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It Doesn't Have to Be This Way Vera @ Chicago Ideas - Part II

The Vera Institute of Justice teamed up with Chicago Ideas to reenvision the American prison system, and imagine a society in which prisons serve as rehabilitation facilities for communities and citizens, rather than as crippling institutions. The conversation combined performance, first-person testimony, and compelling dialogue that all looked into not only how the American prison system can cause “civil death,” but also what everyday citizens can do to help reshape the way in which incarceration affects the country.

Part Two: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way—A moderated, multi-disciplinary conversation that looked into the power and potential of reimagining our prison system to emphasize human dignity over punishment.

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The Push to Change Laws That Punish Survivors of Abuse

Survivor justice legislation would allow courts to consider domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking in sentencing and give incarcerated survivors a chance at resentencing.

Beatrice “Beasy” Taylor called 911 again and again for protection from a violent ex-partner who was threatening to kill her. One night, he returned mere hours after the police had made him leave her home. When he forced his way inside and attacked her, Taylor defended herself with a kitchen knife, stabbing him one time. She was convicted of second- ...

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November 06, 2026
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