Podcasts about vera institute

For the past four years, former Democrat and Chronicle journalist Erica Bryant has turned her attention to reporting on the dream world. Bryant has gone deep, interviewing people about their dreams, and collecting hundreds of dream stories. She's preparing to debut her exhibition "Other People's Dreams" at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center. But first, she and some of her dream interviewees join us on "Connections" to explore what our dreams mean: why we have them; what they say about our lives and desires; and what the experts say. Our guests: Erica Bryant, artist and associate director of writing at the Vera Institute of Justice Jon Gary, musician and artist Davida Rogers, graduate student and artist Wilfred Pigeon, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and public health sciences and director of the Sleep and Neurophysiology Research Lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center

4.18.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Trump lawlessness, DOGE/DOJ target non-profit, Sen. Van Hollen returns, MLK struggles in the North We haven't made it to the first 100 days, and the twice-impeached, criminally convicted felon-in-chief, Donald "The Con" Trump, has unleashing lawlessness. Janai Nelson, the President and Director-Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, will explain that although Trump's tactics aren't new, they can be stopped. According to the nonprofit organization Vera Institute, it was targeted by Trump's DOJ and DOGE, setting a troubling precedent for targeting nonprofits that receive federal funding. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen just returned from El Salvador, where he finally met Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the father who was wrongfully deported. And I spoke with Jeanne Theoharis about her new book, "King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life of Struggle Outside the South." The book focuses on how King's experiences outside the South significantly influenced his campaign for racial justice. #BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbase This Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. You should read the Offering Circular (https://bit.ly/3VDPKjD) and Risks (https://bit.ly/3ZQzHl0) related to this offering before investing. Download the #BlackStarNetwork app on iOS, AppleTV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, SamsungTV and XBox http://www.blackstarnetwork.com The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you concerned about the recent attacks on nonprofit funding? Wondering how the sudden dissolution of USAID and cuts to federal agencies are impacting vital organizations and the communities they serve? In this eye-opening installment of our Defend Nonprofits / Defend Democracy series, host Rusty Stahl delivers critical updates on the Trump Administration's actions against nonprofits, and speaks with Laura Andes, Chief Operations and Program Officer at Charity Navigator about how these cuts are affecting nonprofit organizations and leaders across America and globally.Rusty begins with alarming updates on recent developments, including the hostile takeover of the federal grants portal, AmeriCorps staff furloughs, attacks on the Vera Institute of Justice, and legislation that would limit courts' ability to stop illegal administrative actions. He emphasizes the estimated loss of 10,000-20,000 nonprofit jobs. And he highlights concerning precedents that may be set through attacks on universities and other 501(c)(3) organizations. These moves represent a coordinated assault on both government services and the nonprofit sector that traditionally fills gaps when government falls short.Laura Andes from Charity Navigator joins us to share insights from her decade on staff at USAID and her current role evaluating nonprofit effectiveness. Andes details Charity Navigator's response—creating resource lists of affected highly-rated organizations and launching a "Giving Is American" campaign to encourage immediate support. Both Rusty and Laura urge listeners to take action: donate now rather than waiting until year-end, encourage foundations to increase payouts, and if you're in a red state or district, contact your elected Senators and Member of Congress about the value nonprofits bring to communities and the need to keep attacks on nonprofits out of the tax bill.BioLaura Andes is an evaluation professional with 20 years of experience in the non-profit and government sectors. She is the Chief Program Officer, where she oversees the development of the Encompass Rating System. Before this role, she served as Vice President of Impact Ratings. She joined Charity Navigator in 2021, having considerable experience, most notably implementing and evaluating global health programs, and developing enhanced placed-based service programs in affordable housing domestically. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and an M.P.H. from Yale University. In her free time, you will find Laura exploring the mountains near her home in Colorado with her husband and two children.Resources from EpisodeFor an extensive list of action items, go to the show notes page on our website: https://www.fundthepeople.org/ftp_podcast/red-state-nonprofits/. You can find all the episodes of this podcast plus our blog, toolkit and other resources at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fundthepeople.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Action OpportunitiesIf you're a nonprofit leader living or operating in a community represented by a Republican Member of Congress or Senator, please read Fund the People's Call to Action for Red State Nonprofit Leaders. Sign your organization to The Pact: A Civil Rights Coalition Unity CommitmentAdd your foundation to the new pledge to support nonprofits through this crisis, Meet the Moment Commitment: A Call to Action for Philanthropy in 2025 (and Beyond) Sign your foundation on to the Public Statement from Philanthropy, a pledge of solidarity among fundersHelp AmeriCorps members who've been taken out of their term of service. Fill out this form (created by friends of AmeriCorps)If you are an AmeriCorps member who need support or want to share your story, please use this formCharity Navigator StatementUSAID ListDocuments on the Humanitarian Impact of Aid cuts https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/the-trump-administrations-foreign-aid-review-status-of-the-presidents-malaria-initiative-pmi/https://www.usaidstopwork.com/

The Trump Administration's Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) has attacked the Vera Institute of Justice by cutting $5 million in federal funding and then to directly intervene in the work of that non-profit organization. We speak with Insha Rahman, the Vice President of Advocacy and Partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice, which is an organization whose purpose is to research, test, and scale innovative solutions to end mass incarceration. — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post DOGE Attacks Non-profits and Tries to Control Vera Institute w/ Insha Rahman appeared first on KPFA.

4.18.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Trump lawlessness, DOGE/DOJ target non-profit, Sen. Van Hollen returns, MLK struggles in the North We haven't made it to the first 100 days, and the twice-impeached, criminally convicted felon-in-chief, Donald "The Con" Trump, has unleashing lawlessness. Janai Nelson, the President and Director-Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, will explain that although Trump's tactics aren't new, they can be stopped. According to the nonprofit organization Vera Institute, it was targeted by Trump's DOJ and DOGE, setting a troubling precedent for targeting nonprofits that receive federal funding. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen just returned from El Salvador, where he finally met Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the father who was wrongfully deported. And I spoke with Jeanne Theoharis about her new book, "King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life of Struggle Outside the South." The book focuses on how King's experiences outside the South significantly influenced his campaign for racial justice. #BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbase This Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. You should read the Offering Circular (https://bit.ly/3VDPKjD) and Risks (https://bit.ly/3ZQzHl0) related to this offering before investing. Download the #BlackStarNetwork app on iOS, AppleTV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, SamsungTV and XBox http://www.blackstarnetwork.com The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode: Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia; stocks in Europe opened lower; Italy's prime minister will visit the White House and officials from Japan are also in Washington; China is promoting iteself as a steady trade partner in Southeast Asia; Puerto Rico is dealing with a power outage; and Holy Week is underway at the Vatican. DOGE wanted to assign staff to the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice because it got federal funds. US Army engineers decide to fast-track Great Lakes tunnel permits under Trump energy emergency order. California sues to stop Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs. Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says US autism cases are climbing at an 'alarming rate.' Trump administration plans to end the IRS Direct File program for free tax filing, AP sources say. Judge finds probable cause to hold Trump administration in contempt for violating deportation order. Harvard's challenge to Trump administration could test limits of government power. Trump administration sues Maine over participation of transgender athletes in girls sports. Arson attack at Pennsylvania governor's residence prompts an independent security review. 10 guards charged over the fatal beating of a New York inmate, including 2 with murder. Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial continues with jury selection. US stocks drop as Nvidia slides and the fog of Trump's trade war thickens. Retail sales rise 1.4% in March as shoppers stock up on big ticket items ahead of tariffs. The Heat and Mavericks save their seasons in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament; the Dodgers’ biggest stars shine in a high-scoring win; an Original Six team grabs the final Stanley Cup Playoffs spot; and pro football nears a return to the nation’s capital.  Israeli strike kills family of 10 in Gaza as UN raises alarm over food cutoff. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Theme music The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

AP's Lisa Dwyer reports that DOGE wanted to assign staff to a nonprofit because they received federal funding.

