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 22 years, thanks to individual donors like you.
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Thank you,
Peter Wagner, Executive Director Donate
Can you help us sustain this work?
Thank you,
Peter Wagner, Executive Director Donate
Articles by Bernadette Rabuy
Prison Policy Initiative Senior Policy Analyst Bernadette Rabuy (full bio)
- Jails and prisons are suspending visits to slow COVID-19. Here’s what advocates can do to help people inside.
Send our letter to your local jail, asking them to make video and phone calls free.
Mar 17, 2020 - John Oliver exposes the high fees and low wages in prisons, citing our work
In case you missed it, John Oliver exposed the high fees and low wages pervasive in prisons and jails on last Sunday's episode of Last Week Tonight. Oliver cited our....
Aug 9, 2019 - California policymakers renew the struggle for in-person visits
California's AB 964 would require in-person visits in all California jails
Mar 30, 2019 - Voices that are pushing the envelope – best commentary of 2018
Our picks for writing that propels reform by offering a more complete understanding of mass incarceration.
Dec 27, 2018 - Our favorite investigative criminal justice reporting of 2018
Reporters are deepening our understanding of complex facets of the criminal justice system and illuminating paths to reform. We share some of our favorites.
Dec 27, 2018 - A few thoughts on legislative compromises
We've had to make tough compromises in our work to protect in-person jail visits. We share some of the considerations we confronted in the hopes of supporting other advocates.
Nov 20, 2017 - Video Conferencing Enthusiasts Slam Replacement of In-Person Jail Visits with Video Calls
Video conferencing enthusiasts agree: video calls are not the same as in-person visits
Sep 26, 2017 - California legislators continue fighting for in-person jail visits
California legislators hold hearing on video calls and sharply criticize the dangers of banning in-person visits
Sep 6, 2017 - Pretrial detention costs $13.6 billion each year
Our new report looks at the big picture to find that mass incarceration costs $182 billion per year; and we also calculate the cost of locking people up before trial.
Feb 7, 2017 - Support for in-person visitation continues to grow
From state and federal legislation to the press, support for in-person visits continues to grow.
Feb 1, 2017 - President Obama’s parting reminders on criminal justice reform
President Obama's article speaks to some of the most important lessons we've learned in our work to end mass incarceration.
Jan 10, 2017 - Voices that are pushing the envelope – best commentary of 2016
Our favorite criminal justice commentaries of 2016 that shined light on the too often forgotten areas of criminal justice reform
Dec 29, 2016 - Our favorite investigative criminal justice reporting of 2016
Best investigative news reporters that find new ways to shed light on the complicated problems of the criminal justice system in 2016.
Dec 29, 2016 - New Jersey legislation aims to protect in-person visits from video visitation
New Jersey bill aims to protect in-person jail visits from video visitation
Dec 22, 2016 - The life-threatening reality of short jail stays
New BJS data shows suicide is still the leading cause of death in local jails. And most suicides occur shortly after jail admission.
Dec 22, 2016 - Analysis shows people in NYC jails would be better served in the community
A recent analysis finds that the most frequently incarcerated in New York City jails struggle with mental illness and are locked up for low-level offenses
Nov 16, 2016 - New report reveals huge variations in correctional control among states
New report provides big picture of mass incarceration with pie charts for each state and D.C.
Jun 1, 2016 - Have we gone too far myth busting criminal justice reform? Drug policy is still important
We didn't get mass incarceration from War on Drugs alone, but drugs play an important role in less discussed stages of criminal justice systems
May 23, 2016 - Detaining the poor: New report finds that people detained pretrial are too poor to afford money bail
New report finds people unable to meet bail are poorest of the poor.
May 10, 2016 - Attorney General Loretta Lynch cites PPI this National Reentry Week
Attorney General uses pie chart report and jails matter blog post to show how many people are affected by justice system
Apr 28, 2016 - What families can expect to be charged for phone calls
The federal courts have issued a second stay of the FCC's October 2015 order. Families should expect caps and bans on ancillary fees.
Mar 24, 2016 - New report, Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2016, pieces together systems of confinement and provides further detail about local jails
This Pi Day, the Prison Policy Initiative has an updated version of its mass incarceration pie chart, including more detail on jails and new infographic slideshows
Mar 14, 2016 - We’re hiring! Join us as a Policy Fellow
We're hiring for a Policy Fellow to produce cutting edge research
Mar 1, 2016 - Report asks if electronic messaging in prisons and jails is innovation or exploitation?
New report finds electronic messaging in prisons and jails is a product of questionable value at inflated prices
Jan 21, 2016 - Massachusetts is one step closer to ending license suspensions for drug offenses
Massachusetts House unanimously votes to end unnecessary license suspensions for drug offenses
Jan 15, 2016 - 2015’s Criminal Justice Victories
2015 was a year of big victories for the Prison Policy Initiative. Beyond a record number of ground-breaking reports, our campaigns won major policy changes.
Dec 29, 2015 - Our best data visualizations in 2015
2015 was another big year for ground-breaking data visualizations from the Prison Policy Initiative. These are our 10 favorites.
Dec 29, 2015 - Our favorite reports by our colleagues in 2015
Our colleagues helped build momentum for criminal justice reform by providing key research and proposing reforms that could help our nation reduce its overuse of incarceration. Our favorites from 2015.
Dec 29, 2015 - Our favorite news stories about our work in 2015
Earlier today, we published our list of the best investigative criminal justice journalism of 2015. Here at the Prison Policy Initiative we enjoy seeing journalists....
