What’s New
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Persistent and aggressive interactions with the police: potential mental health implications by J.L. Hirschtick et al.
June 2: Research Library: Health impact
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Compassionate release was never designed to release large numbers of people With help from artist Kevin Pyle, we explain why very few people who apply for compassionate release are approved — even during a pandemic.
May 29: Briefings
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When parole doesn’t mean release: The senseless “program requirements” keeping people behind bars during a pandemic Parole boards are granting parole contingent on participation in programs that are often not readily available for people behind bars, especially during the pandemic.
May 21: Briefings
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Since you asked: Should incarcerated people be receiving stimulus payments? Some correctional authorities - responding to bad guidance from the IRS - are intercepting and returning stimulus checks for incarcerated people. We explain why people in prison and jail are eligible for, and should be receiving, emergency aid.
May 18: Briefings
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People in Prison in 2019 by Vera Institute of Justice
May 15: Research Library: General
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While jails drastically cut populations, state prisons have released almost no one Our updated analysis finds that jails are responding to the unprecedented public health crisis by rapidly dropping their populations. In contrast, state prisons have barely budged.
May 14: Briefings
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Prisons as Panacea or Pariah? The Countervailing Consequences of the Prison Boom on the Political Economy of Rural Towns by John M. Eason
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States Must Do More to Protect Youth Behind Bars During COVID-19 Pandemic by Youth First Initiative
May 12: Research Library: Youth
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Helping People Transition From Incarceration to Society During a Pandemic by Health in Justice Action Lab, Data for Progress, and the Justice Collaborative Institute
May 12: Research Library: Recidivism and Reentry
Policing: Our research
Our work shows that police disproportionately target Black and other marginalized people in stops, arrests, and use of force. Meanwhile, police are increasingly called upon to respond punitively to problems that are unrelated to public safety, like mental health crises and homelessness, which too often leads to trauma, bodily harm, overcriminalization, and incarceration.
See all of our original research on policing.
See also the Police and Policing section of our Research Library, a curated collection of over 200 academic and policy reports on the subject.
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:
Breaking Down Mass Incarceration in the 2010 Census:
State-by-State Incarceration Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Research Library
We curate a searchable database of 3,000+ original research reports, organizing each entry by topic and adding brief summaries.
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.
Jails and bail: Our research
One out of three people behind bars is in a local jail. Our research drives jail reform.