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.
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 Mike Wessler
- Prison Banned Books Week: Books give incarcerated people access to the world, but tablets are often used to wall them off
Instead of taking advantage of their possibilities, the companies that got rich off prison phone calls offer limited book selections on tablets, as part of their continued efforts to sap money from incarcerated people and their families.
Sep 16, 2024 - Mass incarceration is on the ballot
A guide to how 19 offices you may be asked to vote on can help end mass incarceration in America.
Sep 11, 2024 - New memo shows Fulton County, Ga., should rethink proposal for massive new jail
At the request of the Georgia-based Community Over Cages Coalition, the Prison Policy Initiative examined the proposal for a new jail and found serious shortcomings.
Jun 14, 2024 - New report, Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2024, shows the size and scope of women’s incarceration in America
Report shows the unique and troubling role that jails play in women’s incarceration.
Mar 5, 2024 - Proposed Biden junk fees rule provides lots of transparency but little protection for incarcerated people
We called on the Federal Trade Commission to strengthen its proposed rule to explicitly prohibit some of the most abusive junk fees.
Feb 12, 2024 - 32 reforms to the criminal legal system ripe for victory in 2024
New report highlights actionable solutions that will shrink the size of the carceral system, promote public safety, and take action on racial inequities in the system.
Nov 29, 2023 - New data reveals where people in Rhode Island prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Oct 10, 2023 - New data reveals where people in Louisiana prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Jul 13, 2023 - New report shows mass incarceration doesn’t stop at the prison walls
Report ranks states' use of “correctional control” to provide the full picture of mass supervision in the U.S.
May 10, 2023 - New report Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023 shows that as the pandemic subsides, criminal legal system returning to “business as usual”
30 visualizations expose long-standing truths about mass incarceration in the U.S. and highlight the need for change
Mar 14, 2023 - A sledgehammer instead of a scalpel: New rules proposed by the Biden Administration on money earned by or sent to people in federal prison are the wrong way to go
Federal prison officials are proposing to garnish 75% of any deposits made into incarcerated people's personal accounts if those people have court-related debts. It's an extremely harmful policy that will keep incarcerated people from buying basic needs.
Mar 13, 2023 - Incarcerated people must be at the forefront of Biden Administration and Federal Trade Commission efforts to end “junk fees”
We joined the National Consumer Law Center and 27 other organizations to call on the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on abusive fees incarcerated people and their families are forced to pay.
Feb 8, 2023 - Welcome, Danielle Squillante!
Please welcome our new Development and Communications Associate, Danielle Squillante!
Dec 5, 2022 - 31 criminal justice reforms ripe for victory in 2023 legislative sessions
New Winnable Criminal Justice Reforms report provides state lawmakers with resources and information to secure victory on these important reforms.
Nov 16, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Montana prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Oct 17, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Connecticut prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Oct 5, 2022 - New data reveal where people in Pennsylvania prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Sep 28, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Delaware prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Sep 15, 2022 - New data reveals where people in California prisons come from
Report shows every community in California is harmed by mass incarceration
Aug 31, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Nevada prisons come from
Report shows communities in all corners of the state are harmed by mass incarceration
Aug 9, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Washington prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Aug 3, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Virginia prisons and jails come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Jul 14, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Colorado prisons come from
Report shows mass incarceration impacts communities in all corners of the state but disproportionately impacts communities of color
Jul 7, 2022 - New Correctional Contracts Library shows you what companies are profiting off of incarcerated people in your area
Database contains hundreds of contract documents to help advocates identify and combat the exploitation of incarcerated people and their families.
Jul 6, 2022 - New data reveals where people in Maryland prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Jun 27, 2022 - New data reveals where people in New Jersey prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration
Jun 16, 2022 - New data reveals where people in New York prisons come from
Report shows every community is harmed by mass incarceration, particularly in upstate New York
Jun 6, 2022 - Updated charts provide insights on racial disparities, correctional control, jail suicides, and more
New data visualizations expose the harms of mass incarceration
May 19, 2022 - Prison Policy Initiative General Counsel Explains the Cycle of Exploitation that Incarcerated People and their Loved Ones are Subjected to
We worked with the National Consumer Law Center to explain how, at every state of incarceration, governments and private corporations are draining money from those who can least afford it.
Mar 23, 2022 - A new toolkit for advocates working to end mass incarceration
In the toolkit, we share tips and lessons we’ve learned over two decades of using data, visuals, and narratives to expose the harms of mass incarceration.
Mar 2, 2022
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.