NEW YORK, NY – Today, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera), the national, nonpartisan justice reform nonprofit, moved its New York City headquarters to Industry City in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. At a time of increased local and national energy around reform, the organization’s new offices are designed to foster the collaboration, vision, and bold thinking necessary to reimagine the American justice system and implement lasting change – as well as create significant operational savings that can be deployed toward its criminal justice and immigration justice mission. Vera moves to this new space from its previous Manhattan base in the Woolworth Building, where it has been since the year 2000. The move from its location near City Hall also reflects the organization’s expansion in scope, from working primarily with local government to also collaborating with community-based organizations and advocates and working at a national scale.

Vera’s new Brooklyn offices will be the headquarters of its vital local and national work transforming the systems people rely on for safety and justice. Since the success of the Manhattan Bail Project in 1961, which pioneered the bail reform movement, Vera has been at the forefront of justice reform, researching inequities in the justice system and testing solutions, and driving public debate to build systems that ensure fairness, foster dignity, promote safety, and strengthen families and communities. In recent years, Vera has built on its powerful history of working with government to also grow relationships with advocacy and community members, ensuring that its work reflects the diversity of the system it aims to transform.

“Vera’s move to Brooklyn is the beginning of a critical new chapter in our nearly 60-year history. At a time when reforming the justice system has become a national priority, we’re moving to a new, larger base where we’ll be able to more effectively deploy our research, technical assistance, advocacy, and communications work. What began as a New York City bail reform project is now a national effort to reform our justice system. Vera has projects in more than 40 states and four offices across the country. Despite our growth, the innovative spirit that’s defined us from the start remains. We’ll continue fighting against the racism and disparities underlying troubled systems while piloting solutions for change,” said Nicholas Turner, president of the Vera Institute of Justice.

**Read more from Nick Turner in our latest blog post about the Brooklyn move.**

In anticipation of the move, Vera has formed a committee to introduce itself and support the surrounding community. The group has begun meeting and engaging with neighborhood representatives, local elected officials, and key cultural, civic, and social institutions, and is seeking their recommendations for how staff can work with and support local residents.

At 36,000 square feet, Vera’s new office in Industry City will add 8,000 additional square feet to its capacity, allowing for more room to expand its work and vision. Additionally, Vera’s move to Industry City is projected to provide $15 million in reduced office expenses over the next 15 years that can then be reinvested into the organization’s mission-driven work.

The two-floor office is connected by a central staircase that enhances connectivity among staff and showcases local artistry. Other key elements of the design include diverse workspace options, flexible meeting and presentation space, and expanded capacity for public gatherings. STUDIOS Architecture led the design of Vera’s new offices.

About the Vera Institute of Justice

The Vera Institute of Justice is a justice reform change agent. Vera produces ideas, analysis, and research that inspire change in the systems people rely upon for safety and justice. Vera collaborates with the communities most impacted by these systems and works in close partnership with government and civic leaders to implement change. Vera is currently pursuing core priorities of ending the misuse of jails, transforming conditions of confinement, and ensuring that justice systems more effectively serve America’s increasingly diverse communities. Across projects, Vera is committed to explicitly and effectively reducing the burdens of the justice system on people of color. Vera has offices in Brooklyn, NY; Washington, DC; New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.vera.org.