| Amended return information |
THE RETURN WAS AMENDED FOR REVISED ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES ON FORM 990, PAGE 10, PART IX, STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES. |
| Form 990 governing body review Part VI line 11 |
THE DRAFT FEDERAL FORM 99O IS FIRST REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. AFTER THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REVIEW THE DRAFT FORM 990, IT IS THEN CIRCULATED TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. |
| Conflict of interest policy compliance Part VI line 12c |
THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS INTEREST WHEN IT IS CONTEMPLATING ENTERING INTO A TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT THAT MIGHT BENEFIT THE PRIVATE INTEREST OF AN OFFICER OR DIRECTOR OR MIGHT RESULT IN A POSSIBLE EXCESS BENEFIT TRANSACTION. THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY TO ALL DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, MEMBERS OF BOARD COMMITTEES, AND STAFF. ALL COVERED INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO SIGN AN ANNUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS POLICY, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY ITS TERMS.WHENEVER A DIRECTOR, OFFICER, OR COMMITTEE MEMBER BECOMES AWARE OF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST, WHETHER FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, S/HE MAKES THE SITUATION KNOWN TO THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE (AS THE CASE MIGHT BE) AND PROVIDE ALL FACTS MATERIAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE CONFLICT, INCLUDING WHETHER THE INTERESTED PERSON BELIEVES HIS OR HER ABILITY TO MAKE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION BASED SOLELY ON THE BEST INTEREST OF CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. IF THE INTERESTED PERSON INVOLVED DOES NOT MAKE THIS DISCLOSURE, ANOTHER DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT SHOULD DRAW IT TO THE BODYS ATTENTION. |
| CEO executive director top management comp Part VI line 15a |
THE BOARD OF DIRETCTORS SURVEYED EXECUTIVE SALARIES AT COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CONCLUDED THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS SALARY WAS LOWER THAN MARKET. AS A RESULT, THE COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRETORS ADJUSTED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS SALARY REGIMEN TO INCREASE THE SALARY TO MARKET WITH ROOM TO GROW. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNDERWENT THE SAME PROCESS IN SETTING THE SALARY FOR THE NEWLY CREATED POSITION OF CEO. CIVIL RIGHTS CORP HAS MADE ACROSS THE BOARD ADJUSTMENTS FOR OTHER STAFF AND PROVIDED A BONUS FOR 2017. |
| Other officer or key employee compensation Part VI line 15b |
THE BOARD OF DIRETCTORS SURVEYED EXECUTIVE SALARIES AT COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CONCLUDED THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS SALARY WAS LOWER THAN MARKET. AS A RESULT, THE COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRETORS ADJUSTED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS SALARY REGIMEN TO INCREASE THE SALARY TO MARKET WITH ROOM TO GROW. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNDERWENT THE SAME PROCESS IN SETTING THE SALARY FOR THE NEWLY CREATED POSITION OF CEO. CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS HAS MADE ACROSS THE BOARD ADJUSTMENTS FOR OTHER STAFF AND PROVIDED A BONUS FOR 2017 |
| Governing documents etc available to public Part VI line 19 |
CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
| General explanation attachment |
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION (CONTINUED):PEOPLE CURRENTLY OR FORMERLY INCARCERATED, ACTIVISTS, ORGANIZERS, JUDGES, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO CHALLENGEMAS HUMAN CAGING AND TO CREATE A LEGAL SYSTEM THAT PROMOTES EQUALITY AND HUMAN FREEDOM. CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS WILL CARRY OUT ITS EXEMPT PURPOSES BY PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO POOR PERSONS AND COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS OTHER MARGINALIZED PERSONS AND GROUPS, WHO ARE FACING CHALLENGES TO THEIR LEGALLY-GUARANTEED HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS (CONTINUED):AND PERSONS/COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS ALSO EDUCATES POLICYMAKERS ON HOW TO ENACT CHANGES IN CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEMS THAT WILL ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS IS THE LEADER IN GROUNDBREAKING SYSTEM-CHANGING LITIGATION TO CHALLENGE