Prison Policy Initiative
@prisonpolicy.org
Challenging mass incarceration and over-criminalization through research, advocacy, and organizing. Get email updates: https://prisonpolicy.org/subscribe/
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A lot of bad things happened this year in the criminal legal system.
But as we enter 2026, it's important to remember that we aren't helpless, and the U.S. doesn't have to continue down this road.
But as we enter 2026, it's important to remember that we aren't helpless, and the U.S. doesn't have to continue down this road.
A reminder on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day:
It's not just "a few bad apples." Police violence is a systemic problem in the U.S., and it happens on a scale far greater than other wealthy nations.
Who, exactly, does this system protect & serve?
It's not just "a few bad apples." Police violence is a systemic problem in the U.S., and it happens on a scale far greater than other wealthy nations.
Who, exactly, does this system protect & serve?
January 9, 2026 at 8:15 PM
A reminder on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day:
It's not just "a few bad apples." Police violence is a systemic problem in the U.S., and it happens on a scale far greater than other wealthy nations.
Who, exactly, does this system protect & serve?
It's not just "a few bad apples." Police violence is a systemic problem in the U.S., and it happens on a scale far greater than other wealthy nations.
Who, exactly, does this system protect & serve?
One of the most powerful ways to limit ICE's reach is to rein in sheriffs and stop letting local police & jails collaborate with the federal agency.
When states take a hard stance against ICE, communities are better off and more protected from the deportation agenda:
When states take a hard stance against ICE, communities are better off and more protected from the deportation agenda:
January 9, 2026 at 3:07 PM
One of the most powerful ways to limit ICE's reach is to rein in sheriffs and stop letting local police & jails collaborate with the federal agency.
When states take a hard stance against ICE, communities are better off and more protected from the deportation agenda:
When states take a hard stance against ICE, communities are better off and more protected from the deportation agenda:
Reposted by Prison Policy Initiative
For the last few months, I kept a document where every time I saw reports of fed immigration agents shooting or pointing their gun at someone, I made a note. The list grew and grew. It now includes 4 deaths. Here is what I noticed keeping that list.
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/07/i...
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/07/i...
Before ICE Shooting, Immigration Agents Repeatedly Used Deadly Force
The killing of a Minneapolis woman is latest by ICE and Border Patrol officers in recent months. Others have been wounded or threatened with guns.
www.themarshallproject.org
January 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
For the last few months, I kept a document where every time I saw reports of fed immigration agents shooting or pointing their gun at someone, I made a note. The list grew and grew. It now includes 4 deaths. Here is what I noticed keeping that list.
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/07/i...
www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/07/i...
Since 2020, when police murdered George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and more than 1,100 other people, more Americans have questioned the role and practices of police in society – and hoped for meaningful reform.
So, what does the state of policing look like now, 6 years later? 🧵
So, what does the state of policing look like now, 6 years later? 🧵
January 8, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Since 2020, when police murdered George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and more than 1,100 other people, more Americans have questioned the role and practices of police in society – and hoped for meaningful reform.
So, what does the state of policing look like now, 6 years later? 🧵
So, what does the state of policing look like now, 6 years later? 🧵
Mapping Police Violence is a powerful tool that keeps careful track of police killings each year.
In 2023, 96 people were killed after police responded to reports of a mental health crisis. And in 2024, that number rose to 118.
Learn more here: policeviolencereport.org
In 2023, 96 people were killed after police responded to reports of a mental health crisis. And in 2024, that number rose to 118.
Learn more here: policeviolencereport.org
January 8, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Mapping Police Violence is a powerful tool that keeps careful track of police killings each year.
In 2023, 96 people were killed after police responded to reports of a mental health crisis. And in 2024, that number rose to 118.
Learn more here: policeviolencereport.org
In 2023, 96 people were killed after police responded to reports of a mental health crisis. And in 2024, that number rose to 118.
Learn more here: policeviolencereport.org
Reposted by Prison Policy Initiative
We are devastated by the news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now targeting the Minneapolis area with its lawless actions, including an ICE officer today fatally shooting someone who was reportedly acting as a legal observer.
January 7, 2026 at 11:06 PM
We are devastated by the news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now targeting the Minneapolis area with its lawless actions, including an ICE officer today fatally shooting someone who was reportedly acting as a legal observer.
Reposted by Prison Policy Initiative
"In new data from 562 jails, we find that more than 1 in 8 jail bookings (13%) are related to a failure to appear (FTA), and more than half of those are FTA only."
great/disturbing/enraging new analysis from @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/01...
great/disturbing/enraging new analysis from @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/01...
How many jail stays are due to missed court dates?
Failing to make it to a court appearance – routine for attorneys and witnesses – leads to 19 million additional nights in jail each year ...
www.prisonpolicy.org
January 8, 2026 at 2:16 PM
"In new data from 562 jails, we find that more than 1 in 8 jail bookings (13%) are related to a failure to appear (FTA), and more than half of those are FTA only."
great/disturbing/enraging new analysis from @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/01...
great/disturbing/enraging new analysis from @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/01...
