Like many justice reform organizations, Vera is often asked, “What are the latest and most interesting developments in the field?” This question has grown more common as more and more people confront the need to improve the nation’s broken justice system and want to help.

While our country faced challenges in 2017, we also saw an unprecedented commitment from state and local governments working to limit the use of cash bail, reduce solitary confinement in prisons, and build better trust between police departments and the communities they serve. Across the country, judges, police chiefs, public defenders, prosecutors, formerly incarcerated people, advocates and allies are looking to confront our broken justice system and seek opportunities to drive change and promote equity for all people.

This report shines a spotlight on the last year of developments in the field with the hope to understand the potential impact of reform, and help create a roadmap for the upcoming year.

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