Vera Institute of Justice

🚨 Vera’s work is under attack: The Trump administration cut $5M from our public safety programs and threatened to install a DOGE team in our office. But we are fighting back and WILL NOT back down. Today, we’re launching the Emergency Justice Fund to help sustain our…

GOOD NEWS: Phone calls in New York State prisons will be free starting next month, a critical win that will save families more than $13 million a year. Helping incarcerated people stay connected to their loved ones is an investment in public safety. nytimes.com/2025/07/22/nyr…

California’s wildfire response has relied on incarcerated firefighters for decades. The #FirefightingToFreedom package finally honors their essential service with the respect, protections, and opportunities they deserve. In a new op-ed, Andony Corleto of Vera California recounts…

Decades of research show that what happens behind bars harms everyone: those directly impacted, their families, and the broader public. True safety requires investments in public health: community-based mental health care, substance use treatment, and systems of care that keep…

For Orlando's immigrant community, stops for minor infractions are the difference between staying with your family or being deported. A recent @orlandosentinel analysis reveals the alarming truth about ‘driving while Latino’ as the Trump administration carries out its mass…

"We know that detention is not just cruel but is unnecessary. The government's justification of detention is just not supported by research or even their own data." —Liz Kenney, associate director for Vera’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative ICE’s new policy, which…

#GoodNews: New York City doubled its investment in immigration legal services in the new budget. The approved $120M will be allocated to a range of solutions that will safeguard immigrant communities from the Trump administration’s cuts to lifesaving programs and onslaught of…

Mass incarceration is a public health crisis. Incarcerated people experience significantly higher rates of physical and mental health conditions. But the health consequences do not end at prison walls. Learn how mass incarceration is impacting the well-being of our communities:…

What does “due process” mean for immigrants, and why does it matter now more than ever? We're sharing this important piece by @Erica_Bryant_ of the @verainstitute, exploring how due process protections are being weakened in our immigration system. 📖 Read: publiquemoslo.org/what-does-due-…

“In no way am I glorifying prison. I am simply highlighting the unexpected humor I have found to sustain my sanity and endure this time.” AL-Shariyfa Rahil Robinson shares how comedy has become a powerful tool to navigate the often brutal conditions of prison life. Read how she…

Transgender people in immigration detention centers are at heightened risk of violence, medical neglect and prolonged solitary confinement. Now, they face a new threat from the Trump administration: being erased and disappeared from ICE records. theintercept.com/2025/07/11/ice…

“We can only expect that they’ll continue to target people attempting to comply with the law. They’ll continue to target people who are engaging in political speech that is disfavored by the administration. They will continue to threaten the security of US citizens for political…