Don't let copaganda fool you – police violence is not tied to their safety.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
January 8, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Don't let copaganda fool you – police violence is not tied to their safety.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
Today, ICE shot & killed someone, and then said the officer was using "his training."
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
Live updates: ICE says agent, ‘fearing for his life,’ kills woman in south Minneapolis
ICE officials say the woman was shot and killed Wednesday morning in south Minneapolis after attempting to run over agents with her car. Witnesses dispute ICE’s version of what happened. Mayor Jacob…
www.mprnews.org
January 7, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Today, ICE shot & killed someone, and then said the officer was using "his training."
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
Local jails are the single largest source of ICE arrests. Federal agents piggyback on the work of local authorities, often targeting people for minor violations.
The best way to stop Trump's deportation agenda is to rein in local collaboration with ICE.
The best way to stop Trump's deportation agenda is to rein in local collaboration with ICE.
A new study shows how local governments can facilitate or slow down ICE arrests
Over the past year, the presence of ICE agents across the nation has ramped up – with an increased budget, increased arrest quotas and an overall more aggressive approach. Do local governments have…
www.wuwm.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Local jails are the single largest source of ICE arrests. Federal agents piggyback on the work of local authorities, often targeting people for minor violations.
The best way to stop Trump's deportation agenda is to rein in local collaboration with ICE.
The best way to stop Trump's deportation agenda is to rein in local collaboration with ICE.
On any given day in the U.S., more than 450,000 people are waiting in jail for their trial – meaning, they are legally innocent behind bars.
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
On any given day in the U.S., more than 450,000 people are waiting in jail for their trial – meaning, they are legally innocent behind bars.
On the 5th anniversary of the January 6 riot, there is a lot to be said.
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
January 6, 2026 at 6:33 PM
On the 5th anniversary of the January 6 riot, there is a lot to be said.
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
Reposted by Prison Policy Initiative
Health-based drug policy saves lives. Cuts to Medicaid-funded treatment, naloxone, & health services—plus expanded militarization at home & illegal military action in Venezuela and international waters—is costing lives. Americans deserve solutions, not chaos.
www.npr.org/2025/12/31/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/31/n...
In one year, Trump pivots fentanyl response from public health to drug war
Experts say Biden's focus on addiction health care saved tens of thousands of lives and slowed fentanyl smuggling. Trump scrapped Biden's approach in favor of military strikes.
www.npr.org
January 6, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Health-based drug policy saves lives. Cuts to Medicaid-funded treatment, naloxone, & health services—plus expanded militarization at home & illegal military action in Venezuela and international waters—is costing lives. Americans deserve solutions, not chaos.
www.npr.org/2025/12/31/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/31/n...
Reposted by Prison Policy Initiative
Journalists at The Marshall Project have persistently covered how people are dying in prisons and jails across the United States. In Dying Behind Bars, we’ve discovered that, while prisons and jails are meant to be tightly surveilled environments, dying in them is a fundamentally opaque process.
What You Need to Know About Dying Behind Bars
Every year, thousands of people die in prisons, jails and law enforcement custody.
www.themarshallproject.org
January 6, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Journalists at The Marshall Project have persistently covered how people are dying in prisons and jails across the United States. In Dying Behind Bars, we’ve discovered that, while prisons and jails are meant to be tightly surveilled environments, dying in them is a fundamentally opaque process.
Incarceration is deadly.
People incarcerated on a single day in 2008 had a 39% higher risk of death compared to similar people who were not incarcerated:
People incarcerated on a single day in 2008 had a 39% higher risk of death compared to similar people who were not incarcerated:
January 5, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Incarceration is deadly.
People incarcerated on a single day in 2008 had a 39% higher risk of death compared to similar people who were not incarcerated:
People incarcerated on a single day in 2008 had a 39% higher risk of death compared to similar people who were not incarcerated:
A reminder that children of incarcerated folks are more likely to experience food insecurity. That's 1.25 million kids who are at risk.
We should be making it easier for vulnerable people to access food and nutrition education, not harder.
We should be making it easier for vulnerable people to access food and nutrition education, not harder.
The Trump administration shuts down SNAP-Ed, a nearly 50-year old nutrition education arm within the food stamps program
“There will be some losses in my community,” one beneficiary said. “We won’t have that guidance, or help in comparing quantity and quality when we shop for groceries.”
“There will be some losses in my community,” one beneficiary said. “We won’t have that guidance, or help in comparing quantity and quality when we shop for groceries.”
The End of SNAP-Ed Leaves Underserved Communities With Even Fewer Resources
SNAP-Ed, the country’s largest nutrition education program, was eliminated last fall. States are starting to feel the impact. Colorado is among the first.
civileats.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:51 PM
A reminder that children of incarcerated folks are more likely to experience food insecurity. That's 1.25 million kids who are at risk.
We should be making it easier for vulnerable people to access food and nutrition education, not harder.
We should be making it easier for vulnerable people to access food and nutrition education, not harder.
It's National Poverty in America Awareness Month – sadly, the carceral system targets & perpetuates poverty.
People with multiple arrests are more likely to be poor, unemployed & have less than a high school education.
Time to support our communities instead of locking them up.