Ed Chung, vice president of initiatives at the Vera Institute, joins the show to discuss the Trump administration's criminal justice and immigration plans, and how to push back against its dangerous narratives on crime. Daniella and Erin also talk about the Department of Government Efficiency and speak with Allison McManus, managing director of National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, about the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.

Do longer prison sentences reduce crime? It seems obvious that they should. Even if they don't deter anyone, they at least keep criminals locked up where they can't hurt law-abiding citizens. If, as the studies suggest, 1% of people commit 63% of the crime, locking up that 1% should dramatically decrease crime rates regardless of whether it scares anyone else. And blue state soft-on-crime policies have been followed by increasing theft and disorder. On the other hand, people in the field keep saying there's no relationship. For example, criminal justice nonprofit Vera Institute says that Research Shows That Long Prison Sentences Don't Actually Improve Safety. And this seems to be a common position; William Chambliss, one of the nation's top criminologists, said in 1999 that “virtually everyone who studies or works in the criminal justice system agrees that putting people in prison is costly and ineffective.” This essay is an attempt to figure out what's going on, who's right, whether prison works, and whether other things work better/worse than prison. https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/prison-and-crime-much-more-than-you

ANILU VAZQUEZ-UBARRI Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer at TPG, based in San Francisco. She is a member of the firm's board of directors and executive committee. As COO, Anilu leads TPG's operational functions globally and is responsible for aligning these functions and strategy with the firm's strategic business and investment priorities. She previously served as the firm's Chief Human Resources Officer, responsible for creating and implementing a multi-year human resources strategy that institutionalized TPG's culture of inclusivity, transparency, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Anilu is a founding member and executive sponsor of TPG NEXT, the firm's strategy to seed and accelerate the growth of investment firms owned by underrepresented leaders. Prior to joining TPG in 2018, Anilu was with Goldman Sachs for more than 11 years, where she last served as the firm's Global Head of Talent and Chief Diversity Officer. She was an associate at Shearman & Sterling LLP in the Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits group from 2002 to 2007. Anilu currently serves on the boards of Greenhouse and Upwork, as well as on several non-profits and academic boards including The Vera Institute of Justice, Charter School Growth Fund, and the Fordham University School of Law Alumni Board. Anilu received an AB in History and Latin American Studies, cum laude, from Princeton University and a JD from Fordham University School of Law. RELATED LINKS TPG Profile Beyond Barriers (podcast) VC Changing Landscape (Fortune) Latino Majority (interview) Upwork (board profile) GENERAL INFO| TOP OF THE GAME: Official website: https://topofthegame-thepod.com/ RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/topofthegame-thepod/feed.xml Hosting service show website: https://topofthegame-thepod.podbean.com/ Javier's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/javiersaade  SUPPORT & CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/96934564 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551086203755 Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOPOFGAMEpod Subscribe on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/vLKLE1SKjf6G Email us: info@topofthegame-thepod.com   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING – AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS

Sacrifice Zones airs on WFMP 106.5FM/lp and ForwardRadio.org on Sundays at 11am, Mondays at 8am and Tuesdays at 2pm. We are doing a series of conversations with people at Voices of Community Activists and Leaders-Kentucky (VOCAL-KY). This is the first show in that series that follows the introduction we did with Pony Morris. This podcast contains no music. Show Notes: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/harm-reduction Voices of Community Activists and Leaders info@vocal-ky.org Vera Institute study on the criminalization of poverty in Kentucky https://www.vera.org/publications/the-criminalization-of-poverty-in-kentucky Flock cameras in southeast Louisville https://www.wdrb.com/news/plan-to-install-17-new-flock-cameras-in-southeast-louisville-area-brings-mixed-reaction/article_068be7d2-85dd-11ef-9af0-1f4e86df2604.html

The prison system in the U.S. typically places a heavy emphasis on security, control, and punishment, and this foundation can create an adversarial culture within correctional facilities — incarcerated individuals versus correctional staff. But what if that culture could change? What would it look like? How would it impact not only incarcerated individuals but also correctional officers and other staff?Restoring Promise, a program operated by the Vera Institute of Justice and the MILPA Collective, redesigns life in American prison units by promoting a culture of individual dignity, healing, character, leadership, and restorative justice. Using lessons learned from prisons in other countries, Restoring Promise charts a new and hopeful course for the future of corrections in the United States, with encouraging results from a recent NIJ-funded evaluation.  NIJ host Josh Mondoro talks with Kyleigh Clark-Moorman of NIJ, Selma Djokovic of the Vera Institute of Justice, and Josh Somers of the MILPA Collective about the Restoring Promise program and its impact. Read the transcript.Reading and Resources from NIJTransforming Correctional Culture and Climate | ArticleRestoring Promise | Article Changing Prison Culture Reduces Violence | ReportRestoring Promise: A Randomized Control Trial Examining the Impact of an Innovative Young Adult Housing on Reducing Violence | ReportOther resourcesRestoring Promise | WebsiteVera Institute of Justice | WebsiteMILPA Collective | Website 

WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore discusses a recent panel about the Pre-Trial Fairness Act in Illinois and if it is working. We hear from Joe Tabor, Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr. & Insha Rahman on the matter.  Joe Tabor is the Director of Policy Research at the Illinois Policy Institute. Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr. is the Cook County Public Defender. & Insha Rahman is the vice president of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice.

This is a segment of episode 363 of Last Born In The Wilderness, “The Jail is Everywhere: The Quiet Jail Boom & The Insidious Logic Of Carceral Humanism w/ Lydia Pelot-Hobbs & Jack Norton.” Listen to the full episode: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/pelothobbes-norton Learn more about The Jail is Everywhere and purchase a copy from Verso Books or Bookshop: https://bit.ly/49YrCMS / https://bit.ly/4dsnTuf Lydia Pelot-Hobbs and Jack Norton, co-editors of the collection The Jail is Everywhere, join me in this interview to discuss the “quiet jail boom” in numerous counties across the United States. They examine how the county jail has become the preeminent site of the adaptive, expansive, and shapeshifting carceral state, as well as the local and nationwide struggles to end it. Lydia Pelot-Hobbs is an Assistant Professor of Geography and African American & Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky, and author of Prison Capital: Mass Incarceration and Struggles for Abolition Democracy in Louisiana. Jack Norton is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Governors State University, and was a senior research associate at the Vera Institute of Justice. He conducted research for the In Our Backyards initiative and investigated how counties across the United States use their local jails. WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast SUBSTACK: https://lastborninthewilderness.substack.com BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://linktr.ee/patterns.of.behavior

