Support Services for Wrongful Convictions and Legal Injustice in Florida

At Planned Restart, we provide critical, trauma-informed support for individuals impacted by wrongful convictions, excessive sentencing, corrupt prosecutions, and systemic injustice. Every service we offer is grounded in lived experience, legal research, and direct engagement with those most affected. Our model combines urgent relief with long-term pathways toward healing, empowerment, and restoration.

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What We Do

We’ve consolidated our work into five core service areas, each designed to address a different stage in the fight against injustice, from immediate needs post-release to systemic change through advocacy.

1. Legal Advocacy & Representation

We support individuals navigating the legal aftermath of wrongful charges and convictions. This includes:

Connecting clients with pro bono attorneys and paralegals
Assisting with legal appeals, parole support, and expungement
Offering legal education so individuals understand their rights
Monitoring due process violations and misconduct
Supporting restorative justice initiatives

We believe regaining legal standing is essential to any real restart.

2. Crisis Stabilization & Essential Support

The moment someone is released or exonerated, the need for basic stability is urgent. We help with:

Emergency housing placement and rental assistance
Food and clothing support
Medical referrals and coverage navigation
Access to trauma-informed mental health care
Safety planning for those facing immediate threats or homelessness

No one should exit incarceration and enter a new crisis. We work to ensure they don’t.

3. Community Resource Navigation

4. Public Advocacy & Systems Change

We believe individual freedom isn’t enough. Systemic change must follow. Our advocacy team works on:

Raising public awareness through storytelling, campaigns, and media
Supporting clients in sharing their voices with dignity and safety
Policy analysis and reform work on state and local levels
Coalition-building with legal aid groups and reform organizations
Lobbying for more accountability in prosecutorial conduct and sentencing

Change starts when people speak up. We make sure they’re heard.

5. Restoration & Reintegration Programs

Freedom is just the beginning. Rebuilding a life requires:

Trauma counseling and long-term mental health care
Peer-led support groups
Record-clearing support
Financial assistance for legal and therapeutic services
Community reintegration planning, including mentorship and career coaching
Structured programs aimed at rebuilding purpose, identity, and dignity

We don’t just want people to survive. We want them to thrive.

Who We Help

Our programs are built specifically for people whose lives have been disrupted by unjust legal processes, especially those from underserved and marginalized communities across Florida. These include:

Backgrounds and Experiences We Serve

Victims of wrongful convictions, excessive sentencing, or biased prosecutions
Individuals charged due to corruption, targeted policing, or procedural misconduct
People experiencing trauma, reputational damage, or financial ruin as a result of legal injustice
Those who lost employment, housing, or access to healthcare due to arrest or conviction
Families fractured or isolated by incarceration and legal system trauma

Current Living Situations We Support

How We Understand and Assess Needs

Our services are driven by research, but more importantly, by real stories and lived reality. We use:

Surveys to identify common struggles and service gaps
One-on-one interviews and focus groups to understand pain points and barriers
Data reviews to monitor trends in legal abuse and reentry challenges
Expert consultations with lawyers, clinicians, and advocates

The Road Ahead

We are currently in Phase 1–3 of our program rollout. From foundational research and community relationship-building, to pilot programs delivering legal aid and emergency support, Planned Restart is committed to building a sustainable, scalable model.

We continue to seek: