What’s New
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Sanctuary policies reduce deportations without increasing crime by David K. Hausman
October 21: Research Library: Crime and Crime Rates
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New data: Solitary confinement increases risk of premature death after release Any amount of time spent in solitary confinement increases the risk of death after release from prison, including deaths by suicide, homicide, and opioid overdose.
October 13: Briefings
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Local governments in Louisiana dole out extra political power to people living near prisons and jails Dramatic examples of prison gerrymandering show the need for new districting practices in the Bayou State.
October 9: Prisoners of the Census Blog
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Credit Overdue: How States Can Mitigate Academic Credit Transfer Problems for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System by Southern Poverty Law Center
October 9: Research Library: Education
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America’s Hidden Common Ground on Police Reform and Racism in the United States: Results from a Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos Hidden Common Ground survey by Ipsos and Public Agenda
October 9: Research Library: Public Opinion
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Youth Justice Under the Coronavirus: Linking Public Health Protections with the Movement for Youth Decarceration by Sentencing Project
October 9: Research Library: Youth
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Understanding Police Enforcement by Vera Institute of Justice
October 9: Research Library: Police and Policing
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Eligible, but excluded: A guide to removing the barriers to jail voting by Prison Policy Initiative & Rainbow PUSH Coalition
October 6: Research Library: Felon Disenfranchisement
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Welcome Elle Hamson! Please welcome Elle Hamson, the Prison Policy Initiative Senior Engineer.
October 5: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
Featured report
Eligible, but excluded: A guide to removing the barriers to jail voting
Most of the 746,000 people incarcerated in jails can vote, but nearly-insurmountable barriers prevent them from doing so. In this report with Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.'s Rainbow PUSH Coalition, we provide a concise guide to understanding which people in jail in every state are eligible to vote (including a handy flowchart and 50-state table), and explain how advocates and elected officials can bring down the logistical barriers that prevent people in jail from having their votes counted.
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:
Five ways the criminal justice system could slow the pandemic
Quick action could slow the spread of the viral pandemic in prisons and jails and in society as a whole
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.
The most important statistics from our work on policing
Racial disparities, bloated budgets, the criminalization of homelessness, and more.
Is social distancing possible behind bars?
No. It's even harder than on cruise ships or in nursing homes.