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Courtney Teasley takes us behind the curtain to expose how arrests and charges require only "probable cause" – essentially, that someone probably committed a crime. This low standard follows individuals through most of their journey until trial, but with 97% of defendants accepting plea deals before reaching that point, most convictions occur without ever meeting the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard.

The consequences are devastating, particularly for what Teasley calls "DAMM communities" – Disproportionately Affected, Marginalized Minority communities. Black Americans are six times more likely to be incarcerated than their white counterparts, not because they commit more crimes, but because of targeted over-policing and systemic biases. Without financial resources to mount effective defenses, many people accept pleas simply to escape a system stacked against them.

She offers concrete solutions through her MFN Framework: Mindset (adopting an "innocent until proven guilty" perspective), Finesse (creative defense strategies), and Non-negotiable boundaries (standing firmly on constitutional rights). Her work shifts the focus from reactive approaches that help people after conviction to proactive strategies that prevent convictions in the first place.

Whether you're a community leader, church member, or concerned citizen, Teasley's insights will transform how you understand justice in America and offer practical ways you can contribute to meaningful change. 

Courtney's Bio

Courtney Teasley is a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney, business coach, and visionary educator, shifting the paradigm on how we fight systemic injustice. As the founder of emeffen and creator of the MFN Framework for Proactive Advocacy, Courtney leads a movement to empower disproportionately affected, marginalized minorities (D.A.M.M.) with the legal knowledge and strategy to prevent convictions—before the courtroom ever comes into view.

Her impact spans grassroots campaigns, justice-focused curriculum development, and legal education for both community members and lawyers. Through her Easy Way to Learn Your Rights book series, school-based criminal justice literacy programs, and D.A.M.M. Advocate and Legal Warrior trainings, Courtney equips everyday people, educators, and defense attorneys to proactively resist the criminal justice system’s most insidious traps.

Whether speaking to students, churches, or national audiences, she delivers bold, accessible frameworks that challenge the status quo and offer real, community-rooted alternatives. Her work has not only influenced elections but has also helped reunite families separated by state violence and launched legal innovations t

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Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

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Music by Zach Price: [email protected]