After serving as a Deputy Sheriff and then Detective, I found myself in handcuffs. As I fought my way through the courts and over four years of incarceration, my eyes were opened to the injustice and inequities of the broken system of which I had once been a part.
With this realization, as well as my experience on both sides of the law, I created Florida Justice Center to provide free and low-cost lawyers to help others succeed after prison. I'm proud to say that since I founded Florida Justice Center in 2019, my staff and I have helped over 7,000 people with more than 11,000 legal issues.
In addition to the work I do at Florida Justice Center, and serving on numerous boards and committees, I have a passion for operations and guiding attorneys leaving the public sector with starting their own law firms. I am always looking for my next project.
I have dedicated my life to helping those marginalized and disenfranchised by the system and to bringing access to justice to underserved communities.
Jonathan is an excellent leader and boss. He is passionate for the causes he believes in. He is a flexible and understanding leader, guiding with a steady hand. Most impressively, is Jonathan's ability to analyze and revamp processes and systems for efficiency. Jonathan is the type of leader you want in every organization.
I have worked with Jonathan at the Florida Justice Center for several years. His dedication to social justice and criminal justice reform is an inspiration, but it is his day-to-day management that keeps this organization operating. There is no better person to lead a non-profit program.
Jonathan is an exceptional leader with a great ability to share his vision. He is the ultimate professional who is very process and goal oriented. I felt that he brought the best out of our teams. I would highly recommend Jonathan for his leadership, team building, project management, and innovative thinking skills.
Founder of the first legal aid organization in Florida to focus on assisting justice-impacted people. Oversee nonprofit entity that provides probation, voting rights restoration, and criminal record expungement services.Â
Serve on numerous boards and committees of reentry, education, voting rights, and justice reform nonprofits, taskforces, and coalitions. See full list on MEMBERSHIPS.
Operations:
Served as chief operating officer of start-up manufacturing and services company from inception to profitability.
Teaching:
Taught English and math classes and tutored individuals in Florida State Prisons to prepare them for GED exam.
Highly decorated former law enforcement officer and detective. Created Homeless Outreach Unit; Served as liaison to the LGBTQIA+ community; Performed nationwide armed fugitive extraditions; and served on Field Force riot and disaster response team.
Member
2023 - Present
Member, Convict Criminology Section
2023 - Present
Member, Critical Criminology & Social Justice Section
2023 - Present
Member, People of Color & Crime Section
2023 - Present
Member, Policing Section
2023 - Present
Member, Public Opinion & Policy Section
2023 - Present
Member, Queer Criminology Section
2023 - Present
Member
2023-Present
Member, Restorative & Community Justice Section
2023-Present
Member, Teaching, Learning, & Scholarship Section
2023 - Present
Member
2023 - Present
Member, Crime, Law, & Deviance Section
2023 - Present
Member, Race, Class, & Gender Section
2023 - Present
Member, Teaching and Learning in Sociology Section
2023 - Present
Member
2023 - Present
Member, Center for Professional Responsibility Division
2023 - Present
Member, Civil Rights & Social Justice Division
2023 - Present
Member, Criminal Justice Division
2023 - Present
Member, Law Practice Division
2023 - Present
Member, Legal Education & Admission to the Bar Division
2023 - Present
Member, Solo, Small Firm, & General Practice Division
2023 - Present
Founding Member
2022-2023
Founding Chairperson, Access to Technology Subcommittee
2023
Founding Chairperson, Legal Subcommittee
2023
Founding Member, Continuum-of-Care Subcommittee
2023
Panelist
Florida Atlantic University
October 2022
Panelist
Florida Atlantic University
April 2022
Facilitator
Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyer's Association
June 2023
Lecturer
Nova Southeastern University Shepherd Broad College of Law
October 2022
Panelist
Palm Beach County Reentry Summit
October 2022
Panelist
Florida Atlantic University
April 2024
Organizer & Moderator
Florida Justice Center
May 2021
Interviewee
News4Jax WJXT-4
April 2022
