Vera Institute of Justice

Brianna M. Williams is a senior program associate with Vera's Beyond Jails Initiative (BJI). Brianna supports the implementation of BJI's statewide advocacy agenda in priority and place-based initiative states, in addition to monitoring proposed pretrial practice changes nationwide, engaging in affirmative or defensive measures to pursue policies reducing the use of pretrial detention.

Brianna previously served as senior planner of housing justice initiatives at the Center for Justice Innovation (the Center), where she supported housing-related program operations and the expansion of statewide policy efforts. Before working at the Center, Brianna was a practicing attorney. She began her legal career as an assistant public defender at the Ninth Circuit Public Defender's Office in Orlando, Florida, before joining Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, where she provided civil legal services to people impacted by disasters.

Brianna holds a BA from the University of Florida and a JD from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.