Prisons and Jails
About 750,000 People Are in Jail On Any Given Day. Can They Vote?
A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative says that most people in jail are eligible to vote, but ultimately won’t be able to due to barriers to voter registration and lack of access to ballots.
About 750,000 People Are in Jail On Any Given Day. Can They Vote?
A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative says that most people in jail are eligible to vote, but ultimately won’t be able to due to barriers to voter registration and lack of access to ballots.
Prisons and Jails
California Will Require Prisons to House Transgender People By Gender Identity
A new law will require California correctional facilities to place transgender people in housing units that align with their gender identity, not their sex assigned at birth.
California Opens a Path to Professional Firefighting for Formerly Incarcerated People
In California, many wildfires are fought by incarcerated people trained to be firefighters. Their criminal records barred them from continuing in the field after release—until now.
Jail Populations Are On the Rise
While many jails acted quickly at the beginning of the pandemic to release people and reduce overcrowding, a new analysis shows those efforts have slowed.
Investigators Found Alabama’s Prisons Are Plagued by Rampant Violence. Is Sentencing Reform the Answer?
The Justice Department says much of the abuse in the state’s prisons stems from overcrowding. Advocates say overcrowding is caused by laws that result in harsh prison sentences that are out of sync with the rest of the country.
Releasing People From Prison Is Easier Said Than Done
As the pandemic threatens the lives of those behind bars, the country must confront a system that has never had rehabilitation as its priority.
Families of Prisoners Sue Over High Cost of Phone Calls
The lawsuit alleges three private companies that provide telecom services in prisons lied to state and local governments about the cost of doing business.
Prisons and Jails Remain Outbreak Vectors for Coronavirus
A new report from the ACLU and Prison Policy Initiative found that state responses to outbreaks in correctional facilities have been largely inadequate.
Prosecutorial Discretion: The Prosecutor’s Role in Curbing Infections in Prisons
COMMENTARY | The rapid spread of Covid-19 in jails and prisons puts us all at risk. Prosecutors’ should flex their authority to reduce the chance of infection among the incarcerated population by limiting new arrests, pushing for early releases when prudent and ensuring sanitary conditions for those in custody.
Being in Jail Has Become a ‘Death Sentence,’ Advocates Say. Detainees Are Suing to be Released.
People in jails with medical vulnerabilities and short times left on their sentence are suing for release—and if that fails, they want masks, gloves, and the space to socially distance.
Coronavirus Makes Bail Reform Efforts More Urgent
Some jurisdictions have released many pretrial detainees in an effort to decrease jail populations during the pandemic, taking steps bail reform advocates sought for years.
New Jersey Set to Release 1,000 Jail Inmates to Limit Coronavirus Spread
Up to 1,000 people could be eligible for release. Other jurisdictions around the U.S. are also taking steps to curb their jail populations.
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