In 1994, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (better known as the Crime Bill) was supported by liberals and considered “soft on crime” by conservatives. Yet, the bill is widely criticized today. This episode unpacks the legislation and examines the impact it actually had. Plus, we take a look at where the power lies to create—and disrupt—mass incarceration.

Hosted by:

Josie Duffy Rice,
Journalist and Writer

Featuring: 

Terrell Blount,
Executive Director, Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

SA Kimberly Foxx,
Cook County State's Attorney

Adam Gelb,
President and CEO, Council on Criminal Justice

Holly Harris,
Founder and President, The Network

John Pfaff,
Professor of Law, Fordham Law School

Jason Pye,
Vice President, Due Process Institute 

Nkechi Taifa,
President, The Taifa Group, LLC

Zoë Towns,
Executive Director, FWD.us

Jeremy Travis,
Senior Fellow, Columbia Justice Lab

For more information about each episode and to find full transcripts, visit www.vera.org/thirtyyearproject and follow Vera Institute of Justice on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

“Felon,” “thug,” “superpredator,” “criminal”—these are the ways politicians often talk about people convicted of crimes. As a result, most people don’t have a clear picture of who is actually affected by mass incarceration and what it’s like to be incarcerated. We look at the people entangled in the criminal legal system over the past 30 years and discuss what prison is actually like.

Hosted by:

Josie Duffy Rice,
Journalist and Writer

Featuring:

Daryl V. Atkinson,
Co-Director and Co-Founder, Forward Justice

David Ayala,
Executive Director, Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement

Terrell Blount,
Executive Director, Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

Gina Clayton-Johnson,
Executive Director, Essie Justice Group

Vivian D. Nixon,
Writer in Residence, Columbia Justice Lab Square One Project

John Pfaff,
Professor of Law, Fordham Law School

Nkechi Taifa,
President, The Taifa Group, LLC

Zoë Towns,
Executive Director, FWD.us

Nick Turner,
President and Director, Vera Institute of Justice

For more information about each episode and to find full transcripts, visit www.vera.org/thirtyyearproject and follow Vera Institute of Justice on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

“Felon,” “thug,” “superpredator,” “criminal”—these are the ways politicians often talk about people convicted of crimes. As a result, most people don’t have a clear picture of who is actually affected by mass incarceration and what it’s like to be incarcerated. We look at the people entangled in the criminal legal system over the past 30 years and discuss what prison is actually like.

Hosted by:

Josie Duffy Rice,
Journalist and Writer

Featuring:

Daryl V. Atkinson,
Co-Director and Co-Founder, Forward Justice

David Ayala,
Executive Director, Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement

Terrell Blount,
Executive Director, Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

Gina Clayton-Johnson,
Executive Director, Essie Justice Group

Vivian D. Nixon,
Writer in Residence, Columbia Justice Lab Square One Project

John Pfaff,
Professor of Law, Fordham Law School

Nkechi Taifa,
President, The Taifa Group, LLC

Zoë Towns,
Executive Director, FWD.us

Nick Turner,
President and Director, Vera Institute of Justice

For more information about each episode and to find full transcripts, visit www.vera.org/thirtyyearproject and follow Vera Institute of Justice on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

We look at the fight against mass incarceration and talk to leaders in the field about the progress we’ve made so far. Our guests look to the future and imagine an America without the scourge of mass incarceration.

Hosted by:

Josie Duffy Rice,
Journalist and Writer

Featuring:

Daryl V. Atkinson,
Co-Director and Co-Founder, Forward Justice

David Ayala,
Executive Director, Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement

Terrell Blount,
Executive Director, Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

Gina Clayton-Johnson,
Executive Director, Essie Justice Group

Jocelyn Fontaine,
Vice President, Strategic Program Development, Urban Institute

SA Kimberly Foxx,
Cook County State's Attorney

Adam Gelb,
President and CEO, Council on Criminal Justice

Holly Harris,
Founder and President, The Network

Vivian D. Nixon,
Writer in Residence, Columbia Justice Lab Square One Project

John Pfaff,
Professor of Law, Fordham Law School

Jason Pye,
Vice President, Due Process Institute

Nkechi Taifa,
President, The Taifa Group, LLC 

Zoë Towns,
Executive Director, FWD.us

Jeremy Travis,
Senior Fellow, Columbia Justice Lab

Nick Turner,
President and Director, Vera Institute of Justice

For more information about each episode and to find full transcripts, visit www.vera.org/thirtyyearproject and follow Vera Institute of Justice on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.