Transforming Prison Culture for Young Adults

Restoring Promise, a Vera Institute of Justice initiative, partners with corrections agencies and incarcerated people to create prison housing units for young adults. Through this work, we improve conditions of confinement by shifting prison policies, culture, and physical environments to reflect one core value: human dignity.

Transforming the United States prison system has been the goal of Vera’s groundbreaking work with corrections agencies since 2016, when Vera and the MILPA Collective first collaborated with the Connecticut Department of Correction and, in 2017, opened the first of nine units across six states.

These units demonstrate that prison culture change is possible—when those most impacted lead the transformation. Vera’s randomized control trial of Restoring Promise units in South Carolina shows our results: safer units, stronger relationships, and greater purpose for both staff and residents.

The Restoring Promise Approach: A New Model for Prison Culture Change

Every Restoring Promise housing unit is designed and led by incarcerated people and corrections staff, empowering those most impacted to form a supportive community aimed at centering human dignity for everyone.

Through partnerships with corrections agencies, Restoring Promise trains corrections staff and people who are incarcerated to act as mentors to the young adults living on the unit. Training includes building capacity for restorative practices, engaging family as supports for the success of young adults, and fostering community partnership to prepare young adults for successful returns to their communities. Cultural healing and equity are central to the training, implementation, and technical assistance strategies Restoring Promise provides to each partner agency and unit, ensuring better outcomes for people who live and work there.

The Restoring Promise Process

Restoring Promise centers human dignity in its housing units by partnering directly with the people who live and work in prisons. Rather than relying on outdated, punitive models, Restoring Promise supports shifts in traditional prison practices and policies through collaborative research, staff and mentor training, and hands-on technical assistance.

• Research. Restoring Promise leads with research, using collaborative strategies to inform the implementation, training, and technical assistance we provide to each state corrections agency we work with.
• Training. Before each Restoring Promise housing unit opens, we train corrections staff and incarcerated people who will act as mentors on the unit. This training is the same for staff and mentors and is done jointly whenever possible to promote consistency, strengthen relationships, and support lasting prison culture change.
• Technical assistance. With deep experience and expertise championing young adult prison housing units, we guide corrections agencies through every stage of the Restoring Promise model—planning, piloting, and refining their approach. Our hybrid approach combines in-person and virtual support, allowing us to respond quickly to challenges and tailor solutions to each facility’s needs.

Shaping a Future of Dignity and Opportunity for Young Adults in Prison

Restoring Promise is just the beginning. Together, we can create prison systems that prioritize dignity, healing, and opportunity for young adults. Join us in transforming prison culture to build a safer, more equitable future.