Mass Incarceration is Unsustainable: SRI Conference to Explore How Impact Investors Can Support Justice Reform

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Criminal justice experts and politicians agree that for the first time in decades there is strong momentum for justice reform in the US. But in what ways can impact investors encourage changes in how we incarcerate violent and non-violent offenders, help to lower the recidivism rate, and encourage companies profiting off the current system to engage in other services that support rehabilitation as opposed to retribution? For the first time, "Investing for Justice Reform" will be the focus of a major panel during The 26th annual SRI Conference (http://www.sriconference.com/), taking place November 3–5, 2015 at The Broadmoor resort hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

SRI practitioners from across the country will have an opportunity to learn about the social and economic challenges created by mass incarceration in prisons, and how investors can play a role in changing the system. Experts will discuss what's at stake, share new tools for shareholder advocacy with companies using prison labor, and discuss ways investors can help improve opportunities for previously incarcerated citizens.

Experts speaking on the issue of "Investing for Justice Reform" will include: Dalit Baum, director of economic activism, American Friends Service Committee; Hassan Latif, executive director, Second Chance Center; Greg Peterson, senior portfolio manager, Zevin Asset Management; and panel moderator Mark Watson, owner, Keel Asset Management.

Hassan Latif, a former prisoner who now advises others how to stay out of prison, and founder of the Second Chance Center in the Denver area, said: "Investment in the tools and institutions of mass incarceration helps sustain the prison industrial complex, but often little else. Investment in empowering formerly incarcerated men and women for successful re-entry reduces public expenditures, makes family healing possible, and creates paths for transforming the formerly incarcerated into contributing citizens. Successful re-entry after incarceration can be a positive triple play for the person and society—one less prisoner to house and feed, one more person making their own way in society, one more citizen pursuing the common good."

For more information on Hassan Latif go to: http://www.westword.com/news/hassan-latif-ex-con-advises-others-how-to-stay-out-of-prison-5864055.

Dr. Dalit Baum of the American Friends Service Committee said: "As a faith investor, we avoid investments in the for-profit prison industry. Our prison industry research project focuses on companies involved in anything from facility management to transportation, health and phone services. We hope that this new information (www.afsc.org/investigate)—some of which we will be exploring at The SRI Conference in Colorado Springs this year—will encourage more investors to take action to change corporate behavior in these fields."

The ACLU reports that the United States is the world's leading jailer. With just 5 percent of the world's population, the U.S. incarcerates 25 percent of the world's inmates. Longer sentencing laws for non-violent drug offenders in the 1980s and 1990s fueled an explosion in the U.S. prison population. In 2010, America had 1,267,000 people behind bars in state prisons, 744,500 in local jails, and 216,900 in federal facilities—more than 2.2 million people locked in cages.

ABOUT THE SRI CONFERENCENow in its 26th year, The SRI Conference (http://www.sriconference.com/) will take place November 3–5, 2015 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Leaders in the philanthropy and foundation worlds are invited to participate in the largest, longest-running annual meeting of responsible investors and investment professionals. Early-bird registration is now open at https://www.eventsforce.net/fafn/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=971&eventID=5&eventID=5 or by contacting Krystala Kalil at 888-774-2663 or [email protected].

Conference participation is open to investment professionals, institutional investors, and related organizations and individuals who are working to direct the flow of investment capital in more positive, healthy, transformative ways—toward the creation of a truly sustainable future. The conference experience features an outstanding series of educational sessions and a focused opportunity to network with hundreds of like-minded individuals, organizations, and industry leaders.

ABOUT FIRST AFFIRMATIVE FINANCIAL NETWORKFirst Affirmative Financial Network, LLC (http://www.firstaffirmative.com) is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (SEC File #801-56587) offering investment consulting and asset management services through a nationwide network of investment professionals who specialize in serving socially conscious investors. First Affirmative produces The SRI Conference - on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing (http://www.SRIconference.com).

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SOURCE The SRI Conference and First Affirmative Financial Network, Colorado Springs, CO