The Wren Collective
Reimagining the Way Our Country Approaches the Legal System
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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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…
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The Increasing Use of Criminal Prosecutions to Suppress Dissent
The right to free speech and peaceful dissent is a cornerstone of American democracy, yet the Trump administration has launched an unprecedented assault on these fundamental freedoms. In just the…
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Courts Under Fire, Judges on the Line: Right-Wing Attacks on the Judiciary
Starting with President Trump’s reelection last fall, we have witnessed an alarming escalation in rhetoric and action against the judicial branch at both the federal and state levels. From the…
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The Impact of DOGE’s Federal Workforce Cuts
In the weeks following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, his administration has launched an unprecedented assault on the federal workforce. Working with unelected billionaire Elon Musk, who leads…
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