sentencing policy Archives

US Criminal Justice System Urged to Rethink Aging Prisoners’ Sentences

By Kainat Basharmal, Irene LilleyApril 20, 20260 comments

The New York Times reported that older individuals are far less likely to commit crimes than younger individuals, and that the US criminal justice system should reconsider how it handles aging prisoners, as evidence suggests elderly individuals commit fewer crimes and granting clemency to elderly individuals who no longer pose a threat does not erase their crimes, but instead acknowledges that justice should remain fair and proportional over time.

Mandatory Minimum Sentences Drive Mass Incarceration, Racial Disparities

By Hennesy Avalos AlcantarJanuary 11, 20260 comments

Mandatory minimum sentences in the United States have failed to reduce crime and have instead driven mass incarceration, deepened racial disparities and undermined the fairness of the U.S. criminal legal system, according to extensive national research.

Mass Incarceration in the US Sees Resurgence, Report Finds

By Mia WagleyNovember 13, 20250 comments

The Sentencing Project has released a new study warning that U.S. prisons are increasing their incarcerated populations despite falling crime rates, and that reducing sentence lengths and investing in community-based violence prevention and reentry support is necessary to reverse this trend.

Recent Posts