2026 Equal Justice Conference

Data has the power to expose inequities—but too often, the numbers we need are buried in messy, incomplete, or confusing records, or are missing altogether. This session uses research on court fines and fees to show how advocates can turn fragmented or missing data into persuasive stories to drive systemic change. Participants will learn practical strategies for requesting, collecting, and interpreting datasets, overcoming reporting gaps, and translating findings into narratives that strengthen advocacy.