What’s New
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Since you asked: Is social distancing possible behind bars? The short answer is no - social distancing is even harder behind bars than in nursing homes or on cruise ships.
April 3: Briefings
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Five ways the criminal justice system could slow the pandemic We offer five areas where quick action could slow the spread of the viral pandemic in prisons and jails and in society as a whole.
March 27: Briefings
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As pandemic threatens to devastate prison population, new report provides updated “big picture” view of incarceration in the U.S. The Prison Policy Initiative’s new “Whole Pie” report reveals what’s at stake if prisons and jails do not take immediate steps to decarcerate.
March 24: Press releases
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Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs law ending prison gerrymandering Colorado moved swiftly, ending prison gerrymandering in a single legislative session.
March 23: Prisoners of the Census Blog
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The “services” offered by jails don’t make them safe places for vulnerable people Even in the best of times, jails are not good at providing health and social services.
March 19: Briefings
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Technical violations, immigration detainers, and other bad reasons to keep people in jail How ICE and probation and parole detainers (or “holds”) contribute to unnecessary jailing
March 18: Briefings
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Jails and prisons are suspending visits to slow COVID-19. Here’s what advocates can do to help people inside. Send our letter to your local jail, asking them to make video and phone calls free.
March 17: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
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No need to wait for pandemics: The public health case for criminal justice reform We offer five examples of policies that could slow the spread of a viral pandemic in prisons and jails - and would mitigate the everyday impact of incarceration on public health.
March 6: Briefings
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New guide to ending prison gerrymandering for state legislators A new resource from the Prison Policy Initiative and State Innovation Exchange.
March 5: Prisoners of the Census Blog
COVID-19 resources
How can prisons, jails, and other criminal justice agencies prevent COVID-19 from taking a devastating toll on incarcerated people? In our new briefing, Five ways the criminal justice system could slow the pandemic, we offer a comprehensive view of how to slow the spread of a viral pandemic in prisons and jails.
See also our related work:
- Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic resource page. This constantly updated resource page describes the best practices that a too-small but growing list of jurisdictions are using. (Created March 17 and updated at least daily)
- Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie, our new report breaking down how many people are locked up in the U.S., where, and why.
- Jails and prisons are suspending visits to slow COVID-19. Here's what advocates can do to help people inside for a sample letter you can send. (March 17)
- The "services" offered by jails don’t make them safe places for vulnerable people Even in the best of times, jails are not good at providing health and social services. (March 19)
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.
If our work is new to you, you might want to check out our 2018-2019 annual report.
Recommended Reading:
For-profit video visits in prisons & jails
This predatory industry wants to literally stand in between the incarcerated and their families by replacing human contact with computer chats.
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 2.3 million people, more than any other country. Where are they locked up and why? Read our report.
Exploitation in the criminal justice system
Companies and correctional facilities exploit captive markets. We expose them.