Vera Institute of Justice

Vera has been working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems for more than 60 years—and we won't stop until they’re fair for all. Because mass incarceration is wrong. Because immigration is under attack. Because poverty is not a crime. Because justice is for all. Because dignity is worth fighting for. Because we are Vera. Together, we can end mass incarceration. Join our movement: https://lnkd.in/eMtNC9pe #WeAreVera

YOU’RE INVITED: Join us on Tuesday, April 8 for the Vera Institute of Justice’s 2025 Annual Dinner: Paths to Progress.??? For over 60 years, Vera has driven the fight for true justice through bold action, innovative solutions, and deep collaboration with impacted communities. And right now, Vera’s work has never been more critical.?? By supporting the Annual Dinner, you’re helping us break down barriers to justice and build new, more equitable paths forward for all. Reserve your ticket today: https://lnkd.in/eR_9cFHy https://lnkd.in/e_fbGtXq

Since launching in fall 2021, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) has delivered solutions to address the myriad issues that typically don’t need a police response. The civilian-led public safety department responds to mental health crises, substance use, homelessness, and community disputes. ACS recently reached 100,000 calls for service, showing what’s possible when cities embrace a community-centered approach to delivering safety. https://lnkd.in/eGYsXNuG

Every person has the fundamental right to be treated with dignity—regardless of who they are, where they are from, or what they can afford. Dignity is central to the fight for thriving communities and an end to mass incarceration. What does dignity mean to you?

The Trump administration is doubling down on efforts to tear families apart and upend the state's economy through mass deportations. New Yorkers: We can’t afford to sit on the sidelines any longer. Urge Governor Hochul to fund legal services for immigrants: https://lnkd.in/e8zP4BdG

Cities across the country are benefiting from reducing non-safety-related traffic stops. When police make fewer stops for things that do not impact traffic safety, it leads to a decrease in both traffic crashes and racial disparities in enforcement outcomes. By refocusing police traffic enforcement from non-safety-related traffic stops to concentrating on dangerous driving—like speeding and impaired driving—jurisdictions can promote road safety, while advancing racial justice and community trust in the police. Learn more about the progress on fair traffic enforcement: https://lnkd.in/evV-TtfB

??? No one should face deportation alone. We were in #Albany today—alongside many immigrant rights advocates—to fight for a $165M investment in immigration legal services and the passage of the Access to Representation Act and BUILD Act to protect immigrant families. Access to legal representation should be a fundamental right for immigrants facing deportation. If you agree, #TakeAction today and urge Governor Hochul to defend immigrants threatened by Trump’s cruel policies: https://lnkd.in/e8zP4BdG

President Trump has erased the nation’s first federal police misconduct database—a decision that weakens accountability and threatens public safety. Accountability in policing should not be controversial. Read more on why this decision puts us all in danger:

New York cannot be complicit as President Trump executes his mass detention and deportation agenda. His plan to target immigrants will devastate families and the state’s economy. In the words of Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, the state must “be a firewall against this [the Trump administration’s] extremist agenda.” Rather than retreat in fear and let cruelty reign, it’s time for New York leadership to double down on protecting families and New York’s economy. Passing the Access to Representation and BUILD Acts would do just that by investing necessary resources in immigration legal defense. https://lnkd.in/enCmkg_z

This is a gross overreach by the Trump administration, a further escalation in its attacks on due process and our democracy. Attorneys who represent immigrants, voters, or underserved communities promote a fair and properly functioning legal system where everyone has a fair chance to understand and defend their rights. Targeting them for doing their jobs is an attack on justice itself. The right to a fair day in court isn’t optional—it’s a constitutional guarantee. And members of the legal community won’t be intimidated by this outrageous exercise. Vera strongly believes no one should face the government alone in complex and high-stakes proceedings like those in immigration court. Efforts to intimidate lawyers undermine the right to a fair hearing and weaken the integrity of our legal system and democracy. https://lnkd.in/eWzFBSyg