Alice Marie Johnson has become an advocate for criminal justice and police reform in Texas and throughout the country, driven by personal experiences in the country's justice system.
Johnson received a life plus 25 years' prison sentence in 1996 for her role in a nonviolent, first-time federal drug case. She served 22 years behind bars and, after President Donald Trump granted her clemency in 2018, she dedicated herself to reforming the criminal justice system as CEO of the Taking Action for Good Foundation and as a senior fellow with the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Right on Crime Initiative.
"Even as somebody who was given a very harsh and unfair sentence by the system, I am a believer in law and order," Johnson told the Lone Star Standard. "It is important. However, it is also important that leaders recognize when the system has made a mistake and correct it. That is justice. And, that is what President Trump did for me and many others."
Johnson spoke of recent systemic injustices and said it is incumbent upon elected officials to address these issues.
"I read the story about that young man being arrested and his father getting pepper sprayed in Keller, Texas. The young man had been pulled over for a traffic violation. And, last summer, George Floyd was killed by police officers," Johnson said. "These are instances when the system is telling you something is wrong. And, it is the duty of our elected officials to address those wrongs to make sure they don't happen again."
When released from prison, a video of Johnson of running outside the prison to greet her family garnered national media attention.
She has become the face of criminal injustice and was invited to be a guest at Trump's State of the Union Address in February 2019, where she received a standing ovation. She also spoke at the Republican National Convention immediately before Ivanka Trump and President Trump gave speeches.
"I pray that you will not just hear this message, but that you will be inspired by my story and your compassion will lead you to take action for those who are forgotten," Johnson said at the convention.
Johnson has also been honored at the UN's International Women's Day and designated as a "Women's Right Defender." She has also become a published author.
Her work since prison release also includes being viewed as a "catalyst" for the passage of the First Step Act, as she has championed for reform for those still behind bars.
When asked how important she believes it is for states, including Texas, that are controlled by Republicans to continue building on the work accomplished federally under the Trump Administration, Johnson said, "It is critical. States systems are where most of our country's people are incarcerated. Criminal justice reform is not a partisan issue, it is a human issue and because of former President Trump, it has become popular amongst conservatives. And, I have worked in states like Ohio, which is a Republican state, to pass meaningful reforms."
Texas's 87th Legislative Session began in mid-January and lawmakers have thousands of bills to consider, including legislation related to criminal justice and police reform, penalties for possession of marijuana and Class C misdemeanors.
For legislators trying to find a balance between public safety and making needed changes to the justice system, Johnson said that they "can do both. I would tell them to do what is right, not what is political. We are so divided that it is almost impossible to cross lines. But, on this issue, we have proven we can actually work together to get meaningful changes made."
