Julianna Andrasi is the reigning Miss Fresh Face USA 2021. She is currently working toward completing her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She lives in Michigan where she works as a corrections officer in a county jail. She is enthusiastic about raising awareness about many issues such as mental health and the protection of the environment. However, she is most passionate about teaching others about wrongful convictions in the United States. In May of 2021, she published her first book, “Convict or Convenient,” which sheds light on America’s justice system and explains how innocent individuals become incarcerated so easily. Aside from being a new author, Julianna also expresses her creativity through her artwork. In her free time, she can be found painting, sketching, or experimenting with whatever new craft has caught her attention for the week. Julianna discovered her love of helping people when she was young. As a teenager, she started volunteering at a local retirement home for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. When she grew to be of age, she got a job working for the same retirement home. She worked there until she moved downstate to attend college. While in college, she began volunteering at a middle school, tutoring kids who were at risk of, or already on the path of entering a life of crime. The students there loved her. Julianna would reward students who reached their monthly goals or who were able to keep their grades up by taking them to see plays, movies, or out to eat. Now, especially during Covid times, she has been looking for other ways to help her community. In December of 2021, she started a donation drive in her local community to collect items for people in Kentucky and the surrounding states who lost their homes to tornados. At the end of the donation drive, she drove all of the items from Michigan to Kentucky.
Why do you do what you do?Working in law enforcement, I think it is especially important to support criminal justice reform and the fight for the equal justice initiative. I speak openly about wrongful convictions because everyone suffers when there is a miscarriage of justice. If Tom committed a crime, but Harry is blamed for it, Harry may end up in jail which would leave the real criminal, Tom, still on the streets.
What are some projects you are currently working on?
I published my first book, “Convict or Convenient,” in May. I would like to write more and delve even deeper into the causes of wrongful convictions. However, one thing I learned from publishing, it takes a long time and even more patience.
What are your goals for the short-term and long-term?
A short-term goal of mine is to finally finish my last year of college to obtain my bachelor’s degree. A long-term goal of mine is to be well known as an advocate for the equal justice initiative.
Who or what inspires you?
My main inspiration comes from the fact that every day, I try to make a positive impact on those around me. No matter how I am feeling or what I am doing, I always push myself to become a better, kinder human being.
If you could change anything about your industry, what would it be?
I would make sure all fifty states have legislation requiring a payout to victims of wrongful incarceration once they are released. I would also like to see that in cases where official misconduct is determined to be a factor in the incarceration, those at fault face repercussions.
What do you plan to do once you cross the millionaire mark?
I plan to start a non-profit organization that assists people who have been exonerated on returning to society and civilization outside of prison. Many states do not even require a payout to innocent individuals being released, even if they have been behind bars for decades. I would like to provide better assistance to their reentry and find a way to ensure recidivism rates are low.
Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juli.andraji/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianna.andrasi
Convict or Convenient: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0955DGVS8
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