#1in3

#1in3 Campaign

We’re excited to launch our #1in3 campaign to raise awareness of how common it is to have a criminal record.

About the Campaign
1 in 3 Americans has a criminal record, which is a lot more common than people think. No one expects to be involved in the justice system, but it can happen to anyone. This campaign is intended to raise awareness of how common it is to have a criminal record and reduce the stigma associated with it. People of all ages, backgrounds, genders, and income-levels are involved in the justice system. Their pathways vary, but the barriers of a record affect them all. Our hope is that by sharing their portraits and telling their stories, we can change the way people think about people with records and appreciate them for all they have overcome.

Click on the portraits below to read their stories. Illustrations by Yifan Luo.

A painting of a man in a green shirt and black blazer standing with arms crossed against a purple background.

#1in3: Meet Jesse - Like most of the incarcerated people at Coffeewood Correctional Center, Jesse Crosson had a routine. He spent August 16, 2021 just as he had spent the nearly 7,000 days he had already been incarcerated — and how he was planning to spend the next 5,000-and-some-odd days ahead of him. He… Read More

Illustrated portrait of a woman with long, wavy brown hair, wearing hoop earrings and a black sleeveless top. She is smiling, and the background is a gradient of purple shades.

#1in3: Meet Tarra - In November 2017, Tarra Simmons appeared before the Washington State Supreme Court with friend, mentor, and Georgetown law professor Shon Hopwood sitting beside her. Unlike Tarra’s past interactions with the justice system, she was not there to be sentenced to jail or prison time. Instead, Tarra and Shon were appealing… Read More

Matt Holman #1in3 campaign portrait blog header

#1in3: Meet Matt - Matt grew up in the Bay Area of Northern California. His childhood was defined by the divorce of his parents when he was just eight years old. Raised in a deeply religious environment, his mother, a single parent, grappled with her own traumas, leaving Matt to navigate his tumultuous world… Read More

Marcus Bullock #1in3 Artwork Blog Header

#1in3: Meet Marcus - “We’ve been declined, overlooked, deprived of, boxed in, and relegated in so many corners of our lives.” Marcus Bullock is an entrepreneur through and through. As a child, he sold candy on the school bus, making a ten-cent profit on each sale. He stayed out of trouble and focused on… Read More

Khalil Cumberbatch #1in3 Campaign Artwork Blog Header

#1in3: Meet Khalil - “People make bad decisions that have real-life consequences. And when people end up serving time for those bad decisions, how much more punishment should they endure? How much more degradation? How much more isolation? How much more judgment should they face?” Khalil’s life is a true American story in more… Read More

Destiny Garcia #1in3 campaign artwork blog header

#1in3: Meet Destiny - “None of the opportunities that I have today would have happened if I didn’t show up. I might have been scared, I might have been frightened, I might not have wanted to do it, but I showed up. And because of that, opportunities came my way.” Destiny Garcia is a… Read More

Mickey Jacobs #1in3 Campaign Portrait. Blog header version.

#1in3: Meet Mickey - “Take it in very small steps, surround yourself with people who believe in you, and don’t be afraid to talk about what happened.” Due to — what Mickey describes as — a “perfect combination of stressors in a lot of areas,” she started using her corporate credit card for personal… Read More

Brock Smith #1in3 Campaign Artwork blog version

#1in3: Meet Brock - “Don’t let your insecurities and doubt prevent you from making a life worth living.” Brock’s first encounter with the criminal justice system was at age 12, when he was arrested with his mother and sister for stealing clothes to wear to school. This incident led to numerous encounters with the… Read More

Brian Tease #1in3 Campaign Artwork Blog Header

#1in3: Meet Brian - “Everyone has value, regardless of what they’ve done. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to change.” As someone who found himself caught in the revolving door of the criminal justice system at a young age, Brian Tease has been a long-time proponent for accessible and simple record clearing opportunities… Read More

Illustrated portrait of Coss and his baby girl

#1in3: Meet Coss - Half of all kids in the United States have a parent with a record, and every day, our team talks to dozens of dads who are parents and fathers to those kids. Today, we are delighted to introduce you to Coss Marte, CEO and Founder of CONBODY. Our founder first… Read More

Portia #1in3 Portrait Artwork by Yifan Luo

#1in3: Portia’s Story - “Never give up. The best is yet to come.” –Portia Like so many other people who find themselves caught up in the justice system, Portia never thought she would end up having a criminal record. She was married, a mother, and had her own successful wedding photography business. And then… Read More

Anthony #1in3 Portrait Artwork by Yifan Luo

#1in3: Anthony’s Story - “Regardless of your past, you have a spotless future.” –Anthony After Anthony’s father was killed by a drunk driver, his mother struggled to deal with the grief. She was alone, trying to raise two young children and found herself using alcohol and drugs to deal with her pain. Anthony’s family… Read More

Sheba #1in3 Portrait Artwork by Yifan Luo

#1in3: Sheba’s Story - “Because of my criminal record, I keep serving my sentence over and over again.” –Sheba Too often, the justice system impacts not just individuals, but generations of families. That is how life started for Sheba. Sheba’s parents were arrested when she was a little girl, and Sheba picked up her… Read More

#1in3 Amy’s Story - Amy’s path to the justice system started with a routine foot surgery. 12 surgeries later, she was addicted to opioids, which led to a heroin addiction. Amy lost everything and has had to rebuild her life from homelessness. Today, Amy is coming up on 5 years of sobriety, is a… Read More