Akua Amaning is the director for Criminal Justice Reform at American Progress. In her current role, she works to advance progressive policy solutions that will ensure a more equitable justice system, while providing protections and opportunities for those who have been directly affected by the criminal justice system. Prior to joining American Progress, Amaning served as the legislative fellow for U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), where she worked on a number of legislative and policy matters under the member’s House Judiciary Committee portfolio. She also served as the Nancy Hale Social Policy Fellow at Third Way, a nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C., where she worked in several issue areas, including immigration and policing reform.
Amaning holds a Master of Law from American University’s Washington College of Law and a J.D. from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. She is also a proud alumna of the University of Miami, where she graduated with a B.A. in English literature.
How To Improve Employment Outcomes for Young Adults Leaving Incarceration
Young adults reentering communities after incarceration face many barriers to finding stable work, but forward-thinking policies can lead to better employment outcomes and safer communities.
Fact Sheet: Addressing Employment Barriers for Young Adults Leaving Incarceration
Many young adults re-entering communities after incarceration face institutional barriers to reaching their employment goals—and policymakers can and should take action to help them.
America’s Broken Criminal Legal System Contributes to Wealth Inequality
New CAP analysis highlights how the nation’s failed experiment with mass incarceration and overcriminalization strips wealth from families and widens the racial wealth gap.
ARPA Funds Continue To Support Community Safety Efforts Through Community Responder Programs
With the help of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, governments are expanding their public safety strategies to invest in community responder programs that reduce reliance on law enforcement and provide communities with meaningful emergency management support.
The American Rescue Plan Has Helped State and Local Governments Invest in Community Safety
With the support of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, state governments are expanding their public safety strategies to invest in proven crime reduction strategies that go beyond traditional law enforcement efforts to support communities at risk of violence.
Fines and Fees Are a Barrier to Criminal Record-Clearing
Jurisdictions can take several steps to eliminate the financial barriers imposed by fines and fees, which would help system-impacted individuals clear their records and reenter society.
Advancing Gender Equity for Justice-Impacted Women in the Aftermath of COVID-19
Justice reform measures can help ensure that women with a criminal record are given a fair chance at quality job opportunities, and these reforms are needed now more than ever in light of the pandemic’s devastating impact on women.
Qualified Immunity and the Bivens Doctrines Explained
Americans’ civil liberties are in danger if Congress does not ensure that ordinary people can hold state and federal officials accountable for wrongdoing.
A Call for Effective Emergency Management in Correctional Facilities During COVID-19
The safety and health of prison and jail populations must be prioritized to protect incarcerated individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and future emergencies.
