Community Justice Responds to Federal Cuts to Vera Institute

[April 11] WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the recent public safety grant funding cuts, Community Justice’s Executive Director, José Alfaro, issued the following statement: 

“Terminating funding that supports organizations like Vera Institute of Justice working to create a fairer, more humane justice system is an enormous step backward for our society. It is especially disturbing that the Department of Justice believes reducing incarceration, expanding access to education, and promoting dignity for all people impacted by the justice system ‘no longer effectuate[s] the program goals or agency priorities.’ 

Cutting funding from organizations with vital public safety programs undermines decades of progress and undermines important work to make our communities safer and stronger. 

Community Justice stands in community with organizations committed to building systems that value human dignity. The Department of Justice and federal government as a whole must continue to support organizations and programs that are leading that change—not pull the rug out from under them.” 

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Community Justice is a non-partisan project of Tides Center and builds power for communities of color to end gun violence.