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|thumb|Logo of JusticeInitiatives.org.]]
Justice Initiatives, Inc. (JI) is a non-profit organization that supports the 26th Judicial District of North Carolina, which encompasses Mecklenburg County and the city of Charlotte. The organization receives, holds and disburses funds donated by individuals, foundations, corporations, and governmental entities that are earmarked for particular offices, programs and services within the district. Additionally, JI advocates for reforms related to the organization, structure and administration of the judiciary, and supports fundraising activities for court system offices and programs within the district.
History
In 2004, JI was formed by a group of community and justice system leaders to advocate for increased funding to the judicial branch and for raising seed money for the continued development of new programs and services. Initially, Justice Initiatives focused on helping to sustain the Drug Treatment Courts. Non-traditional or therapeutic justice courts, like the judicial district’s Drug Treatment Courts, are specialized courts designed to help the district’s substance abusing offender population receive treatment and case management services, while being held accountable under Court supervision. In July 2008 JI launched, with the judicial district’s Family Court Self-Serve Center, the I-Can! Legal forms website that aids pro se litigants in preparing routine court forms.
2016 proved to be a banner year for JI's organizational growth and development: its first regular employee was brought on; its signature annual fundraiser held in April each year, Evening at the Courthouse, was it's biggest and higest yielding fundraiser to date; it launched its new branding, and celebrated its expansion into a new judicial district with its first affiliate branch, JI Orange/Chatham (Judicial District 15B).