What’s New
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Prison Policy Initiative endorses the Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act
Nearly 19,000 people in federal prisons experienced heat-related illnesses between 2022 and 2025. A new bill is looking to change that.
July 16: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
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Legal Resources
The legal resource database was updated with a new listing for New York.
July 16: Legal Resources
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Legal Resources
The legal resource database was updated with a new listing for Minnesota.
July 10: Legal Resources
Featured report
Shadow Budgets: How mass incarceration steals from the poor to give to the prison
Prisons and jails siphon money from incarcerated people by making them pay for communication services and basic essentials at the commissary, then put the revenue into so-called “Inmate Welfare Funds.” But how are these funds used? Our report Shadow Budgets finds that all too often, welfare funds go to pay for capital projects like prison construction, are spent on essential items for incarcerated people, or are left to accrue as slush funds. In detailed data tables, we uncover how welfare funds in 49 prison systems are accrued, overseen — and frequently misused.
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 2024-2025 annual report.
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.
