Careers at Vera Institute of Justice
At the Vera Institute of Justice, we envision a society that respects the dignity of every person and safeguards justice for all—and our workplace reflects that same vision.
Why Vera?
We are bold. We are innovative. We are urgent.
We are agents of change, fighting for transformation of the criminal legal and immigration systems during a pivotal moment in American history. At the Vera Institute of Justice, our commitment to securing equal justice is what drives every task, every meeting, every initiative we take on. And critical to our success are our people—a diverse, talented pool of employees who share that vision and passion.
Our Commitment
Our Commitment to Race, Equity, and Inclusion
The Vera Institute of Justice is taking the steps necessary to live up to our mission of racial equity and striving to become a more antiracist institution every day. At Vera, we value antiracism, equity, and diversity across all races, genders, sexualities, abilities, and criminal legal and immigration systems. Vera is committed to shaping space, resources, and work—internally and externally—to ensure that each person can thrive in their own identities, circumstances, and histories, such that disparities are eliminated and we all prosper.
We are taking purposeful action through our Race, Equity & Inclusion (REI) initiative to identify inequities perpetuated by our organization and develop policies or practices to advance antiracist and equity principles in our workplace and work. And we are developing an REI Strategy & Action Plan, which will serve as an ever-developing equity guidebook and accountability document for our organization.
Vera Institute of Justice 2024 Diversity Report
This report reviews the racial diversity of Vera’s staff and the racial and gender diversity of Vera’s leadership. We believe this kind of transparent review helps Verans, our movement and government partners, the communities in which we work, and other stakeholders hold Vera accountable for ensuring we have a diverse staff and board. We plan to issue updated versions of this report annually. Explore the Vera Institute of Justice 2024 Diversity Report here.
What We Do
Since the Vera Institute of Justice's inception in 1961, we have been constantly learning and innovating, ready to tackle the most pressing injustices of our day—from the causes and consequences of mass incarceration, the racial disparities plaguing the criminal legal system, and the loss of public trust in law enforcement, to the unmet needs of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those harmed by crime and violence. Our core priorities are eliminating money bail, ending mass incarceration, vastly improving life behind bars, and ensuring that immigrants receive due process. We also engage in advocacy and lobbying—putting our muscle, extensive data, and vast expert knowledge behind efforts to pass legislation, reform unjust laws, and deliver concrete change. Check out our work in action.
Our People
The Vera Institute of Justice, which has more than 200 staff members, is an equal opportunity employer with a dedication to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, antiracism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and in the internal culture of our workplace. We value diverse experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal and immigration systems to apply.
Our Environment
Vera employees, in their casual to business-casual dress, work across four offices—in Brooklyn; New Orleans; Washington, DC; and Los Angeles—as well as remotely. Learn more about each office below.
Our Benefits
As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff—both personally and professionally—is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our employees through:
Above-market-rate compensation
Student loan repayment benefits and up to $2,000 for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work
A comprehensive health insurance plan, including generous assisted reproductive technology coverage
Employer-funded retirement plan with financial advisory and planning services
Generous paid time off, including sabbaticals and up to twelve weeks of Paid Family and Medical Leave for employees with at least six months of employment
Wellness initiatives, including on-site mindfulness meditation sessions; flexible time and work schedules; an employee assistance program; and a gym reimbursement program
Learn more about Vera's employee benefits here: Vera Institute of Justice Employee Benefits Guide
Your Professional Development
At Vera, we believe that your growth is our growth. We are committed to creating a workplace where every Veran has access to meaningful learning and development opportunities that support both personal and professional aspirations.
The People, Place, and Culture team is dedicated to engagement, retention, and lifelong learning—ensuring that every Veran has the resources they need to thrive. We are always listening and working to expand our professional development offerings based on what matters most to you.
Opportunities for Your Growth
Vera offers a wide range of professional development programs to support your journey, including
- manager and individual contributor training to strengthen leadership and workplace skills;
- three discretionary funds focused on leadership, racial equity, and amplifying existing projects;
- $1,000 publication incentive awards to encourage thought leadership;
- $2,000 education assistance reimbursement per calendar year to support continuous learning;
- expert-led training sessions featuring external facilitators, including the Management Center;
- LearnUpon, our in-house Learning Management System (LMS), offering customized courses to enhance your skills;
- monthly peer learning sessions designed for both managers and individual contributors to share insights and best practices.
Great Place to Work
A Great Place to Learn and Grow
We are proud that Vera has once again been named a Great Place to Work® in 2024! This certification is based on employee feedback and recognizes organizations that foster trust, collaboration, and professional fulfillment. At Vera, 73 percent of surveyed employees agreed that this is a great place to work—compared to 59 percent at typical organizations.
