Research shows that imposing longer sentences harms inmates and society. There are less expensive − and more effective − ways to hold people accountable and help them prepare for life after prison.

The overuse of probation and parole, along with punitive restrictions, can extend the reach of the prison walls.

Decades of 'tough on crime' policy have expanded prisons while narrowing reform. Restorative justice has been repeatedly constrained not for lack of evidence, but because it redistributes authority away from the state.

This longstanding loophole transforms what are normally civil immigration matters into more serious federal crimes and hides the true scale of immigrant detention from public view.

A North Carolina prison official is sounding the alarm over the effects of a budget impasse on the ability to staff prisons adequately and conduct needed maintenance.Gov. Josh Stein warned

The Canadian federal government has acknowledged that two transgender inmates housed in women’s prisons faced sexual-assault charges following complaints from female inmates. This admission comes amid an ongoing constitutional challenge to Correctional Service Canada’s (CSC) policy allowing gender-diverse offenders to be transferred to women’s facilities. The policy, outlined in Commissioner’s Directive 100, permits transfers based on gender identity or expression but requires case-by-case assessments. The government maintains that its approach aligns with Charter rights and does not violate the safety of cisgender inmates. Legal arguments from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) claim the policy exposes female prisoners to harm, while Ottawa asserts its individualized risk management framework is appropriate. The case involves allegations against 13 gender-diverse inmates, including specific incidents at institutions across Canada. A recent Federal Court ruling rejected the government’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing the constitutional challenge to proceed. The controversy highlights tensions between transgender rights and prison safety, with data showing over 50 transgender women have requested transfers since 2017, though most were denied.

➡️ Check whether your county has a 287(g) agreement as of February 17, 2026, here: prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/02/23/ice_county_collaboration/table1

➡️ Check whether your local jail is used for U.S. Marshals detention and/or ICE detention as of February 5, 2026, here: https://prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/02/23/ice_county_collaboration/#table2

So even in "sanctuary" places like Illinois, the feds can circumvent this policy, bringing criminal — instead of civil — immigration charges against people. Then, they can hold people for immigration...

3️⃣ U.S. Marshals Service contracts “Sanctuary” policies can block collaboration with the feds, but many of these policies focus on the civil immigration process and fail to protect people with crimi...

So how can you tell if this is happening in your county? The Prison Policy Initiative put together a resource to help you figure out whether, and to what extent, your county may be collaborating with...

2️⃣ ICE detention Many jails have contracts that enable them to rent out beds to the federal government to detain immigrants. These contracts are a perverse way for sheriffs to rake in millions of d...

"ICE has rapidly expanded a program to deputize local police officers... The share of people detained through the program, known as 287(g), is now around 14%" The federal deportation agenda is not po...