On Tuesday, May 14 the New York For All coalition held a rally at the Capitol to call for the passage of the New York For All Act. All New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, want to lead open lives without intimidation. The New York for All Act offers protections that help make this possible by prohibiting all local law enforcement and state agencies from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). We hear from several speakers, starting with Robert Agyemang, Vice President of Advocacy for the NY Immigration Coalition, who served as moderator. Other speakers were Marcos Martinez, Alianza Agrícola; Rebecca Lamorte, Greater New York LECET union; Rosie Wang, Vera Institute of Justice; Rosa Cohen-Cruz, Bronx Defenders. With Mark Dunlea for the Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Lydia Pelot-Hobbs and Jack Norton, co-editors of the collection The Jail is Everywhere, join me in this interview to discuss the “quiet jail boom” in numerous counties across the United States. They examine how the county jail has become the preeminent site of the adaptive, expansive, and shapeshifting carceral state, as well as the local and nationwide struggles to end it. The Jail is Everywhere: Fighting the New Geography of Mass Incarceration is edited by Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, Jack Norton, and Judah Schept, with contributions by, and interviews with, numerous anti-jail organizers across the United States. It was published through Verso Books. Lydia Pelot-Hobbs is an Assistant Professor of Geography and African American & Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky, and author of Prison Capital: Mass Incarceration and Struggles for Abolition Democracy in Louisiana. Jack Norton is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Governors State University, and was a senior research associate at the Vera Institute of Justice. He conducted research for the In Our Backyards initiative and investigated how counties across the United States use their local jails. Episode Notes: - Learn more about The Jail is Everywhere and purchase a copy from Verso Books or Bookshop: https://bit.ly/49YrCMS / https://bit.ly/4dsnTuf - Read an excerpt from the book at The Baffler: https://bit.ly/4aT8VeU - Music produced by Epik The Dawn: https://epikbeats.net WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast SUBSTACK: https://lastborninthewilderness.substack.com BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://linktr.ee/patterns.of.behavior

In the midst of a national legislative and social attack on the transgender community, a new report addresses the experiences of trans people living behind bars. The report is called Advancing Transgender Justice: Illuminating Trans Lives Behind and Beyond Bars, and it was written by the Vera Institute for Justice with support from Black and Pink. Joining us to discuss are Kelsie Chesnut, a senior researcher with the Vera Institute for Justice, and a lead researcher and co-author of the new report along with Kenna Barnes, the Advocacy Manager with Black and Pink, an abolitionist organization supporting LGBTQ and HIV-positive prisoners. Read the report: https://www.vera.org/advancing-transgender-justice Check out Black & Pink's website: https://www.blackandpink.org/ Check out the Vera Institute's website: https://vera.org/ — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post Trans Lives Behind Bars w/ Kenna Barnes (Black & Pink) & Kelsie Chesnut (Vera Institute for Justice) appeared first on KPFA.

The Second Chances Mini-Series spotlights four people who are finding their way after incarceration and who have been able to build a career doing what they love. This mini-series are their stories. Up first is Gabrielle Perry, MPH. Thank you, Gabrielle, for sharing your very personal story with us.  In this powerful podcast episode, host Whitney Lee engages in a candid conversation with Gabrielle Perry, founder of the Thurman Perry Foundation. They discuss the challenges faced by women impacted by incarceration, discussing reentry into society, the impact of incarceration on individuals and communities, and the importance of dignity and empathy in the criminal legal system. Gabrielle shares her personal journey of resilience having faced being a caregiver at a young age, incarceration, and homelessness, and having succeeded in becoming an epidemiologist. Her life story sheds light on the systemic barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals. Even one day in jail uproots an entire life and the community that that life touches. Gabrielle shares too about survivors guilt after beating the odds, and recalls the moment she had to decide whether she would be upfront about her history to future employers and educators.Through their discussion, they challenge societal perceptions and biases towards those with criminal legal involvement or criminal convictions, emphasizing the need for compassion and support in the reentry process. April is Second Chance Month in the United States. During Second Chance month, we bring awareness to the journey of formerly incarcerated people returning to society. Communities throughout the United States are in dire need of a stronger reentry ecosystem for those returning from incarceration and institutionalization. Formerly incarcerated people and people with arrest records, truancy records, or other involvement with the criminal legal system face a stigma that is life long and impacts the ability to someone to secure safe and affordable housing, and to secure gainful employment or access to certain careers, among other things. Resources Mentioned:Thurman Perry Foundation: https://thurmanperryfoundation.org/The Thurman Perry Foundation is a Louisiana-based non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls impacted by incarceration. They have several signature programs including the Perry Second Chance Scholarship to fund higher education for women and girls impacted by incarceration (accepting applications through April 2024!) Girl Code - a program to end period poverty in prison, and the Mothers Day 365 housing relief fund.  Donations to the Thurman Perry Foundation are tax deductible and always welcome!To learn more and see data about the impact that the carceral system has in the United States, visit the Prison Policy Initiative at https://www.prisonpolicy.org or the Vera Institute of Justice at https://www.vera.orgConnect with Gabrielle on Twitter/X @ThurmanPerryFDN Find Whitney on IG @impostrixpodcaInterested in a free discovery call to see how W. Knox Lee Consulting & Mediation could help you achieve your goals? Email the team at info@wknoxlee.com.Support the show SUBSCRIBE to the Validating Voice NewsletterSUPPORT Impostrix Podcast

