MY STORY
20 Months in Jail
My name is Justin Magnuson and due to a broken and abusive system, I was denied bail, and spent 20 months in a small, northeast Texas jail for a crime I did not commit.
The Cost of Doing Business
I am a serial entrepreneur who comes from humble beginnings. I paid my own way through three college and post-college degrees, and I worked very hard over many years to achieve my success.
After I sold my company and was looking for new opportunities to pursue, I partnered in a venture with people who, as it turned out, were not doing business above board. I take responsibility for not doing a better job vetting those individuals. But I never broke the law myself.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
From day one, I maintained my innocence and I maintain it to this day. Early on, the federal government wanted me to take a plea, admit guilt, and turn on the other defendants in the case in exchange for leniency. But I was adamant that I would not admit to a crime I did not commit, and so, having been denied bail and deemed a flight risk - an accusation that was patently absurd - I sat in a rural county jail for over a year and a half awaiting a trial and wondering if I would see my loved ones anytime soon, or ever again.
Ultimately, prosecutors agreed to release me with credit for time-served, no fine, and no probation, in exchange for pleading guilty to a Prohibition-era law. The original indictment filed against me, and for which I was incarcerated for almost two years without bail, was dismissed in its entirety.
Paying it Forward
I saw firsthand how unlawful detainment, prosecutorial misconduct, judicial biases, and abuse in the use of confidential informants can unjustly take away an individual’s every freedom, and break them.
Reform is needed. I intend to effect that change.
I have committed myself to helping others avoid the nightmare scenario I endured, and assisting people who suffered injustice at the hands of our criminal justice system. To accomplish these goals, I recently established the Justice Reform Foundation (JRF).
The Justice Reform Foundation
Our mission at JRF is to educate the public about injustices within the U.S. criminal justice system and work to abolish unfair practices that cause the accused – particularly minorities and people of color – irreversible harm even if found innocent or never formally charged with a crime. JRF also strives to help people attempting to transition back into civilian life after getting entangled in the justice system, whether rightly or wrongly accused.
I do not consider myself a victim and I will not live my life as if I am one. But I was undoubtedly victimized by our criminal justice system. I had all the privilege and resources at my fingertips and none of it kept me out of jail for twenty, excruciatingly long, months. I have now dedicated my life to helping others who are not as fortunate as I have been, and if I can prevent even one person from suffering the injustices I endured, or worse, then what I went through will have been worth it. I hope you will join me in this important pursuit. You can learn more and get involved at JusticeReformFoundation.org or by emailing me at info@justicereformfoundation.org.