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The Wren Collective

Reimagining the Way Our Country Approaches the Criminal Legal System

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The Wren Collective works to transform America’s approach to public safety, expose the weaponization of the legal system, and ensure every person has the chance to participate in civic society. For too long, those with power have exploited the criminal legal system to take away the rights of marginalized communities, people of color, immigrants, and increasingly, their political opponents. 

Wren pushes for a world where everyone—not just those with money and power—can live healthy, safe, and dignified lives.

Read Our Recent Publications

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Court Decisions on Democracy

Note to Readers: Exciting news! This year the Wren Collective has moved our newsletters to Substack, creating an opportunity for you to more easily find and engage with them. This…

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I wish we had been wrong: A Wren Collective 2025 Year in Review

“One thing is clear: in the years to come, we will see a lot of horrible things happen. We will see our undocumented friends deported, political prosecutions increase, and surveillance…

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One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Shadow Immigration Forces Threaten Police Reforms

As immigration raids sweep across the country, many of us are watching ICE and CBP agents act like a shadow police force.  Agents appear free to harass anyone who happens…

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The Resurgence of the Death Penalty

As recently as last year, the death penalty was in serious decline in the United States. Federal and state executions were at an all time low and public support for…

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In A Democracy, Dissent Is Not Terrorism

In this newsletter, we explore how the Trump administration and state leaders are criminalizing dissent by weaponizing the DOJ, ICE, and other law enforcement tools at their disposal. We highlight…

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The President’s Plan to Lock Everyone Up

Normally, our newsletters explore how states function as laboratories for authoritarian forms of government and the federal government’s utilization of those ideas in its own power grab. Today, we take…

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Court Decisions on Democracy

Note to Readers: Exciting news! This year the Wren Collective has moved our newsletters to Substack, creating an opportunity for you to more easily find and engage with them. This…

Full Article
Wren Icon

I wish we had been wrong: A Wren Collective 2025 Year in Review

“One thing is clear: in the years to come, we will see a lot of horrible things happen. We will see our undocumented friends deported, political prosecutions increase, and surveillance…

Full Article
Wren Icon

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Shadow Immigration Forces Threaten Police Reforms

As immigration raids sweep across the country, many of us are watching ICE and CBP agents act like a shadow police force.  Agents appear free to harass anyone who happens…

Full Article
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