Sentencing and Corrections

In Our Backyards

Ending Mass Incarceration Where It Begins

A little known fact imperils our nation’s collective efforts to end mass incarceration: Major cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are no longer bearing the heaviest burden. Instead, thousands of smaller cities and towns are now grappling with the nation’s highest incarceration rates. It is time for criminal justice reformers to take n...

Examining the Use of Restrictive Housing and its Impact on Officer Wellbeing

While research is growing on the effects of restrictive housing—more commonly known as solitary confinement—there are still many questions about who is housed in these units and why they are there.  Moreover, while many studies have investigated the impact of placement in restrictive housing on incarcerated people, there is very little research on ...

Collaborating with Local Governments and Communities to Reduce Jail Populations

Vera  is helping cities and counties around the country reduce their jail populations. Vera works collaboratively with county government, law enforcement, and community organizations to study their jail usage and population growth and to provide recommendations for safely reducing the population while creating more fair and effective local justice ...

College in Prison

Postsecondary education opportunities for incarcerated people

People involved in the criminal justice system have, on average, much lower education levels than the general population. Research suggests that education is key to improving many long-term outcomes for incarcerated people, their families, and their communities—including reducing recidivism and increasing employability and earnings after release. T...

A New Role for Technology

Video visitation in prison

People in prison are often incarcerated far from their home communities, making visitation with family members difficult or impossible. Yet, studies show that in-person visitation can lead to improved behavior in custody and reduced risk of recidivism post-release. This study aims to explore a new visitation option for people incarcerated far from ...