Vera Institute of Justice

Vera has been working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems for more than 60 years—and we won't stop until they’re fair for all. Because mass incarceration is wrong. Because immigration is under attack. Because poverty is not a crime. Because justice is for all. Because dignity is worth fighting for. Because we are Vera. Together, we can end mass incarceration. Join our movement: https://lnkd.in/eMtNC9pe #WeAreVera

After an unprecedented decrease in incarceration from 2019 to 2020, new Vera research shows that incarceration has returned to pre-pandemic levels in many states and in rural counties across the United States. Preventing the criminalization of immigrants—plus advocating against the construction of new jails and for the compassionate release of incarcerated older people—is critical if the gains made over the past several years are to be sustained and built upon. Explore the latest incarceration trends: https://lnkd.in/gq6-aq4r

This week as many of us gather with loved ones for Thanksgiving dinners, the nearly 2 million people incarcerated in the U.S. will be separated from family and friends. Adam Roberts reflects on the 24 years he has celebrated #Thanksgiving from behind bars:

“It is past time to stop putting politics over safety, as Mayor Adams and his administration have done in slowing down the closure of Rikers Island.” —Nick Turner, president of the Vera Institute of Justice Yesterday, a federal judge found New York City and the Department of Correction in contempt for failing to prevent violence and implement reform on Rikers Island. As violence escalates and conditions decline on Rikers Island, we urge Judge Swain to not only order receivership but direct the city to act urgently to close the jail complex and move to a smaller, safer, and more modern borough-based jail system. Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/eHyKbZFR

"We know the people leaving our prisons will be successful, and we want them to be our neighbors." Oklahoma Secretary of Public Safety Tricia Everest shares how providing access to college in prison and removing barriers to housing can make the state safer and stronger, via The Oklahoman: https://lnkd.in/e6_4_CXX

“No child should have to be arrested to receive the help that they need." —Travis County District Attorney José Garza Girls and gender-expansive youth are often pushed into the juvenile legal system in a misguided effort to "protect" them—but this approach is counterproductive and can cause more harm. Learn how community-based programs can address young people’s needs more effectively: https://lnkd.in/erybk9Am

When prisons go into lockdown, incarcerated people are confined to their cells for nearly 24 hours a day—deprived of education, exercise, and more. The vast majority of people who are incarcerated will return home one day, but prisons fail to prepare them for a successful life after release. Investing in humane conditions and opportunities for growth makes prisons and communities safer—not extended lockdowns. https://lnkd.in/e9siSFBJ

As staffing in U.S. prisons reaches its lowest numbers in decades, incarcerated people are not receiving timely medical treatment and extended lockdowns are becoming the norm. Here are four ways states can decrease prison populations and build safety: https://lnkd.in/e6RW4G_k

Join Vera and Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College (IIP) for a virtual symposium that will explore the history of gun criminalization, innovative responses that reduce gun violence and how prosecutors and communities can promote public safety. #JoinUs and our expert panelists on December 11-12 for these important discussions: https://lnkd.in/ey73-Sud

“People go into prison and come out worse because of things like lockdown and solitary.” Lockdowns have become increasingly common in prisons across the U.S.—often as a way to deal with staffing shortages—but this cruel approach does not promote safety inside or outside of prisons. Here’s why: https://lnkd.in/e9siSFBJ