OR wrote and successfully advocated for the passage of LA Act 276 (Ban the Box), prohibiting public colleges in Louisiana from asking about criminal history in admissions. Louisiana was the first state to pass this historic legislation. Since then, OR has worked with partners to replicate and pass Ban the Box in Maryland (2017), Washington state (2018), Colorado (2019) and California (2020).

OR received its first grant (from Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans) to host a third Bridging the Gap Symposium in 2018: A Conversation with Directly Impacted Girls and the Justice System, which featured girls involved in the legal system. 

OR opened The Closet, a boutique-style atmosphere with a full range of gently used clothing, accessories and shoes offered to women at no cost.

Operation Housing was launched to create housing opportunities and connect formerly incarcerated and legal system-involved women with housing resources.

The Unlock Higher Ed Coalition was launched by OR to coordinate national efforts to remove barriers to higher education for formerly incarcerated people. 

Operation Restoration launched the CANScantStand campaign to repeal Louisiana’s Crime Against Nature Statute (CANS), a law that disproportionately targets the LGBTQ community, particularly transwomen of color.

OR’s staff grew from six to 14 full-time employees.

After two years of OR participating in the Louisiana Legislative Task Force on Women’s Incarceration, the group wrote a 22-page report that was submitted in May 2020 to Secretary LeBlanc, the state Legislature and the Louisiana Supreme Court

Operation Restoration absorbed the Safety & Freedom Fund, a revolving community bail fund organized to post bonds for New Orleanians who cannot afford to pay for their freedom, and to provide education and advocacy to end money bail in Louisiana and beyond. 

OR opened Hope House NOLA, an innovative transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated women, in collaboration with Ladies of Hope Ministries. 

OR opened its new main office at Benson Tower and grew its team to include seven board members, 17 staff members and 18 contractors.