What’s New
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Policies for waiving medical copays in prisons are not enough to undo the harm caused by charging incarcerated people for health care access
Our review of copay policies show that exemptions are so limited, ill-defined, and inconsistent that they fail to make the copay system less harmful for incarcerated people.
May 15: Briefings
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WEBINAR: Fighting Jail Expansion: Lessons from the Front Lines
Learn how advocates are responding to shifting arguments for new jail construction.
May 14: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
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Gov. Abbott’s bail proposals would make communities less safe, drain taxpayer dollars, and worsen racial disparities
The proposals before the Texas legislature would dramatically increase the state’s already bloated jail populations.
May 14: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
Featured resource
Tracking how the Trump administration is making the criminal legal system worse
The American criminal legal system has always been terrible, but what has happened in recent months is different. It is in a new kind of crisis. The Trump administration is making the criminal legal system larger, harsher, and less effective
With this new resource, we're connecting the dots of the actions of the Trump administration to show they aren't individual policy choices, but a larger strategy that doubles down on the failed policies that created the nation's mass incarceration crisis in the first place.
Mass incarceration, state by state
Learn about the national prison crisis and how we can begin to turn the tide on mass incarceration. Then, drill down to your state. Be sure to also check out our pages focused on D.C., and the incarceration of Native people.
If our work is new to you, you might want to check out our 2023-2024 annual report.
Recommended Reading:
The unmet health needs of people in prison
States fall far short of their duty to meet the health needs of incarcerated people.
All profit, no risk
The bail industry exploits cracks and loopholes in the legal system to avoid accountability, while growing its profits.
Compare your state's use of the prison to the world at large
Criminal justice policy in every region of the United States is out of step with the rest of the world.
Prison Gerrymandering Project
We are leading the movement to protect our democracy from the Census Bureau's prison miscount.
Events
- June 11, 2025:
Join us at 2:00 pm ET on June 11th, 2025, as we bring together a panel of activists who have pushed back against jail expansion proposals in Atlanta, Georgia, Sacramento, California, and Oahu, Hawai’i. We’ll discuss how arguments for new jail construction have shifted over time, go over strategies and tools for responding to these arguments, and talk about how our advocacy department can help support efforts to challenge new jail construction in your area.
Not near you?
Invite us to your city, college or organization.