Liberal Arts in Prison: https://bpi.bard.edu/national-engagement-and-technical-assistance/consortium-for-the-liberal-arts-in-prison/

Learning networks

• Edovo, Our Approach: https://www.edovo.org/about/our-approach
• Prison Mindfulness Institute, Path of Freedom: https://www.prisonmindfulness.org/path-of-freedom
• Compassion Prison Project, How it all began: https://compassionprisonproject.org/how-it-all-began/

Faith

• Kairos Prison Ministry of South Carolina: https://kairosofsouthcarolina.org/
• Kairos Prison Ministry (overview): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kairos_Prison_Ministry
• Prison Fellowship, South Carolina: https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/justicereform/legislation/state-issues/south-carolina/
• South Carolina Christian Action Council: https://scchristianactioncouncil.org/

Reentry

• JUMPSTART SC: https://jumpstartsc.org/ and https://www.jumpstartvision.org/the-program-south-carolina
• Alston Wilkes Society: https://www.alstonwilkessociety.org/
• Turn90 and Coastal Community Foundation grant: https://coastalcommunityfoundation.org/turn90-economic-mobility-grant/
• South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families: https://www.scfathersandfamilies.com/

Advocacy

• SC4CJR: https://www.sc4cjr.org/about-us
• Justice 360: https://justice360sc.org/
• ACLU of South Carolina, Youth Justice Reform Now: https://www.aclusc.org/campaigns-initiatives/youth-justice-reform-now/
• South Carolina for Restorative Justice: https://sc4restorativejustice.org/about

Youth

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate: https://www.bbbsupstate.com/
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry: https://bbbslowcountry.org/
• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry: https://bgclowcountry.org/
• South Carolina Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs (listing): https://greatnonprofits.org/org/south-carolina-alliance-of-boys-girls-clubs-inc

Philanthropy, legal, local government

• Central Carolina Community Foundation: https://www.yourfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/grant-opportunities/
• Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina: https://coastalcommunityfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/
• United Way Association of South Carolina: https://www.uwasc.org/who-we-are
• SC Bar Pro Bono Program: https://www.scbar.org/for-lawyers/quicklinks/pro-bono/
• Municipal Association of South Carolina: https://www.masc.sc/
• South Carolina Association of Counties: https://www.sccounties.org/about-scac

Could not verify

• "Amplified" program (Florida). Searches found no Florida corrections or reentry program by this name. We found an unrelated podcast, Amplified Voices, about people affected by the justice system, with no confirmed Florida base, and several youth mentoring programs called "Amplified" outside Florida. How to find it: ask TJP leadership where he heard of it (a book, a chaplain, a visitor, a newsletter); ask the Florida Department of Corrections' Office of Programs and Re-Entry or the Florida Prison Education Project (University of Central Florida) whether they know it; search Florida nonprofit registries and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for "Amplified."
• Cure Violence sites in South Carolina. Not verified. Check with SC DPH's CVIP unit for current violence intervention grantees.
• A South Carolina chapter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Not verified.
• Prison Fellowship Academy in SCDC. Not verified; Prison Fellowship's verified South Carolina work is advocacy.
• Local pastors' networks and individual technology donors: by nature local; verify near the institution.