Vera Institute of Justice
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1961, the Vera Institute of Justice is an independent nonprofit national research and policy organization. Based primarily out of New York City
, Vera also has offices in Washington, DC, and New Orleans. Vera joins research, analysis, and expert assistance in order to plan, implement, and evaluate solutions to weaknesses in systems that deliver justice, such as courts, law enforcement, immigration, and social services. The Institute typically works in partnership with local, state, or national officials, and is active across the United States and around the world.
in 1961 by philanthropist Louis Schweitzer and magazine editor Herb Sturz. Schweitzer and Sturz considered the bail system used by the city at the time to be unjust, as it granted release based largely on income. Working with criminal justice leaders, they explored the problem, developed a solution, and rigorously tested it. Within a few years, they had demonstrated that New Yorkers too poor to afford bail but with strong ties to their communities could be released and still show up for trial. Eventually, the model devised by Vera was adopted in many municipalities across the United States
and led to the Bail Reform Act of 1966, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. was the most significant reform of the bail system in America since 1789.
to turn the foundation into a private nonprofit organization. The Ford Foundation
continues to support the Vera Institute, alongside Atlantic Philanthropies
, the Pew Charitable Trust, the Carnegie Corporation and the Open Society Institute
. Vera is also aligned with an international group of criminal justice think tanks known as Altus. Vera's annual operating budget is approximately $25 million. About 66% of its funding comes from work with governments, while the remaining amount is supplied through agencies and other donors.
violence and abuse. The commission was co-chaired by former U.S. Attorney General
Nicholas Katzenbach
and former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
, John Joseph Gibbons
. On June 8, 2006, the commission released its report to Congress, recommending more attention be given to address problems of violence, insufficient mental health
treatment, and health care
in prisons. At a broader level, the commission criticized U.S. policy
towards incarceration as costly and ineffective.
, Safe Horizon, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and New York City Criminal Justice Agency.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Vera also has offices in Washington, DC, and New Orleans. Vera joins research, analysis, and expert assistance in order to plan, implement, and evaluate solutions to weaknesses in systems that deliver justice, such as courts, law enforcement, immigration, and social services. The Institute typically works in partnership with local, state, or national officials, and is active across the United States and around the world.
Founding
The Vera Institute of Justice was founded in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1961 by philanthropist Louis Schweitzer and magazine editor Herb Sturz. Schweitzer and Sturz considered the bail system used by the city at the time to be unjust, as it granted release based largely on income. Working with criminal justice leaders, they explored the problem, developed a solution, and rigorously tested it. Within a few years, they had demonstrated that New Yorkers too poor to afford bail but with strong ties to their communities could be released and still show up for trial. Eventually, the model devised by Vera was adopted in many municipalities across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and led to the Bail Reform Act of 1966, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. was the most significant reform of the bail system in America since 1789.
Funding and support
In 1966, the Vera Institute of Justice received assistance from the Ford FoundationFord Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
to turn the foundation into a private nonprofit organization. The Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
continues to support the Vera Institute, alongside Atlantic Philanthropies
Atlantic Philanthropies
The Atlantic Philanthropies is a private foundation created in 1982 by US businessman Charles F. "Chuck" Feeney. The Atlantic Philanthropies grant-making supports health and social projects in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam...
, the Pew Charitable Trust, the Carnegie Corporation and the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
. Vera is also aligned with an international group of criminal justice think tanks known as Altus. Vera's annual operating budget is approximately $25 million. About 66% of its funding comes from work with governments, while the remaining amount is supplied through agencies and other donors.
Prison commission
The Vera Institute of Justice organized the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons, to study issues relating to prisonPrison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
violence and abuse. The commission was co-chaired by former U.S. Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Nicholas Katzenbach
Nicholas Katzenbach
Nicholas deBelleville Katzenbach is an American lawyer who served as United States Attorney General during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.-Early life:...
and former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
, John Joseph Gibbons
John Joseph Gibbons
John Joseph Gibbons is a former federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and is currently a partner at the law firm of Gibbons P.C.-Early career:...
. On June 8, 2006, the commission released its report to Congress, recommending more attention be given to address problems of violence, insufficient mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
treatment, and health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
in prisons. At a broader level, the commission criticized U.S. policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
towards incarceration as costly and ineffective.
Spin-offs
Although Vera's core mission has not changed in the 50 years since its inception, its projects and focus have evolved in concert with the needs of the people and government agencies it serves. One clear manifestation of this evolution has been Vera's history of spinning off some of its demonstration projects into separate nonprofit organizations. Of the dozens of demonstration projects Vera's initiated, 14 have become separate, autonomous entities--called "spin-offs"--with combined revenues of more than $200 million. Some of the more prominent of these spin-offs are Job Path, Bureau of Justice AssistanceBureau of Justice Assistance
The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, within the United States Department of Justice.On Monday, December 13, 2010, President Barack Obama sent to the U.S. Senate the nomination of Denise Ellen O'Donnell, of New York, to be the Director of the Bureau, in...
, Safe Horizon, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and New York City Criminal Justice Agency.