Kayla James

As a program associate in Vera's Center on Sentencing and Corrections, Kayla has provided technical assistance to corrections agencies to implement strategies to reduce the use of restrictive housing and solitary confinement in their prison facilities. Her current work assists colleges, nonprofits, and corrections agencies in improving educational, vocational, and employment services for people returning to their communities from prisons and jails.

Before joining Vera, Kayla worked with the New York City Department of Correction and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Bureau of Mental Health, assisting with training corrections officers and assessing suicide prevention policy. Kayla also worked at Global Citizen on its New York State bail reform campaign and other global policy and advocacy efforts. Kayla earned a BA in psychology and criminal justice and an MA in criminal justice from the University at Albany, State University of New York.