Dec 28, 2015 - Best investigative criminal justice journalism of 2015
As 2015 winds to a close, the Prison Policy Initiative wanted to recognize eight investigative news stories that brought public attention to key issues in criminal justice reform.
Dec 28, 2015 - Winnable and under-discussed justice reform ideas for 2016
Eleven ideas for criminal justice reforms that are ripe for legislative victory.
Dec 21, 2015 - New report, Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2015, reveals 2.3 million people are locked up in the U.S. and why
U.S. locks up more than 2.3 million people in prisons, jails, and other facilities on any given day. New report provides foundation for long overdue conversation about criminal justice reform.
Dec 8, 2015 - John Oliver explains how we set formerly incarcerated people up to fail
Oliver illustrates the various ways that we set formerly incarcerated people up to fail and says we're all responsible
Nov 11, 2015 - We’re hiring! Join the Prison Policy Initiative team
We're hiring for a Policy & Communications Associate! Please apply and spread the word.
Oct 22, 2015 - Separation by Bars and Miles: New report finds that great distances make prison visits few and far between
New report finds great distances discourage prison visits
Oct 20, 2015 - In-person family visits will return to Austin, Texas
Travis County, Texas will bring back in-person visits that were replaced with video visits in 2013
Sep 30, 2015 - Meeting new board members: Khalilah L. Brown-Dean
Meet PPI board member and associate professor of political science, Khalilah L. Brown-Dean
Sep 9, 2015 - New BJS report shows suicide in jails is a national crisis
New BJS report shows that suicide in jails has been leading cause of death from 2000-2013.
Aug 4, 2015 - Shut out and locked up: New report provides the pre-incarceration incomes of the imprisoned
Incarcerated people are disproportionately shut out of the economy even before they are locked up
Jul 9, 2015 - New animation illustrates the real size of Connecticut Sentencing Enhancement Zones
New animation illustrates that at huge distances such as 1,500 feet, sentencing enhancement zones can't work.
Jun 18, 2015 - Securus ends its ban on in-person visits, shifts responsibility to sheriffs
Securus will no longer require that jails ban in-person visits, shifting moral responsibility to the sheriffs
May 6, 2015 - Meeting new board members: Jason Stanley
Jason Stanley is a Professor of Philosophy at Yale and the author of the upcoming book How Propaganda Works
Apr 15, 2015 - Arkansas DOC to implement Securus video visits
Arkansas DOC will be first state prison system with Securus video visits
Apr 15, 2015 - John Oliver does it again: How municipal violations can ruin lives
Oliver explains how municipalities lock people up for failure to pay traffic fines
Mar 23, 2015 - Join our Young Professionals Network!
New opportunity for working people to improve our criminal justice system
Feb 18, 2015 - New videos: Video visitation is not “just like Skype”
4 short comedy videos reject that video visits are "just like Skype"
Feb 18, 2015 - No surprise: Securus refund disaster
I waste 25 minutes for a visit that never happens, and Securus gets to keep my money anyway.
Feb 3, 2015 - Multnomah County Sheriff reverses ban on in-person visits in Portland jails!
Portland jails will now let families visit via video or in-person
Jan 29, 2015 - Department of Justice study: Video visitation is not an invitation to ban in-person visitation
DOJ study on video visitation: In-person visits are a best practice that should be protected
Jan 28, 2015 - Prison and Jail Video Visitation: A forward-looking idea implemented badly
New Prison Policy Initiative report finds video visitation actually punishes families
Jan 14, 2015 - Our favorite news stories about our work in 2014
Today, we share the most important news stories of 2014 that we played a role in
Dec 23, 2014 - Best investigative criminal justice journalism of 2014
As 2014 winds to a close, the Prison Policy Initiative recognizes the eight sorely needed investigative news stories that did the most to bring public attention to criminal justice reform.
Dec 22, 2014 - Alicia Keys calls for movement-building, not just social justice tweets
Musician Alicia Keys calls for movement-building and uses PPI data
Nov 12, 2014 - Sheriff Joe Arpaio phases out in-person visits in Maricopa
Infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio replaces in-person visits with video visitation
Nov 10, 2014 - Prison bankers cash in on captive customers
Center for Public Integrity releases first part of a series on web of prison bankers, private vendors, and corrections agencies profiting off families of the incarcerated.
Sep 30, 2014 - Governor Brown signs prison anti-sterilization bill
Governor Brown signs California prison anti-sterilization bill into law.
Sep 26, 2014 - BJS victimization figures show slight decline in violent crime
While recent BJS figures showed an increase in total incarcerated population, crime figures show a decrease in violent crime.
Sep 18, 2014 - Sesame Street tells 2.7 million children they’re not alone
Sesame Street's series on incarceration, with videos, activities, and tips for parents, providers, and caregivers
Sep 18, 2014 - Governor Brown, end sterilization abuse in California today
SB 1135 is a no-brainer. Governor Brown, end sterilization abuse in CA today.
Sep 12, 2014 - Get to Know Our Summer Intern, Sophia Robohn
Today, I had the opportunity to sit down with Sophia Robohn, a Hampshire College student who has been interning at Prison Policy Initiative. Read below to learn more....
Aug 11, 2014 - Should a one-point difference in I.Q. mean the death penalty? SCOTUS says no.
Supreme Court struck down Florida decision that Freddie Lee Hall was eligible for execution with an IQ score of 71, above the cutoff of disability at 70.
May 28, 2014
Recommended Reading:
Why are calls from prisons and jails so expensive?
We look at the progress in the fight for phone justice and what comes next.
Research Library
We curate a searchable database of 4,000+ original research reports, organizing each entry by topic and adding brief summaries.
Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie
The U.S. incarcerates over 1.9 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.