What’s New
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Winnable criminal justice reforms in 2026
by Prison Policy Initiative
September 22: Research Library: General
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Note to President Trump: No, 2% of the population doesn’t account for all crime
Crime is more complex than the president claims. Pinning blame on a tiny subset of the population is rhetorically useful, but both crime and criminalization are widespread in the U.S.
September 15: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
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Inevitable yet ignored: Prison policies disregard the realities of menopause behind bars
Our survey of state and federal prison policies shows just how little institutional attention is paid to menopause-related healthcare and education behind bars, despite the growing population of aging incarcerated women.
September 1: Briefings
Featured report
Reforms Without Results: Why states should stop excluding violent offenses from criminal justice reforms
Too many states are passing criminal justice reforms that ignore the majority of people in prison: people convicted of violent crimes. In Reforms Without Results, we explain why people convicted of violence must be allowed to benefit from laws that expand early release, create alternatives to incarceration, and ease the reentry process. Our report includes a concise, rigorous overview of the existing research on violent crime, as well as an interactive U.S. map showing which states have passed laws that exclude people convicted of violence.
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.
Select your state:
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.
