OUR HISTORY

WHAT IS THE LAST PRISONER PROJECT?

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to repairing the harms of the drug war and driving transformative change in America’s criminal legal and drug policy systems. Operating at the intersection of charitable services and systemic reform, LPP combines direct legal advocacy, policy change, and reentry support to fight for justice right now and for the long term. Founded in 2019 by a coalition of justice-impacted individuals, legal experts, and national leaders in criminal justice and drug policy reform, LPP was born from a bold but simple belief: no one should remain incarcerated for an offense that is no longer illegal.

We began with a focused mission: to free every last cannabis prisoner. We started by targeting these offenses which were not only being legalized, but were generating massive profits for some while others remained imprisoned. As cannabis legalization swept across the country, we launched the Cannabis Justice Initiative, our legal services program aimed at reducing or overturning the sentences of individuals still incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses. What began with a single attorney, our now Executive Director and General Counsel, Sarah Gersten, supported by Managing Director Mary Bailey and Operations Director Cam Boucher, has grown into a robust network of over 200 pro bono attorneys from top law firms representing over 300 unjustly incarcerated individuals.

But our team quickly realized: individual cases alone will not dismantle systemic injustice. So we expanded.

LPP’s policy team,  led by Adrian Rocha and Jason Ortiz, now leads the charge for front-end solutions that stop criminalization before it starts. Working across 31 states, we’ve supported the passage and implementation of dozens of laws that have led to mass pardons and automatic expungement of cannabis convictions, delivering tangible relief to hundreds of thousands of individuals. Our retroactive relief model, proven effective in cannabis, is now being adapted to tackle the changing legal landscapes around psychedelics, sex work, and beyond.

Our advocacy team, led by Stephanie Shepard, amplifies the voices of those most impacted, leveraging storytelling to educate the public, mobilize support, and inspire policy action. Our award-winning campaigns (link to pen to right history video) don’t just raise awareness—they shift laws, unlock prison doors, and change lives.

Freedom, however, is only the beginning. That’s why we created our Support Fund to provide immediate financial assistance to those rebuilding their lives after incarceration. To date, we’ve disbursed over $3.5 million in direct aid, including quarterly commissary payments, family support grants, and reentry stipends that give our constituents a real second chance.

From a three-person grassroots startup to a growing team of 15, LPP remains relentless in its mission to end unjust criminalization and to ensure that every person impacted by the drug war receives the justice, freedom, and support they deserve.

Your support can directly transform lives. At Last Prisoner Project, we believe that no one should be behind bars for an offense that is no longer illegal—and we’re not just fighting for freedom, we’re fighting for full justice. With your donation, you’ll help us free cannabis prisoners, advocate for laws that prevent future incarceration, and provide immediate financial support to those reentering society. Every dollar fuels legal victories, policy change, and second chances. Join us in repairing the harms of the drug war—because justice can’t wait.