prison reform
A Brief History of California's Epic Journey Toward Prison Reform
Since 2006 the state has struggled to deal with a cascading series of problems with its prisons and is now undergoing its biggest transformation since 1851.
Instagram Images Exposed Ongoing Problems at One Georgia Jail
Inmates held in the DeKalb County Jail have been railing against conditions there. A social media post has brought attention to their pleas.
Who's Legally Responsible for Prison and Jail Suicides?
Lawsuits used to be a path to prison reform, but they're now an uphill battle for prisoners and their families.
Why Does Gavin Newsom Want to Move Juvenile Justice Out of the Department of Corrections?
Research has long shown that detention of youth can cause harm and is ineffective at preventing crime.
Inside the Effort to Install Independent Oversight of the Texas Criminal Justice System
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice currently has an ombudsman within the agency, but two state politicians argue that making the position independent will lead to more objectivity.
Following a Nationwide Strike, Prisoners Say They Face Repressive Repercussions
A member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee discusses the retaliation prisoners face when fighting for their rights.
'It's a Fight for Human Rights': An Interview With a Prison Strike Organizer
A former inmate discusses the organization and demands behind the recent nationwide prison strike.
'Modern Slavery': The Labor History Behind the New Nationwide Prison Strike
A look at the origins of the 2018 prison strike through a legacy of involuntary servitude.
Is America Making Progress in Curtailing Mass Incarceration?
According to a new report, while the overall number of inmates in the U.S. is declining, some states are still seeing their prison populations rise.
Does Congress' Prison Reform Bill Go Too Far or Not Far Enough?
The First Step Act has passed the House, but it's likely to face opposition from both sides of the aisle in the Senate.
Sessions Instructs Prosecutors to Seek Harshest Possible Punishments
"It is a core principle that prosecutors should charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense," Sessions wrote.
Public Crime Registries Rarely Work, So Why Do They Continue to Grow?
What started as a system to track sex-offenders has turned into a labyrinthine way of keeping surveillance on former convicts.
The Slow and Complicated Return of Clemency
On Wednesday, President Obama commuted the sentences of 214 people, the most issued in a single day since 1900.
Eastern State Penitentiary and the Critique of Mass Incarceration
Inside the former prison-turned-museum and its new exhibit about the perils and inequities of mass incarceration in America.
American Police and Prisons Are Failing the Mentally Ill
Those with severe mental conditions are more likely to be incarcerated, and less likely to be granted opportunities such as parole.
An Interview With a Former Inmate
As the United States Justice Department plans to release about 6,000 non-violent drug offenders from federal prison, we talk with a researcher and former inmate about what should happen next.
How America's Prison System Punishes Women and Families
A new report counts the costs that women, children, and families bear when a loved one gets incarcerated.
Is This President Obama’s Prison Reform Moment?
The time may be right for Obama to tackle sentencing reform.
Will Parole Get a Second Chance in Virginia?
Twenty years after abolishing parole, one state is examining the impact (and the politics).
Are Prison Education Programs Worth It?
Cost-benefit analyses should consider more than dollars and cents.