These reforms shrink the carceral system, mitigate its harms, & remove financial incentives from the system.
Prison Policy Initiative updates for November 16, 2022 Exposing how mass incarceration harms communities and our national welfare
31 criminal justice reforms ripe for victory in 2023 legislative sessions [[link removed]] New Winnable Criminal Justice Reforms report provides state lawmakers with resources and information to secure victory on these important reforms. [[link removed]]
Despite millions of dollars in TV advertisements and countless hours of hyperbolic news coverage, last week, voters across the country rejected fearmongering about efforts to overhaul the nation’s broken criminal legal system. They made clear they are interested in solutions and that the scare tactics that have been a staple of American politics for generations no longer resonate as they once did.
With that in mind, today, we released our annual guide to winnable state legislative criminal justice reforms ripe for victory in 2023 [[link removed]]. These 31 reforms will shrink the carceral system, mitigate its harms, and remove deeply entrenched financial incentives from the system.
The reforms focus on nine areas:
Expanding alternatives to criminal justice system responses to social problems [[link removed]]; Reducing the number of people entering the “revolving doors” of jail and prison [[link removed]]; Improving sentencing structures and release processes to encourage timely and successful releases from prison [[link removed]]; Reducing the footprint of probation and parole systems and supporting success on supervision [[link removed]]; Protecting incarcerated people and families from exploitation by private contractors [[link removed]]; Promoting physical and mental health among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people [[link removed]]; Giving all communities equal voice in how our justice system works [[link removed]]; Setting people up to succeed upon release [[link removed]]; and Eliminating relics of the harmful and racist “war on drugs.” [[link removed]]
Each reform explains the problem it seeks to solve, points to in-depth research on the topic, and highlights solutions or legislation introduced or passed in states. While this list is not intended to be a comprehensive platform, we’ve curated it to offer policymakers and advocates straightforward solutions that would have a significant impact without further investments in the carceral system and point to policy reforms that have gained momentum in the past year. We have focused especially on those reforms that would reduce the number of people needlessly confined in prisons and jails. We made a conscious choice not to include critical reforms unique to just a few states or important reforms for which we don’t yet have enough useful resources to be helpful to most states.
We sent this guide to hundreds of lawmakers across the country — from all parties — who have shown interest in fixing the criminal legal system in their state. As they put together their legislative agendas for the upcoming session, legislators can use this guide to develop solutions to make their state’s criminal legal system more just, equitable, and fair.
***
Find our full listing of 31 winnable criminal justice reforms ripe for victory in 2023 on our website [[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!
Other news: A how-to guide: Critically reviewing a jail assessment calling for a bigger jail [[link removed]]
Counties across the country regularly discuss plans to expand existing jails or build new facilities. Jail assessments have become a core part of these discussions and decisions.
We put together a new guide [[link removed]] to help advocates better understand and spot flaws and fallacies in these documents.
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]])
Update which newsletters you get [link removed].
You are receiving this message because you signed up on our website [[link removed]] or you met Peter Wagner or another staff member at an event and asked to be included.
Prison Policy Initiative [[link removed]]
PO Box 127
Northampton, Mass. 01061
Web Version [link removed] Unsubscribe [link removed] Update address / join other newsletters [link removed] Donate [[link removed]] Tweet this newsletter [link removed] Forward this newsletter [link removed]
You are receiving this message because you signed up on our website or you met Peter Wagner or another staff member at an event and asked to be included.
Prison Policy Initiative
PO Box 127 Northampton, Mass. 01061
Did someone forward this to you? If you enjoyed reading, please subscribe! [[link removed]] Web Version [link removed] | Update address [link removed] | Unsubscribe [link removed] | Share via: Twitter [link removed] Facebook [[link removed] Email [link removed]
