Vera Institute of Justice

John Hart is associate director, partnership and community with Vera’s Restoring Promise initiative, building partnerships and community networks to serve incarcerated people and their loved ones outside prison. John is leading a study focused on healing and liberation of young adults from Restoring Promise units.

Before joining Vera, John was a senior research assistant at the University of Maryland, College Park, leading research and community projects examining mass incarceration of Black men as a public health disparity and reentry experiences of Black fathers.

John is also a licensed marriage and family therapist in Washington, DC. He provides critical clinical help and psychoeducation for mental health and trauma-related issues in marginalized communities.

John holds a BA in psychology from The George Washington University, an MS in marriage and family therapy, and a PhD in family science from the University of Maryland, College Park. John is also a certified clinical trauma professional.