According to an analysis published by the Prison Policy Initiative, at least 22 states and Washington, D.C., maintain registries tracking individuals with criminal convictions beyond sex-based offenses, a system that imposes lasting legal and economic consequences despite limited evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing crime or recidivism.
A new briefing from the Prison Policy Initiative contends that policies enacted by the Trump administration, particularly the expansion of immigration enforcement and drug prosecution, are driving a rapid increase in federal incarceration and detention levels nationwide.
A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative contends that involuntary commitment is increasingly functioning as a mechanism of social control, expanding the legal system’s reach over individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, and homelessness.
A recent report by the Prison Policy Initiative advocates for universal access to discretionary parole for all incarcerated individuals, including those within states that have formally curtailed such mechanisms. The study further recommends that jurisdictions implement various ‘release valves’ to facilitate the reevaluation of lengthy prison sentences.
Recent studies published by the Prison Policy Initiative Updates indicate that older adults with a history of incarceration experience significantly worsened health and well-being compared to those without such a background. One analysis, featured in the American Journal of Public Health, found that formerly incarcerated individuals over 50 face an 88% higher hazard of premature death and are projected to live nearly six fewer years. These findings contribute to ongoing discussions regarding incarceration as a critical social determinant of health.
A recent Prison Policy Initiative briefing asserts that community supervision, including probation and parole, represents the largest segment of the U.S. criminal legal system, with an estimated 3.5 million individuals under correctional control compared to 2 million incarcerated. The analysis further contends that this system is frequently deficient in design, often leading to reincarceration for technical violations rather than the commission of new offenses.
A recent analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative contends that money bail offers minimal public safety protection and frequently results in unconstitutional pretrial detention, highlighting a landmark California Supreme Court decision poised to redefine pretrial justice across the state.
The Prison Policy Initiative has released data showing that incarceration rates in the US are rising again after a temporary decline during the pandemic, highlighting the need for lasting reforms to reduce prison and jail populations.
The Prison Policy Initiative has published data showing rising prison populations, disproportionate growth of women’s incarceration rates, racial disparities, and the vast number of people affected by the punishment system, highlighting the need for policies that will permanently reduce prison populations.
The Prison Policy Initiative has added 35 new reports to its research library, examining the complex issues within the U.S. criminal legal system, including disability, gender, immigration, drug policy, incarceration, policing, courts, health care, and youth justice.
The Prison Policy Initiative has supported a guaranteed income program for formerly incarcerated people in Alachua County, Florida, which has been shown to reduce recidivism rates and provide financial stability to participants.
The Prison Policy Initiative report reveals that 5.5 million people in the US are under some form of correctional control, with the majority on probation or parole, and that these systems often lead to reincarceration rather than true alternatives.
The Prison Policy Initiative report found that the federal prison grievance system overwhelmingly rejects complaints about medical care, with 98% of medical grievances filed in federal prisons being rejected between 2014 and 2024.
The Prison Policy Initiative’s new report, Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2026, found that the rise in the number of people behind bars in the United States was largely driven by immigration detention, which increased by 58% between 2025 and 2026, accounting for nearly all of the growth in the total incarcerated population over the past year.
The Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) found that 39 states have some form of probation violation-related disqualifications for SNAP benefits, which indirectly discourages millions of people on probation from seeking food assistance and can lead to increased food insecurity.
The Prison Policy Initiative has released a report showing that the US mass incarceration system costs $445 billion annually, with 50% of the money spent on correctional systems going towards paying staff and 25% of government spending on the criminal justice system going towards policing.
The Prison Policy Initiative has released a report challenging the effectiveness of specialty courts as an alternative to incarceration, arguing that they often fall short of their goals and can even expand the reach of the criminal legal system.
The Prison Policy Initiative has found that specialty courts, while intended to reduce jail and prison populations and support rehabilitation, often fail to meet these goals and can even expand the reach of the punishment system, while also undermining community-based solutions.
The Prison Policy Initiative has highlighted the importance of independent data projects in tracking police misconduct, providing models for local and national efforts to hold law enforcement accountable.
Failure to appear in court due to confusion, transportation problems, child care needs, illness, or a simple scheduling mistake is resulting in 19 million additional nights in jail each year, making it a major and preventable driver of incarceration in the United States.