Skip to content
The Wren Collective

Reimagining the Way Our Country Approaches the Legal System

Wren Icon

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

Wren’s twice-monthly newsletter has moved! Subscribe on Substack to learn how the state and federal governments are undermining democracy and making us less safe.
Wren Icon

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…

Read More
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…

Read More
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…

Read More
Wren Icon

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…

Read More
Wren Icon

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…

Read More
Wren Icon

An Honest Conversation About Public Safety

As an organization staffed primarily by former public defenders, we care deeply about crime prevention. In that work, we encountered people who caused harm and experienced harm. More often than…

Read More
Wren Icon

Project 2025 Is Already Here

While we continue to expose the many anti-democratic features of Project 2025, it is important to maintain sight of the anti-democratic efforts that are already well underway in virtually every…

Full Article
Wren Icon

Project 2025 Remains a Serious Threat

Paul Dans has now stepped down as director of Project 2025, but his resignation has done nothing to quell the controversy surrounding the deeply unpopular conservative agenda. As Russell Vought, a…

Full Article
Wren Icon

Welcome to our first installment of Democracy Under Attack: A Wren Collective Newsletter

For decades, those with power have weaponized the criminal legal system to prevent Black, brown, and poor people from participating in our democratic society. Every year, they incarcerate nearly 7.5…

Full Article
Work With Us

Share Our Research

Support Our Work

Partner With Us