The 30 Year Project

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.

"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.

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.

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.