Dear Pamela,
When I became president and director of Vera in 2013, we were on the cusp of a unique moment. Justice reform had broad, bipartisan support to redress the harms of the system: police abuse, extreme sentencing laws, brutal prison conditions, and mass incarceration.
In this moment, I witnessed our movement rise. Then I watched it stumble as optimism gave way to the backlash, fear, and political retreat we face today.
But know this: reform is still happening. Quietly. In more than 100 cities. In red states and blue states. And we’re not stopping.
The American public is ahead of where the political debate is on crime. Polling from Vera Action shows that most voters want treatment over incarceration, accountability over abuse, and prevention over punishment.
The problem today isn’t the public; it’s that too few of our leaders are offering them real solutions. The Vera Institute of Justice is here to do just that.
A growing national initiative—led by Vera—is fighting to secure legal representation for immigrants facing deportation. We are improving prison conditions alongside corrections leaders and incarcerated people. Hundreds of thousands of students in prison are now eligible for federal financial aid to fund their college education because of our advocacy.
As I step down from my role as president and director today, I am proud of all we have accomplished together. And under the bold leadership of Vera’s new president Insha Rahman, I am confident that this organization is more ready than ever to fight for true safety and justice.
Thank you for your generosity, partnership, and continued belief in a better future.
Onward,
Nick
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