The 30 Year Project

The 30 Year Project

By Vera Institute of JusticeGovernmentHistory
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The 30 Year Project episodes

  • Episode 1 | Power: Political Context and Impact

    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.

    44 min
  • Episode 2 | People: Who is Most Affected by Mass Incarceration

    "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.

    41 min
  • Episode 3 | Place: Families, Communities, and Beyond

    When a person is caught up in the criminal legal system, they aren't the only one who suffers. We look at the ripple effects of mass incarceration and how system involvement can affect a person's family, neighborhood, and broader community.

    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.

    43 min
  • Episode 4 | Progress: The Fight Against Mass Incarceration

    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.

    40 min

About The 30 Year Project

From the publisher's feed

On September 13, 1994, President Bill Clinton signed what is arguably the most significant piece of legislation from his tenure as president—the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, otherwise known as the 1994 Crime Bill. It was the largest crime legislation in the history of the United States, allocating billions of dollars to hire more cops and build more prisons.

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