About Uncarcerated
A nonprofit born from lived experience, dedicated to unifying support for justice-impacted individuals and their families.
Our Mission
Uncarcerated exists to bridge the gap between incarceration and community — providing education, resources, creative expression, and genuine human connection to those impacted by the justice system.
We believe that every person who has experienced incarceration — and every family touched by it — deserves access to the tools, support, and community they need to build a meaningful life. We believe in second chances, and third ones, and as many as it takes.
We serve the currently incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated, their families, and the advocates who stand alongside them. Based in Gainesville, Florida, our reach extends nationwide through digital resources, community connections, and a growing network of support.
The Founder's Story
Leigh Scott
Founder & Executive Director
Leigh Scott knows what it means to rebuild. A formerly incarcerated individual from Gainesville, Florida, Leigh experienced firsthand the challenges of re-entry — the isolation, the stigma, the maze of systems that too often work against the very people they're supposed to help.
Instead of accepting those barriers, Leigh decided to break them down.
What started with a microphone, a soundboard, and a pursuit to find more meaning in life became the Uncarcerated podcast — a platform giving voice to justice-impacted individuals and the people who champion their cause. From there, the vision grew into something bigger: a full nonprofit dedicated to the education, resources, and community that people need to truly move forward.
Today, Leigh's work extends across multiple organizations and roles, all united by one goal: making sure no one has to navigate re-entry alone.
Current Roles
- Creator & Host, Uncarcerated podcast
- Community Engagement Manager, GRACE Marketplace
- Founding Board Member & Director of Community Outreach, Released Reentry
- Co-founder, Justice Impacted Collaborative
- Co-founder, Links not Locks
- 2026 Represent Justice Ambassador
- Community Spring Fellow
What We Believe
Growth Is Always Possible
No matter what someone has been through, they have the capacity to grow, to change, and to contribute to their community in meaningful ways.
Community Over Isolation
Isolation is the enemy of recovery. We build bridges between people so that no one faces the challenges of re-entry or incarceration alone.
Access Changes Everything
When people have access to the right resources at the right time — housing, legal aid, mental health, employment — outcomes transform.
Leadership
Uncarcerated is led by people who understand the problem because they've lived it.
Leigh Scott
Founder & Executive Director
Formerly incarcerated advocate, podcast host, community leader. Leigh brings lived experience and relentless determination to everything Uncarcerated does.
Join Our Team
Board & Advisory Positions
We're building a leadership team rooted in lived experience and community expertise. Interested in joining our mission? Get in touch.
Contact Us →Volunteer
Community Contributors
From mentoring to content creation to tech support — there are many ways to contribute your skills to our community.
Get Involved →Partner Organizations
We're proud to work alongside these organizations in the fight for justice and equity.
GRACE Marketplace
Gainesville's largest emergency shelter and service center for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Released Reentry
Supporting formerly incarcerated individuals with housing, employment, and community reintegration services.
Justice Impacted Collaborative
A collective of justice-impacted advocates working to change policy and shift public perception.
Links not Locks
Advocating for behavioral health solutions as an alternative to incarceration.
Represent Justice
National organization empowering ambassadors to change the narrative around justice involvement.
Community Spring
Fellowship program supporting emerging community leaders and nonprofit innovators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Uncarcerated?
Uncarcerated is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting justice-impacted individuals and their families. We provide personalized resource matching, community discussion forums, a creative platform (UnStudio), and educational content — all built to help people navigate life during and after incarceration.
Who can use Uncarcerated?
Everyone. Our resources are available to currently incarcerated individuals, formerly incarcerated people, family members, advocates, social workers, and anyone interested in supporting justice-impacted communities. Browsing resources, discussions, and creative content requires no account. Creating content and participating in discussions requires a free account.
Is it free?
Yes. Creating an account, accessing resources, browsing discussions, and using the Re-Entry Toolkit are completely free. The only paid items on the site are creator content on UnStudio, where independent creators set their own prices for their art, writing, music, and more.
What resources do you offer?
We match users with resources across housing, employment, legal aid, mental health, substance abuse treatment, education, family support, and government benefits. Our intake form remembers your answers so you never have to re-enter information. Resources are tailored by state, with Florida being our most comprehensive coverage area.
What is UnStudio?
UnStudio is a creative marketplace where incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals can share and sell their work — writing, poetry, visual art, music, podcasts, and video. Every creator gets their own digital booth. Uncarcerated takes no platform percentage; all earnings go directly to the creator.
How can I support Uncarcerated?
You can donate to help fund our mission, volunteer your skills (mentoring, content creation, tech support), or simply spread the word. If you're an organization interested in partnering with us, reach out at info@uncarcerated.org.
I'm currently incarcerated. Can I still use the site?
We've designed key pages (especially Know Your Rights and the Re-Entry Toolkit) to be as accessible as possible, including mobile-optimized layouts for tablet access common in facilities. If you have limited internet access, a family member or advocate can use our intake form on your behalf and print a summary of resources for you.
Is my information private?
Absolutely. We never share your personal information. Intake form responses are stored securely (in your browser for guests, in our encrypted database for registered users). In community discussions, you choose a public username — your real name is never displayed. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Be Part of the Change
Every person who joins, every resource shared, every story told brings us closer to a world where incarceration doesn't define a person's future.