King County is taking a comprehensive, community-focused approach that early data suggests is helping steer young people away from cycles of violence. In an interview with the Hacks & Wonks podcast, Eleuthera Lisch, director of the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention, discussed the promising impacts of the county's community violence intervention initiatives. At the heart of the strategy are organizations like Regional Peacekeepers Collective and Rainier Beach Action Coalition - Restorative Solutions that employ street outreach workers and "violence interrupters" - credible messengers with lived experience who can rapidly respond to shooting incidents. When violence interrupters are deployed to active scenes involving law enforcement, their role is crucial. "They will be able to de-escalate tensions, they will be able to form rapid rapport, and they will be able to create a follow-up and safety plan for the individuals that they are able to connect with," Lisch explained. Their expertise in crisis intervention and rapport-building can help defuse volatile situations and ensure the well-being of those involved. Violence interrupters don't just react to youth gun-violence, but work proactively to prevent it. "They're providing daily contact - they're connecting with that young person, they're checking in on their well-being, their safety," said Lisch. "They're helping make sure that that young person is able to access rides and supports to get to and from court as needed, to get re-entered into school, re-engaged in school, to get to employment opportunities." While the work is still maturing, Lisch pointed to some early positive signs of impact, including: The average age of those involved in shootings rising into the 30s, suggesting fewer youth are getting caught up in violence cycles Over 400 high-risk youth currently being intensively mentored Reductions in youths' re-hospitalization rates after gun injuries Decreases in losses from youth shoplifting near outreach sites "We're seeing loss prevention happening - that there are less young people, through whatever crisis they are in, going into stores and taking things that don't belong to them," Lisch said. She cautioned that transformational change can take 4-5 years to manifest fully as interventionists build trust. But the initial data "is a strong indicator that we are seeing a downtrend in young people involved in gun violence." Lisch stressed the need for sustained funding and coordination across jurisdictions. “First and foremost, our advice is to fund peace, fund safety…If we're seeking safe communities and we're seeking peace, we have to invest in the strategies that help us get there. The county is working to evaluate the efforts and demonstrate their cost effectiveness. “We've just recently contracted a cost-of-violence analysis to help support our local elected leaders in King County and at the state of Washington level to understand the cost savings of community violence intervention strategies.” Even as the community intervention programs show promise, Lisch emphasized there are ways all residents can get involved and be part of the solution. "We can all participate in safe storage, and we can all participate in amplifying the message that community-led solutions are important and that they are a functional part of a holistic public safety framework," she said. "We often talk about gun violence being a disease. I want to emphasize, as strongly as I possibly can, that the community is the cure." The data suggests this public health-focused approach, with the community leading the way, is making a positive impact. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available below and at officialhacksandwonks.com. Follow us on Twitter at @HacksWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Twitter at @finchfrii and find the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention at @kingcountyrgv. About the Guest  Eleuthera Lisch Eleuthera Lisch (She/Her) is a violence prevention professional with over 27- years of experience developing, implementing, and bringing to scale cutting edge gun violence prevention, intervention, public safety, and community reconciliation programs, both nationally and internationally. Eleuthera serves as the inaugural director for the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention for Public Health-Seattle & King County. As a seasoned strategist, social change innovator, advocate for social justice, and champion for community safety and well-being, Eleuthera proudly supports grassroots to “grass tops” partnerships and emerging leaders. She has raised millions in funding/endowments for gun violence prevention programs and other services in Seattle and King County and has consulted to provide subject matter expertise in cities across the nation.  She received a White House Champion for Change Award in 2012 for her work with the Dept. of Justice National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention and featured as a model "social change agent" in Paul Shoemaker's Can't Not Do, The Compelling Social Drive that Changes the World.  Eleuthera is proud to be a member of the National Office of Prevention Directors Network. She is grateful for the giants whose shoulders the movement to prevent gun violence was built on and honored to work with communities and champions across the nation who strive to ensure that all communities, families, and individuals can live free of violence and thrive.  Eleuthera was born in Puerto Rico and is the proud daughter of noted activist Arthur Lisch and teacher Paula Lisch. She lives with her husband of 30 years, Patrick Burningham, in Southeast Seattle, Washington. Find the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention on Twitter/X at @kingcountyrgv. Resources King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention    “King County to start Office of Gun Violence Prevention” by David Gutman from The Seattle Times   Community Violence Intervention | Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health   Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) | Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice   “Community Violence Intervention Programs, Explained” by Nazish Dholakia and Daniela Gilbert from Vera Institute of Justice   King County gun violence data | King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office   Lock It Up: Promoting the safe storage of firearms | Public Health - Seattle & King County   “Governor Newsom Signs Historic Tax on Gun Manufacturers to Fund School Safety and Violence Prevention Programs” | September 26, 2023 Press Release from Office of Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel

Joining This Is Hell! today are Jacob Kang-Brown and James Gilgore to discuss the uses, abuses, and inequities of the use of wearable electronic monitoring devices in the US criminal legal system. Jacob co-authored the Vera Institute report, "People on Electronic Monitoring," with Jessica Zhang and Ari Kotler. James co-wrote the book, "Understanding E-Carcertation: Electronic Monitoring, the Surveillance State, and the Future of Mass Incarceration," published by The New Press. Check out Jacob's report here: https://www.vera.org/publications/people-on-electronic-monitoring Check out James' book here: https://thenewpress.com/books/understanding-e-carceration Help keep This Is Hell! completely listener supported and access weekly bonus episodes by subscribing to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thisishell

Recent events have compelled nonprofit organizations to hange the way they get work done, how they deliver their services, and what they do to achieve a more just and equitable society. So, The Business of Giving has connected with those organizations that are doing this exceptionally well in a segment we call: The Paths Forward. Because there is more than just one way.

Discover the inspiring journey of Chalana McFarland, a 2021 Presidential Executive Clemency Recipient, as she shares her incredible story on "Getting to the Top!" Join me in exploring her path from a first-time offender serving 17 years in federal custody to becoming a vocal advocate for criminal justice and prison reform. Chalana, a former law practitioner, honors graduate of Florida A&M University, and author of the upcoming book "Collateral Consequences," offers unique insights. In this podcast, we delve into Chalana's roles as a Project Manager for CAN-DO Clemency, legislative reform co-chair, and Administrative In-Reach Coordinator for the Ladies of Hope Ministries. She actively contributes to initiatives like the Women of Color Initiative and serves on advisory boards for organizations like Fighting4Freedom and the Atlanta Incarcerated Art Project. Listen to Chalana's powerful voice on "Getting to the Top!" where she shares her experiences as a keynote speaker, faculty member for the 2021 NACDL State Criminal Justice Network Conference, and featured contributor to the Westside Gazette. Engage with her impactful work on the Commutation and Pardons Work Group, Forever Families Ad Hoc Work Group, and as a mentor for Prison to Ph.D (P2P). Chalana's story has reached national platforms, including NPR, StoryCorps, PBS News Hour, and Sirius Roach Brown Show. She has been featured on ACLU and VERA Institute sites. Subscribe now on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube to be inspired by the transformative journey of this remarkable woman. Join us in celebrating resilience, advocacy, and the pursuit of justice.

City Lights LIVE, The New Press, and Princeton University Press celebrate the publication of two new books: “America Purgatory: Prison Imperialism and the Rise of Mass Incarceration” by Benjamin Weber, published by The New Press, and "To Build a Black Future: The Radical Politics of Joy, Pain, and Care” by Christopher Paul Harris, published by Princeton University Press. “American Purgatory” is a vivid work of hidden history that spans the wars to subjugate Native Americans in the mid-nineteenth century, the conquest of the western territories, and the creation of an American empire in Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. "American Purgatory" reveals how “prison imperialism”—the deliberate use of prisons to control restive, subject populations—is written into our national DNA, extending through to our modern era of mass incarceration. Weber also uncovers a surprisingly rich history of prison resistance, from the Seminole Chief Osceola to Assata Shakur—one that invites us to rethink the scope of America's long freedom struggle. To “Build a Black Future” examines the spirit and significance of this insurgency, offering a revelatory account of a new political culture—responsive to pain, suffused with joy, and premised on care—emerging from the centuries-long arc of Black rebellion, a tradition that traces back to the Black slave. Drawing on his own experiences as an activist and organizer, Christopher Paul Harris takes readers inside the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) to chart the propulsive trajectory of Black politics and thought from the Middle Passage to the present historical moment. Carefully attending to the social forces that produce Black struggle and the contradictions that arise within it, Harris illustrates how M4BL gives voice to an abolitionist praxis that bridges the past, present, and future, outlining a political project at once directed inward to the Black community while issuing an outward challenge to the world. Benjamin Weber is an assistant professor of African American and African Studies at the University of California, Davis. He has worked at the Vera Institute of Justice, Alternate ROOTS, the Marcus Garvey and UNIA Papers Project, and as a public high school teacher in East Los Angeles. He makes his home in Davis, California. Christopher Paul Harris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and International Studies at University of California, Irvine. His research interests range from Black political thought, culture, aesthetics, and social movements to broader questions concerning the possibility of revolutionary transformation in the 21st century. Advancing an abolitionist critique of the capitalist world-system, his work aims to understand the political lives, thought, and cultures of the Black diaspora and the underlying social forces that shape them. You can purchase copies of “America Purgatory: Prison Imperialism and the Rise of Mass Incarceration” at https://citylights.com/new-nonfiction-in-hardcover/amer-purgatory-prison-imperialism/. You can purchase copies of “To Build a Black Future: The Radical Politics of Joy, Pain, and Care” at https://citylights.com/new-nonfiction-in-hardcover/to-build-a-black-future-radical-politi/. This event is made possible with the support of the City Lights Foundation. To learn more visit: https://citylights.com/foundation/.

