#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.

#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

#1in3: Meet Khali - “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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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