Dear Pamela,
Research shows that even a few days in jail increases the likelihood of being arrested again in the future, and that long prison sentences do not deter crime.
The brutality of life behind bars, the difficulties securing employment and housing with a conviction history, and the overall lack of financial security all negatively impact people, and their ability to succeed, after release.
But Pamela, a future without mass incarceration is possible. Together, we can invest in solutions that help our communities thrive, scale community-based alternatives to incarceration, and ensure everyone behind bars is treated with dignity. Are you with us? |
Hundreds of billions of dollars are poured into these facilities that prioritize punishment over people's well-being, all without making us any safer.
Communities themselves know what they need to be safe—and it's not mass incarceration. A 2024 national election survey from Vera Action found that voters preferred a solutions-based approach to crime, with investments in educational opportunities, good jobs, housing, and mental health services, over responding to crime simply with arrests and incarceration. These approaches are not only more effective but also far less expensive.
Incarceration is not the answer to creating safer, healthier communities, and yet it is too often the default response. Decarceration—not more incarceration—is the real path to public safety.
There is so much work to be done, but rest assured that Vera won't stop fighting. Together, we can end mass incarceration and invest in solutions that help communities thrive.
Onward,
Vera Institute of Justice |
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