What’s New
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Food and Nutrition in New York State Correctional Facilities
by Correctional Association of New York
January 15: Research Library: Conditions of confinement
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Resource spotlight: Handbook on health and punishment tackles carceral health, featuring original analysis from Prison Policy Initiative
At the Prison Policy Initiative, we are often cited in academic articles and advocacy materials, but for the first….
December 20: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
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Here’s what’s on our data wishlist for 2025
Criminal legal system data is important to understanding how the system operates, but it’s highly limited, inaccessible, outdated, and fractured across thousands of jurisdictions. We spotlight some of the most persistent data gaps we came across in 2024.
December 19: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
Featured research
Collateral Consequences: Unemployment, homelessness, and educational opportunties among formerly incarcerated people
- Out of Prison & Out of Work: Unemployment among formerly incarcerated people
- Nowhere to Go: Homelessness among formerly incarcerated people
- Getting Back on Course: Educational exclusion and attainment among formerly incarcerated people
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:
Why are calls from prisons and jails so expensive?
We look at the progress in the fight for phone justice and what comes next.
Research Library
We curate a searchable database of 4,000+ original research reports, organizing each entry by topic and adding brief summaries.
Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie
The U.S. incarcerates over 1.9 million people, more than any other country. Where are they locked up and why? Read our report.
Jails and bail: Our research
One out of three people behind bars is in a local jail. Our research drives jail reform.