In this episode of Capital for Good we speak with Nick Turner, the president and director of the Vera Institute of Justice, where he has spearheaded the organization's work over the last decade to end overcriminalization and mass incarceration in the United States. Turner is one of the nation's most visible and important leaders on criminal legal reform – and on a broader set of equity and justice issues. We begin with some of the formative experiences that would shape Turner's lifelong commitment to justice, fairness, and understanding “how things work — or don't work — for people.” The son of Black and Filipina parents, Turner grew up in Washington, DC, attended a Quaker school with a deep service ethos — and would return to Washington after college to work with court-involved, homeless, and disconnected young people at Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a youth services organization. After Sasha Bruce, Turner says he could never “unsee” the glaring underinvestment in that community and in the potential of its young people — and would go on to pursue a career focused on the structural changes necessary to address these inequities. We discuss the complex issue of mass incarceration; the politics of fear that drive excessive policing, charging, and sentencing; the criminalization of poverty; and the deeply racial disparities and underpinnings of a legal and carceral system that would grow 700 percent between 1972 and 2009, when 2.5 million people in the United States were behind bars and half of all American families have had an immediate family member incarcerated. Turner reminds us, and the data show, that incarceration in the United States is often counterproductive. The severe disruptions and trauma that come with time behind bars can lead to a vicious cycle of instability, poverty, crime, and reincarceration. Although we have made significant progress — the number of people incarcerated is down 25 percent from 2009 — we find ourselves again in a moment when fears about crime and public safety have dampened support for important and evidenced-based criminal justice reforms. In addition to some of the better known and proven reforms (i.e., those related to bail and sentencing), Turner describes alternatives to conventional policing and incarceration — responding to mental health, housing, or substance use crises with trained specialists instead of police, community violence intervention programs — that reduce crime, deliver safety and accountability, and help shrink the jail and prison populations. We also touch on important rehabilitative efforts to improve conditions behind bars (such as education and restorative housing pilots) and ways the private sector — through changes to hiring and housing policies — can improve opportunities for people to be successful once they are released. Turner notes that despite the polarizing politics of public safety, most Americans are now “smarter” about the harmful costs of mass incarceration — younger generations particularly so — and support change. “It is possible to have public safety and justice,” he says. “People want safety, they also want solutions.” Thanks for listening! Subscribe to Capital for Good on Apple, Amazon, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Drop us a line at socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu.  Mentioned in this episode Ending Mass Incarceration, (Vera Institute of Justice) The Prison Paradox: More Incarceration Will Not Make Us Safer, (Vera Institute of Justice) Nearly Half of Americans Have Had a Family Member Jailed, Imprisoned, (Cornell University, 2019)

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Amy Dallas, J.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Amy's work with the Vera Institute of Justice is focused on supporting prosecution offices across the U.S. in making policy changes that divert community members from the justice system. These policy changes are accomplished through partnerships with offices in various jurisdictions. Policy changes can range from declining cases to recommending offenders to restorative justice diversion programs, and more. Amy shares examples of successful diversion efforts and her hopes for restorative justice policies moving forward to combat the epidemic of mass incarceration in the United States. Amy is an attorney passionate about expanding restorative approaches to addressing conflict and harm, instead of the traditional over-reliance on legal systems. She is program manager of the Reshaping Prosecution Collaborative Justice Network at the Vera Institute of Justice, an initiative bridging relationships nationwide to co-create public safety through restorative practices, systems of mutual support, and social ingenuity. Previously, Amy was a public defender for 10 years in Brooklyn, New York with the Legal Aid Society. She currently advises several organizations focused on community care for families of incarcerated loved ones and people returning home from prison Tune in to learn more about Amy's work and perspective on diversion methods, collaboration, and supporting justice efforts that put communities first.

We find ourselves at a moment of great challenge – and opportunity.  In this season of Capital for Good, we'll explore how the world's political, economic, and climate crises have compelled us to reimagine how leaders across the private, nonprofit, and public sectors champion social and environmental change in ways that truly advance shared prosperity and a sustainable future. This season host Georgia Levenson Keohane will speak with a dynamic line-up of leaders, including business and nonprofit leader Andrea Jung, the former CEO of Avon and current president and CEO of Grameen America; Nick Turner, the president of the Vera Institute of Justice; Pulitzer prize winner, New York Times writer, and author David Leonhardt; Sonal Shah, the CEO of the Texas Tribune; political strategist and arts and civic leader Luis Miranda; corporate and sustainability pioneer Audrey Choi; Shaun Donovan, government leader and current Enterprise Community Partners CEO; and Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, the leading human rights and free expression organization; and more!

If you're tired of restricted funding that only allocates 10% (or less) of a grant for admin and overhead, Nick Turner shares how he successfully makes a case for unrestricted grants and gifts.  Nick Vera is the CEO of the Institute of Justice, and he has dramatically grown his organization by soliciting and leveraging unrestricted gifts. In this episode, you and Nick will explore: The importance in gaining funder confidence before asking for large unrestricted grants Strategies for overcoming funder hesitancy to make unrestricted grants Tactics for setting boundaries with funders who want to be overly granular in their restrictions Similar episodes you will find useful include:  Ep 170: Challenge the Fundraising Status Quo with Sherry Quam Taylor (Apple) (Spotify) Ep 279: Standing Up for Equitable Funding Practices with Lauren Steiner (Apple) (Spotify) Links mentioned in the episode: Vera Institute of Justice Website https://www.vera.org/ Vera Institute of Justice Twitter https://twitter.com/verainstitute Vera Institute of Justice LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/verainstitute/ Vera institute of Justice Facebook https://www.facebook.com/verainstitute Vera Institute of Justice Mastodon https://mstdn.social/@verainstitute

Historian and African American Studies professor at the University of California, Davis, Benjamin D. Weber joins us to discuss his latest book, American Purgatory: Prison Imperialism and the Rise of Mass Incarceration. Benjamin has been recognized for his teaching and multimedia work, including being named the National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the United States, winning an Omni Gold Award for The Calderwood Series he hosts on PBS Learning Media, and co-directing Louisiana's contribution to the States of Incarceration national public history project. He has worked at the Vera Institute of Justice, Alternate ROOTS, the Marcus Garvey Papers Project, and as a public High School Teacher in East Los Angeles. Benjamin earned his PhD from Harvard University, and a master's in social studies education from Brown University. American Purgatory (The New Press), a reckoning with incarceration and empire, is his first book. Tune in on Wednesday, October 11 @ 6pm EST!

