2018-05-01T03:24:38-05:00 2017-12-31 521511275 RAFFA PC 1899 L STREET NW SUITE 850 WASHINGTON DC 20036 990 2017-01-01 813422012 CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS CIVI 2028444975 910 17TH STREET NW 2ND FLOOR WASHINGTON DC 20006 ERIC HALPERIN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2028444975 2018-05-01 1 FRANK H SMITH P00639053 2028225000 2018-05-01 2017 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z X ERIC HALPERIN 910 17TH STREET NW 2ND FLOOR WASHINGTON DC 20006 3738045 0 X WWW.CIVILRIGHTSCORPS.ORG X 2016 DC TO CHALLENGE SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE IN THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM. 7 6 13 6 0 0 805337 3646713 0 75000 12 5764 0 10568 805349 3738045 0 0 0 0 122516 880633 0 0 19117 25229 281031 147745 1161664 657604 2576381 667836 3288255 10232 54270 657604 3233985 X CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CHALLENGING SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE IN THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM. WE WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED AND CONVICTED OF CRIMES, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES,(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)PEOPLE CURRENTLY OR FORMERLY INCARCERATED, ACTIVISTS, ORGANIZERS, JUDGES, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO CHALLENGE MASS 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. 0 0 890108 75000 LITIGATION AND POLICY - CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS SEEKS TO DEFEND INDIGENT CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES' HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS IN ORDER TO UPHOLD JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM. CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS WORK IS GUIDED BY THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF REDUCING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND RACIAL INEQUALITY AND ALL FORMS OF COERCION NATIONWIDE. SPECIFICALLY, CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS AIMS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY AND OTHERWISE ON THE MARGINS OF POVERTY IN DEFENSE OF THEIR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THREATS TO THOSE RIGHTS. CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS USES CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUITS TO COUNTER ATTACKS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, EQUALITY, AND HUMAN FREEDOM THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)IN ADDITION, CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS LITIGATES CASES AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC CONCERNING POLICE AND PROSECUTORIAL ABUSE, PARTICULARLY THOSE ABUSES INVOLVING THE POLICING AND PROSECUTION OF LOW-INCOME PERSONS/COMMUNITIES 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 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 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 DEFENDER'S 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 COUNTY'S MISDEMEANOR PROBATION SERVICES. 890108 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 X ERIC HALPERIN 2028444975 910 17TH STREET NW 2ND FLOOR WASHINGTON DC 20006 CYNTHIA E JONES CHAIR - AS OF 12/2017 5.00 X X 0 0 0 CHESA BOUDIN TREASURER - AS OF 12/2017 5.00 X X 0 0 0 MILICA BOGETIC SECRETARY - AS OF 12/2017 5.00 X X 0 0 0 REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SEEMA GAJWANI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 FRED SMITH JR DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ALEXANDER KARAKATSANIS-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SEC. (UNTIL 11/2017) 60.00 X X 92500 0 6305 ERIC HALPERIN CHIEF EXEC. OFFICER - AS OF 09/2017 60.00 X 24686 0 8180 PREMAL DHARIA DIR. OF LITIGATION - AS OF 03/2017 60.00 X 108806 0 1304 225992 0 15789 1 0 0 0 0 3646713 3646713 SETTLEMENT COSTS 900099 75000 75000 75000 5764 5764 REIMBURSEMENTS 900099 10568 10568 10568 3738045 75000 0 16332 131671 97120 28954 5597 645602 591503 45320 8779 6016 5332 581 103 34455 31530 2536 389 62889 55809 5909 1171 17871 17871 12251 12251 6265 4704 1561 8833 1500 5704 1629 19845 572 19273 93239 93239 69420 65505 2466 1449 3924 3924 7153 7153 CLIENT TRIAL COSTS 18018 18018 DUES, LICENSES, & FEES 8007 7259 748 LITIGATION PROJECTS 7842 7842 SUBSCRIPTIONS & PUBS. 7688 3354 4334 675 60 615 1161664 890108 252439 19117 51826 122244 616010 2799801 300000 70135 3925 0 66210 667836 3288255 10232 54270 10232 54270 X 657604 2360137 873848 657604 3233985 667836 3288255 2576381 0 X 0 0 0 X 805337 3646713 4452050 805337 3646713 4452050 618372 3833678 12 5764 5776 4457826 75000 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, COLUMN (E) AS CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS WAS INCORPORATED ON JULY 28 2016, ITS INITIAL FEDERAL FORM 990 FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 WAS A SHORT PERIOD RETURN. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 26805 26805 25392 1642 23750 17938 2283 15655 66210 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE DRAFT FEDERAL FORM 990 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. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, 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 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 BODY'S ATTENTION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SURVEYED EXECUTIVE SALARIES AT COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CONCLUDED THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY WAS LOWER THAN MARKET. AS A RESULT, THE COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADJUSTED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S 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. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.