WIDESPREAD INJUSTICES IN THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS HAS WON LANDMARK CONSTITUTIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS CASES AGAINST THE RISE OF MODERN AMERICAN DEBTORS PRISONS, ABUSIVE PRIVATE PROBATION SCHEMES, AND THE ABUSES OF THE AMERICAN MONEY BAIL SYSTEM. THESE CASES HAVE RESULTED IN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BEING RELEASED FROM OR AVOIDING JAIL ALTOGETHER WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL AND RETURNED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE WHOSE CIVIL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED. OUR WORK AND THE WORK OF OUR ALLIES HAS LED CITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF MONEY BAIL, EITHER AS A DIRECT RESULT OF LITIGATION OR BECAUSE LITIGATION AGAINST OTHERS HAS PUT THESE JURISDICTIONS ON NOTICE THAT THEIR SYSTEMS ARE ILLEGAL AND IRRATIONAL.THE JURISDICTIONS ON NOTICE THAT ADOPTED THESE CHANGES HAVE REDUCED THEIR PRE-TRIAL JAIL POPULATIONS AND ENSURED THAT PRESUMED INNOCENT PEOPLE CAN RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND JOBS. WE HAVE ALSO CREATED LEGAL PRECEDENT THAT IS ON THE VERGE OF DRAMATICALLY ALTERING THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2017, CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS IS INVOLVED IN MORE THAN TWENTY ONGOING CHALLENGES TO SYSTEMIC ABUSES IN COURT SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE. MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:IN 2017 CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS LAUNCHED THE PROSECUTOR PROJECT BY FILING SUIT AGAINST THE NEW ORLEANS DA FOR FABRICATING SUBPOENAS TO COERCE CRIME VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF CRIMES INTO SUBMITTING TO INTERROGATIONS, AND PRESENTING FRAUDULENT INFORMATION IN COURT TO PERSUADE JUDGES TO ISSUE ARREST WARRANTS. IN APRIL 2017, CHIEF JUDGE LEE ROSENTHAL OF THE FEDERAL COURT IN HOUSTON ISSUED A 193-PAGE RULING IN OUR FAVOR, HOLDING THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY MISDEMEANOR MONEY BAIL SYSTEM IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THIS CASE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE MONEY-BASED AMERICAN BAIL SYSTEM FOREVER. THE DECISION APPLIES TO OVER 50,000 MISDEMEANOR ARRESTEES IN HARRIS COUNTY EVERY YEAR, AND IT SHOULD HAVE SWEEPING EFFECTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.THIS PAST YEAR WE LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE TO FILE HABEAS CORPUS PETITIONS WITH PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES IN STATE COURTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE DETAINED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE THEIR LIBERTY. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS HAS FILED OVER A DOZEN HABEAS PETITIONS ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL WHO WERE DETAINED SOLELY BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PAY MONEY BAIL. SEVERAL OF THESE PETITIONS RESULTED IN SUMMARY REVERSAL BY THE COURT OF APPEAL AND NEW BAIL HEARINGS FOR OUR CLIENTS. IN NOVEMBER 2017, CRC FILED FOUR HABEAS PETITIONS IN THE FEDERAL COURT, ARGUING THAT OUR CLIENTS ONGOING DETENTION WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. ALL FOUR OF THESE PETITIONS HAVE BEEN GRANTED, WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS, OR IN ONE CASE THE FEDERAL APPEALS COURT, FINDING THAT THE STATE COURTS HAD VIOLATED OUR CLIENTS RIGHTS TO EQUAL PROTECTION AND DUE PROCESS BY FAILING TO INQUIRE INTO ABILITY TO PAY AND FAILING TO MEANINGFULLY CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE CONDITIONS OF RELEASE. ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, WE REACHED A $14.3 MILLION SETTLEMENT THAT WOULD END UNLAWFUL FOR-PROFIT PROBATION SERVICES IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AND PROVIDE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VICTIMIZED BY THE ABUSIVE PRACTICES OVER SEVERAL YEARS. RUTHERFORD COUNTY ALSO AGREED NEVER TO CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE PROBATION COMPANY, AND TO WAIVE MISDEMEANOR FINES AND FEES FOR PEOPLE BELOW 125% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE WHO SEEK WAIVER. THERE WAS ALSO AGREEMENT TO END THE PRACTICE OF PLACING AND KEEPING PEOPLE ON PROBATION WHEN THEY CANNOT PAY COURT COSTS. THE AGREEMENT COMES ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT DOCUMENTED WIDESPREAD ABUSES BY THE PRIVATE, FOR-PROFIT COMPANY PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, INC. (PCC) THAT SUPERVISED RUTHERFORD COUNTYS MISDEMEANOR PROBATION SERVICES. |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.