Pershing Square, Ford, Open Society Among Funders of Measures for Justice, Putting Data to Better Use
The world of crowded jails, tense courtrooms, and cops on the beat is a far cry from the air-conditioned spaces data wonks usually inhabit. But according to Measures for Justice (MFJ), better data is key to reforming America’s hyper-localized criminal justice system. Plenty of well-heeled funders are inclined to agree. In fact, some of the hottest names in philanthropy are flocking to support the organization, which was founded by lawyer and author Amy Bach in 2011.
The hedge funder manager Bill Ackman backed MFJ early on, and in a big way. Bach went in to pitch Ackman and the board of his Pershing Square Foundation, not knowing what to expect. She blew Ackman away with her first data-crammed slide. Ten minutes later, the story goes, Ackman said the board didn’t want to prolong her fundraising and committed to supporting Measures for Justice to the tune of over $3 million. Bach later said she was so stunned by the unexpected turn of events that that the board feared she’d walk out the door and into Manhattan traffic. . .