Short, timely investigations and issue explainers

Lucius Couloute | June 8, 2017

Data confirms that police treat Black Americans with less respect

New research out of Stanford University substantiates what Black America has always known – that police officers treat Blacks differently than they do whites.

Wendy Sawyer and Emily Widra | May 8, 2017

Unpacking the connections between race, incarceration, and women’s HIV rates

Current research points to an unexpected contributor to the high rates of HIV infection among Black women: the mass incarceration of Black men.

Lucius Couloute | May 2, 2017

Aging alone: Uncovering the risk of solitary confinement for people over 45

We estimate that more than 44,000 people 45 and older experience solitary in state prisons each year. As prisons continue to get grayer, policymakers must understand that denying older incarcerated people access to sunlight, exercise, and interaction with other people and spaces is both inhumane and fiscally irresponsible.

Wendy Sawyer | April 19, 2017

The steep cost of medical co-pays in prison puts health at risk

When we consider the relative cost of medical co-pays to incarcerated people who typically earn 14 to 62 cents per hour, it's clear they can be cost-prohibitive. Co-pays that take a large portion of your paycheck make seeking medical attention a costly choice.

Wendy Sawyer | April 10, 2017

How much do incarcerated people earn in each state?

Prison wages come up again and again in the context of prison conditions and policies. So, we found the most up-to-date information for each state.

Emily Widra | March 10, 2017

It’s not just the franchise: Mass incarceration undermines political engagement

Contact with the criminal justice system impacts not only individual experiences of political participation, but also community-wide political engagement.

Wendy Sawyer | March 3, 2017

Food for thought: Prison food is a public health problem

Research confirms that prison food is not just gross; it is often nutritionally inadequate. A recent report from Washington provides new evidence and our policy analyst examines the public health costs.

Bernadette Rabuy | February 7, 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.

Aleks Kajstura | January 19, 2017

Evading regulation, some in-state phone calls from jails cost over $1.50 a minute

The first ever national survey of in-state jail phone rates finds some jails charge more than $1.50 a minute.

Stephen Raher | January 18, 2017

The multi-million dollar market of sending money to an incarcerated loved one

Private companies amassing monopoly contracts, creating potential to rake in $172 million from friends and family sending money to incarcerated loved ones.

← Newer Briefings Older Briefings →

Stay Informed

Share on 𝕏 Donate

Stay Informed

Support us

Short, timely investigations and issue explainers

Data confirms that police treat Black Americans with less respect

New research out of Stanford University substantiates what Black America has always known – that police officers treat Blacks differently than they do whites.

Unpacking the connections between race, incarceration, and women’s HIV rates

Current research points to an unexpected contributor to the high rates of HIV infection among Black women: the mass incarceration of Black men.

Aging alone: Uncovering the risk of solitary confinement for people over 45

The steep cost of medical co-pays in prison puts health at risk

When we consider the relative cost of medical co-pays to incarcerated people who typically earn 14 to 62 cents per hour, it's clear they can be cost-prohibitive. Co-pays that take a large portion of your paycheck make seeking medical attention a costly choice.

How much do incarcerated people earn in each state?

Prison wages come up again and again in the context of prison conditions and policies. So, we found the most up-to-date information for each state.

It’s not just the franchise: Mass incarceration undermines political engagement

Contact with the criminal justice system impacts not only individual experiences of political participation, but also community-wide political engagement.

Food for thought: Prison food is a public health problem

Research confirms that prison food is not just gross; it is often nutritionally inadequate. A recent report from Washington provides new evidence and our policy analyst examines the public health costs.

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.

Evading regulation, some in-state phone calls from jails cost over $1.50 a minute

The first ever national survey of in-state jail phone rates finds some jails charge more than $1.50 a minute.

The multi-million dollar market of sending money to an incarcerated loved one

Private companies amassing monopoly contracts, creating potential to rake in $172 million from friends and family sending money to incarcerated loved ones.

Stay Informed

Recommended Reading:

Advocacy Toolkit

50 state incarceration profiles

Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie

Shadow Budgets