Reducing Incarceration

Drastically reduce the use of jails, prisons, and detention centers

The United States is the most incarcerated nation in the world, with two million people behind bars and 500,000 more in immigration detention. Many are locked up simply because they can’t afford bail.

Losing your freedom, even for just a few days, can mean losing your job, housing, and even children.

Many others are serving long prison sentences based on misguided “tough-on-crime” policies. Vera works to end money bail; support prosecutors working to eliminate racial disparities in charging and sentencing; stop the unnecessary use of jails; and end cruelly long sentencing policies.