Join us as Cisco Gallardo, Ofonzo Staton, and Rafael Brown discuss finding transformational healing despite being incarcerated, and recognizing the impact that you have on those around you.To learn more, please visit: MILPA Collective, Restoring Promise, Vera Institute, Brotherhood of Elders Network, National Compadres NetworkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/healgenpodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HealGenPodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Healing.Generations.PodcastEmail: HGP@compadresnetwork.org

Welcome Ben Free listeners to a wonderful episode of Ben interviewing an  amazing person  that loves music we have Lotto. Take a listen into how love of music, family and life have shaped him into creating music for the world. They told them they had LIFE, and they were never coming home. Now they are home through overturned convictions and survived sentences. Recently coming home himself after 18 years in prison, Benjamin Frandsen leads us on weekly interviews through the emotions, thoughts and processes of those who have survived their heavy handed sentences. When Benjamin Frandsen was only ten months old, his mother would sit him up on the kitchen counter so she could chat with him, not in baby-talk lexicon but rather like a small university colleague. After witnessing this phenomenon one day, her friend exclaimed, “Why do you talk to that baby like he's Winston Churchill?” “Because,” she fired back, “if I wanted him to saying nothing but woodjy-goodgy- gaga all the time, I'd talk to him like that. I want him to use his words!” And use them he did. At the age of ten, he delighted her with a homemade book of his original poetry. Basking in the light of her proud face, he felt as if the course of his life were being set, like tumblers in a lock clicking into place. He knew then what he wanted to be when he grew up—a wordsmith. Since then, he's written environmental impact report, copywriting for Barbie™, and a professional contract screenplay. His publications have included several editorials, flash-fiction and essay pieces in Columbia University's exCHANGE magazine, poetry in Iconoclast, and memoir excerpts through the Vera Institute of Justice. He has won prizes and honorariums for screenplays, websodes, poetry, and essays through PEN America and has been published in their annual anthologies for three years running. Last year his essay earned him PEN's prestigious L'Engle-Rahman Prize for Mentorship, and this year he is launching his career in professional public speaking, writing and developing scripts forThe Coin studio, and hosting his own show called the Ben Free podcast. Recently, his close friend cautioned him, “You can't just do everything!” Ben simply grinned and said, “Watch me.”

Welcome Ben Free listeners to a wonderful episode of Ben interviewing an  amazing person  that loves music we have Prosky. Take a listen into how love of music, magazines and film can take someone on a beautiful music journey. They told them they had LIFE, and they were never coming home. Now they are home through overturned convictions and survived sentences. Recently coming home himself after 18 years in prison, Benjamin Frandsen leads us on weekly interviews through the emotions, thoughts and processes of those who have survived their heavy handed sentences. When Benjamin Frandsen was only ten months old, his mother would sit him up on the kitchen counter so she could chat with him, not in baby-talk lexicon but rather like a small university colleague. After witnessing this phenomenon one day, her friend exclaimed, “Why do you talk to that baby like he's Winston Churchill?” “Because,” she fired back, “if I wanted him to saying nothing but woodjy-goodgy- gaga all the time, I'd talk to him like that. I want him to use his words!” And use them he did. At the age of ten, he delighted her with a homemade book of his original poetry. Basking in the light of her proud face, he felt as if the course of his life were being set, like tumblers in a lock clicking into place. He knew then what he wanted to be when he grew up—a wordsmith. Since then, he's written environmental impact report, copywriting for Barbie™, and a professional contract screenplay. His publications have included several editorials, flash-fiction and essay pieces in Columbia University's exCHANGE magazine, poetry in Iconoclast, and memoir excerpts through the Vera Institute of Justice. He has won prizes and honorariums for screenplays, websodes, poetry, and essays through PEN America and has been published in their annual anthologies for three years running. Last year his essay earned him PEN's prestigious L'Engle-Rahman Prize for Mentorship, and this year he is launching his career in professional public speaking, writing and developing scripts forThe Coin studio, and hosting his own show called the Ben Free podcast. Recently, his close friend cautioned him, “You can't just do everything!” Ben simply grinned and said, “Watch me.”

Mass incarceration is a cancer that's devouring Black communities. Writer and filmmaker Asia Johnson joins us and shares her experiences as a formerly incarcerated woman - and her visions for a new system of justice. Recorded with a live audience. Also on video!SHOW NOTESGuest: Asia JohnsonAsia Johnson is a writer, filmmaker, and activist for the rights of incarcerated people. She is the Manager of Storytelling for zealo.us, a national advocacy, arts, education, and media institute. Her debut short film “Out of Place” screened at universities across the country. She is currently working on her first feature length documentary.Check out the VIDEO of this episode! More about Asia and her work:Asia's homepageAsia's first film Out Of Placezealo.usRight of Return FellowshipArt for Justice More about the prison-industrial complex:13th (Ava DuVernay's documentary masterpiece)The New Jim Crow (Michelle Alexander's definitive book)Vera Institute of Justice More about Restorative Justice:Until We Reckon (book by Danielle Sered)Common Justice (Sered's RJ organization in Chicago)Restorativejustice.orgHighlights of episode:[8:20] Asia shares her early life and family experiences[18:20] Asia shares her experience in prison[22:23] [Asia explains challenges people face after prison[31:59] Asia envisions abolition of mass incarceration[37:24] More productive ways to spend $200 billion[38:56] Restorative justice as alternative to mass incarceration[55:03] Adam discusses indifference of white America as key obstacle[56:24] Asia's Q&A with the audience[1:14:37] Asia's closing poem and call to actionContact Tony & AdamSubscribe

The United States has five percent of the world's population but 25 percent of its incarcerated individuals. But the statistics only tell part of the story. Behind the numbers are real people.  Stanley Frankart is someone who made it out of the prison system and is now helping others to do the same.  Through the nonprofit he co-founded, Young Christian Professionals, Frankart and his team offer character education and professional development to reduce rates of recidivism.  Learn More:  -Young Chrisitan Professionals: youngchristianprofessionals.org -Vera Institute: vera.org  -Prison Policy Initiative: prisonpolicy.org -The Witness Foundation: thewitnessfoundation.co  FIGHTING RACISM is a miniseries powered by FOOTNOTES WITH JEMAR TISBY and is made in collaboration with the RELIGION NEWS SERVICE. Our producer for the show is Beau York with special thanks to Kathryn Post, Paul O'Donnell, Roxanne Stone, and Adelle Banks. Our sponsor for the series is Zondervan Reflective, publishers of How to Fight Racism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Insha Rahman, vice president for advocacy and partnership at the Vera Institute of Justice and expert on bail and pretrial detention, joined us to help correct misunderstandings about bail, and she points out that reforming pretrial detention can make our communities both safe and just. She parses out the politics from the policies both nationally and in Shelby County, Tennessee, where significant changes to the pretrial detention process were implemented in mid-February 2023.

