Video

Event: We've Got the Power A Virtual Event on the Power of District Attorneys in Criminal Justice

District attorneys wield enormous power in the criminal legal system. They have the power to decide the fate of people accused of crimes at every stage of a criminal case. They have tremendous sway over other actors throughout the criminal legal system, including policing practices and enforcement. We, the people, have the power to influence how they operate. On July 15, 2020 the Vera Institute of Justice was joined by Big Freedia, prosecutors, public defenders, advocates, organizers, and others for an interactive virtual event with music, art, and discussion.

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How Legal Representation Turned the Tide For a Mother Facing Deportation

“I hope [my attorneys] will be able to help other people—the same way they helped me.”

Shackled hand and foot on a deportation flight to Mexico, Naomi* sat weeping and praying. Her parents brought her to the United States when she was nine years old. Though she had struggled to navigate the complex path to legal residency, she had built a life in the Chicago area, with children and grandchildren she would be leaving behind. When she ...

News
May 27, 2026
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The Impact of Legal Representation on Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation

Evidence from the MIDA Program

Every year, millions of immigrants face removal from the United States as their cases go through the immigration court system. However, despite the grave consequences of a removal order, the right to a government-funded attorney for people who cannot afford one does not apply to people in immigration court as it does to people facing charges in cri ...

Publication
April 20, 2026
Publication