On Thursday, April 20, 2017, justice reform leaders and supporters joined the Vera Institute of Justice for Vera’s 11th Annual Gala, Reimagine Justice.
Honorees discussed approaches to criminal justice reform and the future of the movement in a very different federal climate. Samuel David Flores Murillo, a client of Vera’s recently expanded New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP), gave a moving speech about the need for increased support for immigrant families and communities.
Assessing the Impact of Legal Representation on Family and Community Unity
This study evaluates the impact of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP). NYIFUP is the nation’s first public defender system for immigrants facing deportation—defined as those in removal proceedings before an immigration judge. Funded by the New York City Council since July 2014, the program provides a free attorney to almost all de ...
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- ...
Thirty-four people have died in county jails so far this year.
How are people dying?It typically takes months for Los Angeles County to publicly issue causes of death for people who have died in LA County jails. And even once autopsy reports are finalized, they don’t tell the whole story. When the coroner rules that a death is the result of “natural causes,” jail conditions can still be to blame. Researchers h ...