Vera Institute of Justice

Aaron Stagoff-Belfort is a program associate in Vera’s Redefining Public Safety program. His work is focused on reducing the footprint of American policing by uplifting community-based approaches to public safety. His current projects focus on limiting police involvement in behavioral health crises, conducting research on municipal policing budgets and public safety spending, evaluating the social impacts of policing, and examining racial disparities. Aaron engages community organizations and local governments to drive change in law enforcement policy and practice.

Prior to Vera, Aaron interned with the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Children’s Aid Society, and was a research assistant to New York Times reporter Binyamin Appelbaum. He holds a BA in the College of Social Studies from Wesleyan University.