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 ...
It’s not just a training problem. Indiscriminate traffic stops are dangerous and unnecessary—no matter who conducts them.
A decade ago, the killings of Sandra Bland and Philando Castile forced people in the United States to reckon with the harms of traffic stops—especially for people of color. In the years since, many jurisdictions have become safer by curbing the use of traffic stops as a law enforcement tool. But in much of the country, the harms have persisted. Now ...
California voters passed Proposition 36 in 2024 in response to concerns about homelessness, public substance use, and retail theft. Proponents promised: “Proposition 36 is NOT about going back to an era of mass incarceration. This is about creating a new era of mass treatment.” However, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera)'s analysis shows that in ...