All New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, want to lead open lives, participating in everyday activities, without the fear that local police or state agencies will turn them over to ICE for deportation. On April 25th. The New York For all Coalition rallied at the Capitol in support of the New York For All Act, which prohibits local law enforcement and state agencies from working with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrols. We hear from Cassie Bocanegra, of the NY Immigration Coalition; the main bill sponsors Assemblymember Karines Reyes; Senator Andrew Gounardes; Richard, a Nigerian with the Immigrant Defense Project; Luis Jiminez with Alianza Agricola; and Rosie Wang of the Vera Institute of Justice

Crime, crime, crime! We all want to be safe, but are our politicians using crime to fearmonger, influencing our choices? What is the truth about bail reform in the states that have enacted it? How do you engage with someone who has been scared by all the fear mongering? To answer those questions and more, L. Joy is bringing Insha Rahman, Vice President, Advocacy & Partnerships at Vera Institute, to the front of the class.

Welcome Ben Free listeners to an wonderful episode of Ben interviewing an amazing person that loves music we have Regi Levi. Take a listen into how love of music create a dope sound and the things they discover in this delightful interview, come and take a listen.hey told them they had LIFE, and they were never coming home. Now they are home through overturned convictions and survived sentences. Recently coming home himself after 18 years in prison, Benjamin Frandsen leads us on weekly interviews through the emotions, thoughts and processes of those who have survived their heavy handed sentences. When Benjamin Frandsen was only ten months old, his mother would sit him up on the kitchen counter so she could chat with him, not in baby-talk lexicon but rather like a small university colleague. After witnessing this phenomenon one day, her friend exclaimed, “Why do you talk to that baby like he's Winston Churchill?” “Because,” she fired back, “if I wanted him to saying nothing but woodjy-goodgy- gaga all the time, I'd talk to him like that. I want him to use his words!” And use them he did. At the age of ten, he delighted her with a homemade book of his original poetry. Basking in the light of her proud face, he felt as if the course of his life were being set, like tumblers in a lock clicking into place. He knew then what he wanted to be when he grew up—a wordsmith. Since then, he's written environmental impact report, copywriting for Barbie™, and a professional contract screenplay. His publications have included several editorials, flash-fiction and essay pieces in Columbia University's exCHANGE magazine, poetry in Iconoclast, and memoir excerpts through the Vera Institute of Justice. He has won prizes and honorariums for screenplays, websodes, poetry, and essays through PEN America and has been published in their annual anthologies for three years running. Last year his essay earned him PEN's prestigious L'Engle-Rahman Prize for Mentorship, and this year he is launching his career in professional public speaking, writing and developing scripts forThe Coin studio, and hosting his own show called the Ben Free podcast. Recently, his close friend cautioned him, “You can't just do everything!” Ben simply grinned and said, “Watch me.”

Welcome Ben Free listeners to a wonderful episode of Ben interviewing an  amazing person  that loves music we have J Tim. Take a listen into how love of music create beautiful moments and creativity in anything and everything. So come take a listen.They told them they had LIFE, and they were never coming home. Now they are home through overturned convictions and survived sentences. Recently coming home himself after 18 years in prison, Benjamin Frandsen leads us on weekly interviews through the emotions, thoughts and processes of those who have survived their heavy handed sentences. When Benjamin Frandsen was only ten months old, his mother would sit him up on the kitchen counter so she could chat with him, not in baby-talk lexicon but rather like a small university colleague. After witnessing this phenomenon one day, her friend exclaimed, “Why do you talk to that baby like he's Winston Churchill?” “Because,” she fired back, “if I wanted him to saying nothing but woodjy-goodgy- gaga all the time, I'd talk to him like that. I want him to use his words!” And use them he did. At the age of ten, he delighted her with a homemade book of his original poetry. Basking in the light of her proud face, he felt as if the course of his life were being set, like tumblers in a lock clicking into place. He knew then what he wanted to be when he grew up—a wordsmith. Since then, he's written environmental impact report, copywriting for Barbie™, and a professional contract screenplay. His publications have included several editorials, flash-fiction and essay pieces in Columbia University's exCHANGE magazine, poetry in Iconoclast, and memoir excerpts through the Vera Institute of Justice. He has won prizes and honorariums for screenplays, websodes, poetry, and essays through PEN America and has been published in their annual anthologies for three years running. Last year his essay earned him PEN's prestigious L'Engle-Rahman Prize for Mentorship, and this year he is launching his career in professional public speaking, writing and developing scripts forThe Coin studio, and hosting his own show called the Ben Free podcast. Recently, his close friend cautioned him, “You can't just do everything!” Ben simply grinned and said, “Watch me.”

Andrew Bailey, Missouri's Attorney General, calls in to discuss his suit against St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner despite the 95-page motion to dismiss it.  Bailey points out that a statute, section 56.450, holds the circuit attorney responsible for all criminal cases under the law. He goes on to say that the circuit attorney, Kim Gardner, has not devoted her full time and energy to her official duties due to her involvement with the Vera Institute, which focuses on dismantling the criminal justice system and ending incarceration. Gardner is accused of dismissing or treating differently entire classes of offenders and entire classes of cases, Bailey suggests that her actions have led to blood in the streets. Also, he mentions the McCloskey case and other instances where Gardner went after people who were exercising their Second Amendment rights while letting murderers off the hook. He predicts that justice will prevail, and they hope to get the trial underway no later than August.   Photo credit: Bill Greenblatt/UPI

First, Genevieve Wood, Senior Advisor at the Heritage Foundation, and Marc discussed the recent mass shootings in Louisville. Wood criticized the press conference held by the mayor after the bank shooting, where the mayor repeatedly used the phrase "gun violence," stating that gun control was being pushed as a political agenda. She argued that gun control is not the main issue, but rather mental illness and hatred.Then, Andrew Bailey, Missouri's Attorney General, calls in to discuss  his suit against circuit attorney, Kim Gardner despite the 95 page motion to dismiss it. He goes on to say that the circuit attorney, Kim Gardner, has not devoted her full time and energy to her official duties due to her involvement with the Vera Institute, which focuses on dismantling the criminal justice system and ending incarceration.To wrap the hour, guess who is Olay's newest spokes person. 

Welcome Ben Free listeners to an wonderful episode of Ben interviewing two amazing people that love music we have young Ford and Amy. Take a listen into how their love of music can get them through tough times and find the silver lining in life. They told them they had LIFE, and they were never coming home. Now they are home through overturned convictions and survived sentences. Recently coming home himself after 18 years in prison, Benjamin Frandsen leads us on weekly interviews through the emotions, thoughts and processes of those who have survived their heavy handed sentences. When Benjamin Frandsen was only ten months old, his mother would sit him up on the kitchen counter so she could chat with him, not in baby-talk lexicon but rather like a small university colleague. After witnessing this phenomenon one day, her friend exclaimed, “Why do you talk to that baby like he's Winston Churchill?” “Because,” she fired back, “if I wanted him to saying nothing but woodjy-goodgy- gaga all the time, I'd talk to him like that. I want him to use his words!” And use them he did. At the age of ten, he delighted her with a homemade book of his original poetry. Basking in the light of her proud face, he felt as if the course of his life were being set, like tumblers in a lock clicking into place. He knew then what he wanted to be when he grew up—a wordsmith. Since then, he's written environmental impact report, copywriting for Barbie™, and a professional contract screenplay. His publications have included several editorials, flash-fiction and essay pieces in Columbia University's exCHANGE magazine, poetry in Iconoclast, and memoir excerpts through the Vera Institute of Justice. He has won prizes and honorariums for screenplays, websodes, poetry, and essays through PEN America and has been published in their annual anthologies for three years running. Last year his essay earned him PEN's prestigious L'Engle-Rahman Prize for Mentorship, and this year he is launching his career in professional public speaking, writing and developing scripts forThe Coin studio, and hosting his own show called the Ben Free podcast. Recently, his close friend cautioned him, “You can't just do everything!” Ben simply grinned and said, “Watch me.”

