The Vera Institute of Justice played a key leadership role, with Sarah Omojola at the forefront, in mobilizing Louisiana voters to defeat four controversial constitutional amendments. This coalition effort, aimed at countering authoritarian initiatives and misinformation, underscored a strong commitment to democratic engagement and community empowerment.

The Vera Institute of Justice, leveraging a $1.25 million donation from Open Society Foundations, actively supported efforts to defeat Amendment 3 in Louisiana—a measure that would have increased incarceration rates and expanded punitive justice policies. The institute’s work, highlighted by Louisiana director Sarah Omojola, aligns with a progressive agenda promoting community safety, education, and opportunity over authoritarian criminal justice reforms.

On June 27, 2024, the Vera Institute of Justice voluntarily recognized the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325 as the collective bargaining representative for its eligible staff. Nick Turner, president and director, underscored the organization’s commitment to workers’ rights and equitable justice reform, reflecting a strong allegiance to progressive labor practices.

On January 30, 2024, the Vera Institute of Justice issued a comprehensive report detailing the rapid rise in electronic monitoring within the U.S. criminal legal and immigration systems. The report highlights increased surveillance practices that disproportionately impact marginalized communities and calls for enhanced oversight to prevent harms similar to those of traditional incarceration.

On January 10, 2024, the Vera Institute of Justice secured $1.5 million in funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support a three-year initiative aimed at transforming prison cultures through training, technical assistance, and the promotion of humane policies.

The Vera Institute of Justice released a report proposing seven reforms aimed at overhauling sentencing practices in the U.S., including reducing maximum prison sentences, allowing sentence reductions for positive behavior, abolishing mandatory minimums, and instituting racial impact assessments. The proposals are designed to counter punitive policies that have contributed to massive incarceration levels, disproportionately affecting Black and Latinx communities.

The Vera Institute of Justice released a brief titled 'Locked Out of the Labor Market' that introduces an 'expanded unemployment rate' by accounting for incarcerated individuals, thereby highlighting systemic racial and economic inequities inherent in official labor market metrics.

The Vera Institute of Justice's 2023 Annual Report outlines significant reforms, notably a reduction in the U.S. incarcerated population by more than 20% from its 2008 peak, achieved through efforts to reform, reduce, and remake criminal legal and immigration systems. This initiative underscores the organization's commitment to shifting away from punitive, mass incarceration policies towards community-based public safety investments.