Prison Policy Initiative

Public defenders are vital to ensuring that people charged with a crime have representation in the legal system. Unfortunately, all too often, public defense systems are underfunded and overworked. On the 62nd anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright, which recognized the right to counsel for those charged with a crime, we offer 9 ways states can strengthen their public defense system: https://lnkd.in/gXpXFKkP #incarceration #criminaljustice #publicdefenders #publicdefence #data #gideonday

It's Pi Day...which means it's time for our annual report – Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie. On any given day, nearly 2 million people are confined in the U.S. But that number only tells part of the whole story. This report gives the most comprehensive view of the deeply flawed and often mysterious criminal justice system. Read more: https://lnkd.in/giMGjv54 #incarceration #criminaljustice #piday #data #research

The U.S. is increasingly criminalizing youth. In 2022, courts sent 11% more young people to incarceration than the year prior. It’s important to note that too many of these youth are locked up for a “most serious offense” that is not even a crime, like non-criminal violations of probation. We also know that for many children, legal system involvement overlaps with other kinds of “systems” involvement, such as the child welfare system: almost half of youth in foster care have an encounter with the criminal legal system by age 17. The criminalization of youth is apparent in the adult prison population: more than one-third (38%) of people in state prisons were first arrested before they turned 16. Learn more about the dire implications of youth incarceration by checking out Prison Policy Initiative new report, Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie: https://lnkd.in/giMGjv54

???PI DAY: Our team is going live to discuss our new report, Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie on Friday, March 14 at 1 pm ET. Set a reminder here?? https://lnkd.in/gfqtT36K #incarceration #criminaljustice #data #piday #live

Last year, nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. were experiencing homelessness. This is an especially alarming statistic as more states criminalize homelessness, sending over 200,000 people without a home to call their own to jail. New data from Jail Data Initiative reveals just how vulnerable this population is?– and how urgent it is that we embrace housing-first solutions. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e6Hm7ZmM #housing #incarceration #criminaljustice #data

??WEBINAR: One week away! ??? Recidivism stories & stats are often cited to derail reforms – in this webinar, we'll discuss how advocates can push back against these unproductive and inaccurate claims Register here ?? https://lnkd.in/gHwsX_Nt #incarceration #webinar #criminaljustice #data #advocates #advocacy

??NEW: US prisons & jails are locking up MORE people after a decade of decline, growing the incarcerated population by 2% But why? We answer that & bust the biggest myths of the carceral system in 2025's edition of Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie?? https://lnkd.in/giMGjv54 #incarceration #criminaljustice #data #report

The US has the highest incarceration rate for women in the world. This International Women's Day, we're thinking of all the women locked behind bars, away from their families. They can't get lost in the fight to end mass incarceration. #InternationalWomensDay #incarceration #criminaljustice #data

Today is Employee Appreciation Day. We're thinking of the thousands of incarcerated people who are exploited every single day to keep prisons going. Lear more: https://lnkd.in/gqKDSci8 #incarceration #criminaljustice #data #EmployeeAppreciationDay

Millions of families and children throughout the country are punished emotionally and financially by a loved one’s incarceration. The stress of having a loved one inside cannot be understated, particularly given the poor conditions in prisons and jails and the difficulty of holding administration accountable for the neglect and violence behind the wall. In addition to the emotional toll, families have to shoulder the cost of supporting a loved one inside—from fines and fees associated with their case to phone calls and commissary—on top of their household expenses.