HELP US END MASS INCARCERATION
The Prison Policy Initiative uses research, advocacy, and organizing to dismantle mass incarceration. We’ve been in this movement for 25 years, thanks to individual donors like you.
Can you help us sustain this work?
Thank you,
Peter Wagner, Executive Director Donate
Can you help us sustain this work?
Thank you,
Peter Wagner, Executive Director Donate
Articles by Andrea Fenster
- What families can expect to be charged under the new FCC rules
A new order from the Federal Communications Commission lowers existing caps on rates and fees in the prison and jail telephone industry.
Jun 10, 2021 - It’s all about the incentives: Why a call home from a jail in New York State can cost 7 times more than the same call from the state’s prisons
Families with loved ones incarcerated in New York State prisons pay some of the lowest phone fees in the entire country. Meanwhile, those with loved ones in the state's....
Mar 23, 2021 - People in jails are using more phone minutes during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite decreased jail populations
Our study of 14 jails finds that there were 8% more overall minutes used during the pandemic, despite the fact that nationwide jail populations have fallen about 15%.
Jan 25, 2021 - A Tale of Two Technologies: Why “digital” doesn’t always mean “better” for prison law libraries
Electronic law libraries are not always improvements for incarcerated people, particularly when prisons turn to them as a way of cutting costs.
Oct 28, 2020 - Technical difficulties: D.C. data shows how minor supervision violations contribute to excessive jailing
Using D.C. as a case study, we explain how much non-criminal – and often drug related – “technical” violations of probation and parole contribute to unnecessary jail incarceration.
Oct 28, 2020 - 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.
Oct 13, 2020
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.
Events
- November 18-21, 2026:
Members of our Research team, will be attending the American Society of Criminology annual meeting in Chicago from November 18th through the 21st. Please reach out if you’d like to set up a meeting.
Not near you?
Invite us to your city, college or organization.