What’s New
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When bad policies spread: The expansion of the “sex offense registry” model to other convictions
Shaming doesn’t prevent crime.
August 10: Briefings
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Death by incarceration:
Detention duration, overdose, and COVID-19 in Los Angeles County Jails, 2008-2023 by Adrianne Katrina Nelson et al
August 10: Research Library: Jails
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Welcome to our Creator-in-Residence, Marci Marie Simmons!
Marci will work with the Prison Policy Initiative team to create social videos that expose the harms of mass incarceration in America.
August 6: 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. Be sure to also check out our pages focused on D.C., and the incarceration of Native people.
Select your state:
If our work is new to you, you might want to check out our 2024-2025 annual report.
Recommended Reading:
The unmet health needs of people in prison
States fall far short of their duty to meet the health needs of incarcerated people.
All profit, no risk
The bail industry exploits cracks and loopholes in the legal system to avoid accountability, while growing its profits.
Compare your state's use of the prison to the world at large
Criminal justice policy in every region of the United States is out of step with the rest of the world.
Prison Gerrymandering Project
We are leading the movement to protect our democracy from the Census Bureau's prison miscount.