Adam Foss
Attorney / Founder
Prosecutor Impact
Washington, DC USA
“I have this privilege and power because of the letters behind my name. This [doctoral] degree is a massive sword in the fight for the communities that we care about.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationAdam Foss
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
He was adopted as a baby from Columbia by an Irish-American family in Massachusetts—grew up as one of the only people of color in his small town.
Was arrested when he was 19 for selling marijuana, but received little punishment due to the fact that his father was a white police officer—says, “That was the most unjust thing I’ve ever seen.”
Is a first-generation college student—calls the experience “difficult, but empowering.”
Originally went to college to be a doctor, but as an undergrad he took a class on restorative justice called “The Science of Violence”, which inspired him to change course and pursue law.
He took an internship at a small municipal court in an impoverished neighborhood of Boston known for having a dangerous reputation; knew then that he wanted to work in the criminal justice system.
Says that his main motivation in going to work is helping people stay out of prison, which is in contrast to the typical view people have of prosecutors.
He is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and reinventing the role of the prosecutor in order to end mass incarceration.
Was an Assistant District Attorney for over 10 years in Boston and is the founder of Prosecutor Impact, a nonprofit with the mission of retraining prosecutors to improve community safety.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Attorney / Founder
I am a former Assistant District Attorney, a Prosecutor, and advocate for criminal justice reform.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Law
Non-Profit Organizations
Upholding a Cause and Belief
Day to Day
I work to develop new education, training, and improved access to technology for American prosecutors in order to improve community safety in the United States and improve the criminal justice system.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Take intro to law or criminal justice classes in order to see if it is interesting to you.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"You're not going to be able to finish law school. "
Challenges I Overcame
Legal Trouble
First-Generation College Student
First-Generation Immigrant
Interviewed By
Degree of Impact
Doctoral Roadtrip
