Rebecca Brown founded Maat Strategies, LLC., in 2023 to work with social justice organizations engaged in criminal legal reform to design and develop effective policy shops, regardless of size, and craft successful federal, state and/or local policy agendas.

Prior to founding Maat Strategies, Rebecca worked at the Innocence Project for 18 years, helping to build and then lead its policy department, directing its federal and state policy agenda. During her tenure, the Innocence Project successfully lobbied the passage of more than 200 criminal legal reform laws. 

Nationally recognized as one of the most transformative criminal legal reform organizations in the nation, Rebecca helped shape the Innocence Project’s policy agenda from inception, working with a cross-section of impacted people, interest groups, communications and lobbying firms, federal, state and local lawmakers, criminal legal experts, sports and talent influencers and more.  In 2023, Rebecca received the “Hero of Justice Award” from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, which honors an individual who has shown sustained commitment to achieving criminal justice for all. 

Before joining the Innocence Project, Rebecca conducted research, evaluation and planning work for New York’s oldest and largest alternative to incarceration program, the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES). Rebecca began her career at the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), where for four years she investigated allegations of police misconduct for the City of New York.  She also worked for New York City’s Mayor’s Office on policy efforts to divert young people from the criminal legal system.

Rebecca has presented at judicial and legal trainings, diverse criminal justice and academic conferences and has been sought out as a subject matter expert by such high-profile media outlets as The New York Times, BBC News, ABC News, Slate, NBC News, CBS News, BNC News, Politico, NPR and the American Bar Association Journal. Most recently, Rebecca appeared on a special episode of Meet the Press regarding police accountability.

Rebecca has developed strategies for hundreds of policy efforts, testified in dozens of legislative hearings, led national policy working groups and developed a deep bench of relationships throughout the nation that she can draw upon to power and accelerate emerging policy campaigns.  Rebecca is a member of Roc Nation’s United Justice Coalition and serves on the board of directors of For the People.