Vera Institute of Justice

New Orleanians shared that investments are needed to make a safer, more thriving city for all. The result: The Big Easy Budget Deal—a proposal to invest city funding in public health, community safety, youth and families, housing, infrastructure, food access, labor, and economic development. Explore the Big Easy Budget Coalition survey results from 2023–2025 to better understand what residents of Orleans Parish need for their community to thrive:

“It’s critically important right now, when the fear in our communities is so high, and the assault on due process is at an extreme, that local and state governments continue to lead the way and ensure that their community members are not detained and deported without any access to protecting their legal rights.” —Vera’s Liz Kenney    After the first Trump election, Vera launched the Safety & Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network to support cities, counties, and states in advancing universal representation. Since 2017, the network has:      ➡️ Expanded from 11 to 45 jurisdictions   ➡️ Proven that public investments into legal services are necessary policies that reunite families and stabilize communities    We are proud to be part of the SAFE Network and join our partners nationwide in defending due process. As the administration continues to assault due process and undermine the very foundation of our democracy, it is essential that local and state leaders take bold and urgent action:   Defend due process and people’s right to remain with their families and communities. Learn more about the SAFE Network: https://lnkd.in/eJpe_nA7 #ImmigrantRights #UniversalRepresentation 

👉 Tell your lawmaker to support critical investments in fairness and justice in the FY 2026 appropriations bill: https://lnkd.in/ewf8kET3 Now more than ever—as millions remain at risk of life-altering deportations—it’s crucial that Congress redirects funds from detention and immigration enforcement to humane solutions that support family unity.

Despite overwhelming evidence of incarceration being counterproductive, the U.S. still overuses it to deliver punishment. There is a better path forward: Alternatives to incarceration (ATIs) move people away from the criminal legal system and allow them to serve their sentences within the community. This helps address the root causes that lead to arrest in the first place and allow people to end cycles of harm while keeping communities safe. Here’s how: https://lnkd.in/gS3jiDSZ

“I know no one here is going to put me in harm’s way; I don’t feel like I need to guard myself.” A new Vera report shows how an evidence-based shift in prison culture has built safety and community in South Carolina prisons. Explore the findings and read about the experience directly from incarcerated young adults: https://lnkd.in/gPzAWYex

Catherine “Catie” Cox Marshall, an accomplished public servant and admired member of the Vera community, passed away on Sunday, October 26. A fierce advocate for equality and justice, Catie leaves behind a legacy of service, compassion, and dedication.

Right now, the work of protecting immigrant communities is presenting urgent challenges. Even through the Trump administration’s escalation of its mass deportation agenda and cuts to funding for legal services programs, attorneys and advocates have worked tirelessly to defend fairness and due process. ❤️ Send a message of gratitude to the legal service providers fighting for justice: https://lnkd.in/er_98_-4

🚨Unprecedented and alarming: ICE is currently holding more than 59,000 people across the United States. Vera’s ICE Detention Trends dashboard tells the truth about the agency’s operations and the best glimpse into the current state of immigration detention. https://lnkd.in/ecAYYDjE

From dismantling due process to encouraging extreme sentencing, the Trump administration is having a devastating impact on the criminal legal system. Explore Prison Policy Initiative's tracker to stay informed about the latest updates: https://lnkd.in/gVPAJ-3K

In August, 61,226 people were in ICE detention, the largest number in recorded history. Larsya Kostak, a resident of Brooklyn for 20 years, was one of thousands detained in deplorable conditions. Immigration officers separated Kostak from her family for three months, denied her basic care, forced her to sleep on concrete, and detained her in an ICE facility in Louisiana—all after appearing at a routine court hearing. Her story reveals the human cost of a detention system that erodes dignity and fairness. https://lnkd.in/dEcgPyP2