Elena Vanko (she/her) is a Senior Policy Advisor collaborating with Masa Group who has worked for over a decade to reform prisons, jails, and criminal legal systems in the U.S. She has particular expertise in analyzing policy and practice, designing and implementing reforms, providing training and technical assistance, and writing, editing, and effectively communicating with diverse audiences.

Most recently, Elena spent six years at the Vera Institute of Justice. She worked for much of that time with jails and prison systems around the country to assess, reduce, and ultimately end their use of solitary confinement. Elena provided policy analysis and technical assistance and effectively engaged with key stakeholders, including corrections professionals, incarcerated people, community advocates, researchers, and policymakers. She also contributed to strategic communication and advocacy efforts, producing a wide range of written, oral, and online communications—from 2-page fact sheets and 90-page technical reports to advocacy videos and an interactive online assessment tool. Elena also joined other Vera projects focused on various aspects of criminal justice reform—including community corrections, recidivism reduction, and prosecutorial reform—in Washington, DC, Tennessee, and nationally.

Previously, Elena spent three years with the U.S. Program at Human Rights Watch, supporting research and advocacy on numerous issues related to criminal and juvenile justice, particularly sentencing, prison conditions, and victims’ rights. She has an M.A. in human rights from the University of Essex, England, and a B.A. from Tufts University.