What’s New
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The deadliest local police departments kill 6.91 times more frequently than the least deadly departments… by Josh Leung-Gagne
April 16: Research Library: Police and Policing
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New data and visualizations spotlight states’ reliance on excessive jailing We’ve updated the data tables and graphics from our 2017 report to show just how little has changed in our nation’s overuse of jails: too many people are locked up in jails, most detained pretrial and many of them are not even under local jurisdiction.
April 15: Briefings
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Recent data offer a detailed snapshot of the cost of family contact in local jails Some of the questions we receive most often about communication policies (and rates) in local jails can finally be answered, thanks to two new resources from Michigan and Minnesota.
April 11: Prison Policy Initiative Blog
Featured resource
Advocacy Toolkit
For more than two decades, we've combined compelling writing, striking visuals, and deep dives into data and public records to expose the harms of mass incarceration in America. We've learned a lot in this time. In our advocacy toolkit we've shared some of the resources, tips, and best practices we've picked up along the way. Our hope is that these guides help advocates in their efforts to address mass incarceration in their area.
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 2022-2023 annual report.
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.