What’s New
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Advocates warn Census Bureau of impending test failure, inaccurate counts of incarcerated people
Without testing improved ways of counting people in correctional facilities, the Bureau is destined to repeat the errors of past decades again in the 2030 Census.
March 5: Prisoners of the Census Blog
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Bad Omens: Reform rollbacks in Washington D.C. are a warning sign for state-level advocates
Bills in Congress that repeal bail reform, worsen mandatory minimums, and further criminalize youth threaten to undo decades of criminal legal system reform in D.C.
March 4: Briefings
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Truth in Sentencing and Illinois Prisons
by Loyola Chicago Center for Criminal Justice
March 4: Research Library: Sentencing policy
Featured report
Arrest, Release, Repeat: How police and jails are used to respond to social problems
How many people go to county jails every year, and how many times do they go? These basic data points — essential to understanding whether counties are using police and jails properly — weren't available until now. In our report, we break down the number of people booked in jail every year, including how many return multiple times. We go on to analyze the demographic characteristics of people who go to jail, including rates of poverty, access to health care, and race. Lastly, we present policy recommendations for counties hoping to change how their jails are used.
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 2024-2025 annual report.
Recommended Reading:
Advocacy Toolkit
Resources, tips, and best practices to help advocates working to end mass incarceration.
50 state incarceration profiles
All of our recent reports about prison/jail growth, racial disparities, and more, re-organized by state.
Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie
The U.S. incarcerates nearly 2 million people. Where are they locked up and why? Read our report.
