Prison Policy Initiative updates for January 27, 2021 Showing how mass incarceration harms communities and our national welfare
We list 27 “winnable, high-impact” state legislative reforms that would change the justice system and save lives in 2021 [[link removed]] Our new “Winnable Criminal Justice Reforms” report lists 27 policy ideas for state legislators, as well as model bills and links to more information on each policy. [[link removed]]
by Wanda Bertram
The new president and new Congress are stirring hopes for federal criminal justice reform, but in 2021 — just like every other year — it is state legislators who will have the power to free the most people from prisons and jails.
Because the vast majority [[link removed]] of people locked up in this country are held in facilities controlled by state and local lawmakers, we've just published a report about 27 winnable criminal justice reforms [[link removed]] that state legislators can take on. Our report includes links to model bills and studies supporting each of our recommended reforms.
Getting people out of prisons and jails — and out of the "nets" of constant surveillance that can get them thrown back in prison for minor violations — is a matter of life and death this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to kill people behind bars. Our list of reforms ripe for legislative victory includes many policy changes that will save lives during the pandemic, including:
Funding non-police responses to crises involving people with disabilities or mental illnesses Decriminalizing youth offenses and ending the prosecution of youth as adults Radically reducing pretrial detention and ending money bail Updating the dollar threshold for felony theft Ending incarceration for noncriminal violations of probation and parole Ending driver’s license suspensions for nonpayment of fines and fees Eliminating medical copays in prisons and jails
Our full report [[link removed]] on winnable criminal justice reforms includes more ideas for reducing state prison populations, eliminating burdensome costs for incarcerated people, supporting people leaving prison, and promoting public health and community safety.
This week, we're mailing our report to hundreds of state legislators and urging them to introduce these critical reforms. Will your state make criminal justice reform a priority in 2021?
Please support our work [[link removed]]
Our work is made possible by private donations. Can you help us keep going? We can accept tax-deductible gifts online [[link removed]] or via paper checks sent to PO Box 127 Northampton MA 01061. Thank you!
Other news: New jail phone data shows that (of course) incarcerated people made more phone calls in 2020 [[link removed]]
We now have data to prove what incarcerated people and their families have been saying for months: With in-person visits suspended due to the pandemic, people in jail have spent more time on the phone. And when call volumes go up, billion-dollar companies like Securus — and the jails themselves — rake in the profits.
Read our brief analysis. [[link removed]]
One more policy idea for getting people out of prison during COVID-19 [[link removed]]
We published a briefing earlier this month explaining how states can use their "good time" credit systems to get people out of prison. Most states have laws that allow incarcerated people to earn time off of their sentences, and at least one state — New Jersey — has leveraged its system to free thousands of people.
Read our explainer. [[link removed]]
Please support our work [[link removed]]
Our work is made possible by private donations. Can you help us keep going? We can accept tax-deductible gifts online [[link removed]] or via paper checks sent to PO Box 127 Northampton MA 01061. Thank you!
Our other newsletters Ending prison gerrymandering ( archives [[link removed]]) Criminal justice research library ( archives) [[link removed]]
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Prison Policy Initiative
PO Box 127 Northampton, Mass. 01061
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