Where does New York's bail reform debate stand? And what does pretrial detention mean for those who have to suffer through it? Hell Gate catches up with Prakash Churaman, who spent his teen years being shuffled through New York's carceral system and just barely survived. We also talk with Jullian Harris-Calvin, director of the Greater Justice New York program at the Vera Institute of Justice, for some broader context on how bail reform became such a political live wire.You can read Max Rivlin-Nadler's reporting on Prakash Churaman's case here, here, here, and here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before COVID-19 came to America in early 2020, “going to court” literally meant putting on your shoes and walking into a courthouse, typically a large building with courtrooms inside, and people in robes and business suits and, in some cases, more restrictive attire.  Stoked by necessity, courts sprinted toward solutions for keeping the wheels of justice spinning while also keeping everyone away from each other. Until then it didn't seem possible that attorneys could or would appear before judges via digital screens, like George Jetson getting yelled at by Mr. Spacely over some hilarious mishap at the sprocket factory.Pew Charitable Trust concluded an in-depth study of the courts with the 2021 release of a report,  “How Courts Embraced Technology, Met the Pandemic Challenge, and Revolutionized Their Operations.” After examining emergency orders from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and court approaches to virtual hearings, e-filing, and digital notarization, the researchers wrote that it was a time for "reimagining how to administer justice.” Was the adoption of technology effective? Were there any hiccups? Was technology widely embraced? Were the effects of new efficiencies enjoyed evenly across the socio-economic spectrum? Do we think courts will continue to reimagine how they administer justice without the crushing pressure of widespread disease? Listen to my interview with Qudsiya Naqui who leads Pew's research at the intersection of technology and civil legal system reform. In this role, she evaluates and tests new technologies to ensure that they further efficiency, equity, and transparency in the legal process. This work is part of Pew's Civil Justice Modernization Project. Before joining Pew, Qudsiya designed and implemented immigration, housing, and disaster recovery legal services programs at Equal Justice Works and the Vera Institute of Justice. She began her legal career representing immigrant women and girls seeking relief from deportation.Qudsiya holds a bachelor's degree in political science and human rights from Barnard College and a Juris Doctor from Temple University.For more information about their work and the research, contact them at media@pewtrusts.org.This podcast is the audio companion to the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation. The Journal is a collaborative project between HB Litigation Conferences and the Fastcase legal research family, which includes Full Court Press, Law Street Media, and Docket Alarm. The podcast itself is a joint effort between HB and our friends at Law Street Media. If you have comments or wish to participate in one our projects please drop me a note at Editor@LitigationConferences.com. Tom Hagy Litigation Enthusiast and Host of the Emerging Litigation Podcast Home Page LinkedIn 

Stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that causes a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others. And each year, over 13 million people experience it in various ways - being followed, receiving unwanted communications or gifts, through social media, and more. And when the stalker is a former intimate partner, post-separation abuse can materialize as stalking. Rachel Gibson of the National Center for Victims of Crime leads us through the realities of stalking, its prevalence, how it manifests, how it impacts victims, how technology is weaponized by stalkers, and the steps we can take to counter these unwanted behaviors. Rachel Gibson is the Director of the Center for Victim Service Professionals at the National Center for Victims of Crime, where she works to further the mission by supporting and overseeing NCVC's programs for victim service professionals, providing training and technical assistance. She also is the founder of RG Williams Consulting designed to engage and support domestic violence programs and national and international gender-based agencies and non-profits that support staff of color and communities at the margins. Ms. Gibson was formerly a Senior Technology Safety Specialist on the Safety Net Team at the National Network to End Domestic Violence where she worked to increase the safety and privacy of survivors and victims of crime. There, she developed training and technical assistance and provided expert thought leadership to build the capacity of victim service providers, private industries, lawmakers, and communities at large to provide advocacy and support to survivors in this digital society. Prior to NNEDV, Ms. Gibson also worked at the National Resource Center on Reaching Victims through the Vera Institute of Justice, and at the former Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence as the Technology Safety Program Specialist.  

Caron Butler joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his life experience and career as an NBA player and now Assistant Coach. Among his good works, he is now a trustee with the Vera Institute of Justice where they are working on criminal justice reform and ending mass incarceration.

Currently, over 7 million people are under some form of carceral supervision in the United States–from custody to bail to probation. For our final episode, 70 Million reporter Mark Betancourt moderates a conversation about the role we, the public, play in creating and sustaining the matrix of incarceration as it exists today. He's joined by Cornell professor Peter K. Enns, author of the book Incarceration Nation: How the United States Became the Most Punitive Democracy in the World, and Insha Rahman, Vice President of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute.Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.

Nick Turner joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career working to reform our justice system and now serving as President of the Vera Institute for Justice, where they're working to end mass incarceration and strengthen communities.

With the U.S. midterm elections just behind us, to continue Off-Kilter's ongoing series of conversations about the limiting beliefs that we as a collective must release and replace to pave the way for economic liberation, Rebecca sat down with Nick Turner—president and director of the Vera Institute for Justice—to unpack two of the most toxic limiting beliefs in American politics that flared up dramatically in the recent midterms: the notion that you have to be “tough on crime” to win political office, and that safety requires tough on crime policies. They had a far-ranging conversation about expanding consciousness around America's broken criminal legal system in recent years—and how safety and justice can actually go hand in hand. For more: Learn more about the Vera Institute for Justice's work here Dig into Vera's polling on crime and safety narratives and the midterms here Follow Nick (@nickturner718) and the Vera Institute (@verainstitute) on Twitter

George Conway stops by to react to Trump's 2024 presidential announcement.  Ambassador Gordon Sondland stops by to talk to us about him time under Trump and his new book The Envoy. Then we're joined by Nick Turner President of the Vera Institute, who will talk to us about crime and the effect it had on the midterms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria and Julio are joined by Jullian Harris-Calvin, director of the Greater Justice New York program at the Vera Institute of Justice, and David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, artist and a former juvenile lifer. They discuss systemic issues within the criminal legal system, the case of Melissa Lucio, and the humanitarian crisis at New York City's Rikers Island jail complex. ITT Staff Picks: “The idea that my decision to take another person's life was not based on complete and accurate information in a fair trial is horrifying,” writes Johnny Galvan Jr., a juror in Melissa Lucio's case, in this opinion piece for the Houston Chronicle. Sara Dorn and Kimberly Gonzalez lay out a timeline of the calls to close Rikers Island and the steps that have been taken so far, for City and State New York. In a collaboration between ProPublica, The Marshall Project and NBC News, reporters investigated abuses at a new juvenile lockup in Louisiana, including 23-hour solitary confinement. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jeenah Moon