Joanna Weiss is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC). Joanna brought over 20 years of experience across the philanthropic and public sectors to launch, along with Lisa Foster, the first national effort to mobilize and support fines and fees reform across the country. Along with her Co-Executive Director, Joanna is responsible for strategic planning and implementation, fundraising and development, and leading FFJC in its mission to eliminate fines and fees that distort justice and harm the most vulnerable among us. As a founder and leader, Joanna leverages her significant philanthropic experience to successfully expand the donor support dedicated to fines and fees reform, to support not only FFJC but also the broader coalition of state and community partners operating nationwide. Joanna oversees FFJC’s Research and Policy, Communications, and Operations and Finance divisions. She works collaboratively with these teams to ensure that legislative and policy reforms FFJC pursues are shaped by evidence-based research and policy guidance, and supported by effective messaging strategies that bring long-term benefits to impacted communities and families.    

Prior to starting FFJC, Joanna served as the Director of Criminal Justice at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, where she created and managed the first portfolio in philanthropy dedicated to fines and fees reform, garnering support for research, litigation and technical assistance projects to address the negative impacts of fines and fees in the justice system.  She served on the National Center for State Court’s National Task Force on Fines and Fees and the American Bar Association’s Presidential Task Force on Building Public Trust in the American Justice System, which produced guidance and principles around the equitable imposition and enforcement of fines and fees.   She has spoken extensively at meetings and conferences to educate policymakers, advocates and communities on the problem and potential solutions to fines and fees.

In addition to her extensive fines and fees experience, Joanna had a varied career in New York City government, where she held legal, operational and policy positions.  Joanna served as the Deputy Administrative Justice Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office improving efficiency, transparency and fairness in administrative courts.  She helped develop and implement a code of ethical conduct for the city’s administrative judges to ensure fairness in the courts and improve access to justice for self-represented litigants. Joanna began her career in the New York City Law Department and served as Senior Counsel representing the city in 9/11-related litigation and policy decisions.  

Joanna holds a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, an M.A. from the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, and a B.A. in political science from Bryn Mawr College.