Prison Policy Initiative

The Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank focused on analyzing and reforming the criminal justice system in the United States. Founded in 2001 by Peter Wagner, the PPI is headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts.

The primary mission of the PPI is to uncover the far-reaching harms of mass incarceration through innovative research and data analysis, thereby initiating advocacy campaigns to create a more just society. The organization advocates for reducing prison incarceration, combating racial inequalities, and promoting local criminal justice reforms[3][4].

• Research Reports and Data Analysis: The PPI produces comprehensive reports that illustrate the impacts of mass incarceration in the U.S. Notable reports include the "Whole Pie" report, which provides a visual representation of all aspects of incarceration in the U.S., and the "States of Incarceration" report, which compares the incarceration rates of each U.S. state with those of nearly all other countries worldwide[1][5].

• Census and Voting Rights: The PPI is a leading critic of the U.S. Census Bureau's practice of counting prisoners as residents of the communities where they are incarcerated, rather than their previous addresses. This practice, known as "prison gerrymandering," distorts representative justice. The PPI has conducted extensive research on this issue and advocates for a change in this method[1].

• Phone Industry in Prisons and Jails: The PPI has published several reports on the high cost structure and monopolization of the phone industry in prisons and jails. These reports show how prison systems and local jails enter into contracts with phone companies that charge high fees and share up to 84% of the profits with the facilities, which is contrary to the interests of the actual consumers, the families of the incarcerated[1].

• Mail Bans in Jails: The PPI has published the first nationwide investigation into the new phenomenon of jails banning the receipt of letters from home and instead requiring the use of public postcards. This research has been described by the National Institute of Corrections as "essential reading for policymakers and anyone working with incarcerated individuals"[1].

• Reducing Prison Incarceration: The PPI actively advocates for reducing prison incarceration and combating racial inequalities in the criminal justice system. Through regular online reports, analyses of publicly available data, and creative graphic presentations, the PPI raises awareness of the issues of prison abuse and overuse and stimulates national interest in solutions[4].

• Public Education and Advocacy: The PPI engages in national advocacy and public education to highlight the need for local criminal justice reforms that reduce prison incarceration and address racial inequalities. This is done through periodic online reports, discussions on the blog and social media, and technical assistance to spark national interest in solutions and contribute to change[4].

• Collaboration and Support: The PPI works closely with other organizations and initiatives, such as the Safety and Justice Challenge of the MacArthur Foundation, to achieve its goals. These partnerships enable the PPI to amplify its research and advocacy and exert a greater influence on the national discussion about criminal justice reform[4].

The Prison Policy Initiative is a central player in the national movement for criminal justice reform and tirelessly advocates for a more just and humane treatment of incarcerated individuals and their families. Through its comprehensive research, innovative data analysis, and effective advocacy campaigns, the PPI significantly contributes to the creation of a more just society.

• 1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Policy_Initiative
• 2 - https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/general/
• 3 - https://www.prisonpolicy.org/about.html
• 4 - https://www.macfound.org/grantee/prison-policy-initiative-10087477/
• 5 - https://www.prisonpolicy.org/national/