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 24 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
Drug Policy
Analysis of drug policy and its effects on the prison system
- 1 in 5 incarcerated people is locked up for a drug offense (Created: 2025)
- Even with recent changes to drug laws and enforcement, police still make almost a million drug arrests each year (Created: 2025)
- Some states have largely ended the War on Drugs. Other states, not so much (Created: 2025)
- Underlying problems: Past drug use and substance use disorders are extremely common among people in state prisons (Created: 2022)
- Women's drug arrests have continued to grow even as men's returned to early 1990s levels (Created: 2020)
- People in jail are eight times more likely to have a substance use disorder (Created: 2019)
- Incarceration for drug offense in different parts of the justice system (Created: 2018)
- Some states have largely ended the War on Drugs. Other states, not so much. (Created: 2017)
- Who is more likely to go to prison for a drug offense: People in urban, or in rural Senate districts? (2010) (Created: 2010)
- Who is more likely to go to prison for a drug offense: People in urban New York City or in Senator Volker's rural district? (Created: 2005)
- Growth in the New York State prison and drug prisoner populations (Created: 2002)
Events
- November 12-14, 2025:
Members of our Research team, Wendy Sawyer and Jacob Kang-Brown will be attending the American Society of Criminology annual meeting in Washington, D.C. from November 12 through the 14th. Please reach out if you’d like to set up a meeting.
Not near you?
Invite us to your city, college or organization.