People with multiple arrests are more likely to be poor, unemployed & have less than a high school education.
Time to support our communities instead of locking them up.
January 4, 2026 at 8:15 PM
It's National Poverty in America Awareness Month – sadly, the carceral system targets & perpetuates poverty.
People with multiple arrests are more likely to be poor, unemployed & have less than a high school education.
Time to support our communities instead of locking them up.
People with multiple arrests are more likely to be poor, unemployed & have less than a high school education.
Time to support our communities instead of locking them up.
“Who wants to get a major case over having extra tampons? And that sounds really ridiculous to people on the outside, but I mean, that would happen."
In prison, cruel policies punish people for having a period, and menstruation is treated like misconduct:
In prison, cruel policies punish people for having a period, and menstruation is treated like misconduct:
Punished for bleeding: How periods in prison become a trap
Many incarcerated women and trans people are forced to choose between maintaining their dignity and health — or facing penalties.
19thnews.org
January 4, 2026 at 2:15 PM
“Who wants to get a major case over having extra tampons? And that sounds really ridiculous to people on the outside, but I mean, that would happen."
In prison, cruel policies punish people for having a period, and menstruation is treated like misconduct:
In prison, cruel policies punish people for having a period, and menstruation is treated like misconduct:
1.25 million kids are entering the new year without their parent because of mass incarceration.
New year, same cruel system.
New year, same cruel system.
January 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
1.25 million kids are entering the new year without their parent because of mass incarceration.
New year, same cruel system.
New year, same cruel system.
In 2025, local police & jails played a crucial role in ICE's deportation agenda.
For this year to be any different, states must prohibit this collaboration and rein in sheriffs.
For this year to be any different, states must prohibit this collaboration and rein in sheriffs.
January 3, 2026 at 2:15 PM
In 2025, local police & jails played a crucial role in ICE's deportation agenda.
For this year to be any different, states must prohibit this collaboration and rein in sheriffs.
For this year to be any different, states must prohibit this collaboration and rein in sheriffs.
A single day in jail can derail someone's life – imagine the horrific consequences of multiple bookings in a single year.
As we enter 2026, it's time for the US to embrace housing-first solutions, not increased policing & criminalization.
As we enter 2026, it's time for the US to embrace housing-first solutions, not increased policing & criminalization.
January 2, 2026 at 8:50 PM
A single day in jail can derail someone's life – imagine the horrific consequences of multiple bookings in a single year.
As we enter 2026, it's time for the US to embrace housing-first solutions, not increased policing & criminalization.
As we enter 2026, it's time for the US to embrace housing-first solutions, not increased policing & criminalization.
Policing & crime do not go hand in hand.
Incarceration rates in every single U.S. state are out of line with the entire world, and this disparity is not explainable by differences in crime or “violent crime.”
Incarceration rates in every single U.S. state are out of line with the entire world, and this disparity is not explainable by differences in crime or “violent crime.”
January 2, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Policing & crime do not go hand in hand.
Incarceration rates in every single U.S. state are out of line with the entire world, and this disparity is not explainable by differences in crime or “violent crime.”
Incarceration rates in every single U.S. state are out of line with the entire world, and this disparity is not explainable by differences in crime or “violent crime.”
New year, same fight to end mass incarceration – and we want to help other orgs in the fight 🫵
Learn more about how our Advocacy Dept. can provide free research help & technical support on projects across all stages of the system in your area this year:
www.prisonpolicy.org/trainings/
Learn more about how our Advocacy Dept. can provide free research help & technical support on projects across all stages of the system in your area this year:
www.prisonpolicy.org/trainings/
January 1, 2026 at 8:15 PM
New year, same fight to end mass incarceration – and we want to help other orgs in the fight 🫵
Learn more about how our Advocacy Dept. can provide free research help & technical support on projects across all stages of the system in your area this year:
www.prisonpolicy.org/trainings/
Learn more about how our Advocacy Dept. can provide free research help & technical support on projects across all stages of the system in your area this year:
www.prisonpolicy.org/trainings/
In 2026, the U.S. will spend $182 billion on mass incarceration. That's a lot of money that could be better spent on investing in communities instead of locking them up.
New year, same failed priorities.
Happy New Year.
New year, same failed priorities.
Happy New Year.
January 1, 2026 at 2:15 PM
In 2026, the U.S. will spend $182 billion on mass incarceration. That's a lot of money that could be better spent on investing in communities instead of locking them up.
New year, same failed priorities.
Happy New Year.
New year, same failed priorities.
Happy New Year.
This year, DHS aggressively tried to recruit ICE agents by offering massive signing bonuses, lowering age requirements, and shortening training periods.
We've seen these exact recruitment strategies play out in U.S. prisons & jails – and they always fail 🧵
We've seen these exact recruitment strategies play out in U.S. prisons & jails – and they always fail 🧵
December 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
This year, DHS aggressively tried to recruit ICE agents by offering massive signing bonuses, lowering age requirements, and shortening training periods.
We've seen these exact recruitment strategies play out in U.S. prisons & jails – and they always fail 🧵
We've seen these exact recruitment strategies play out in U.S. prisons & jails – and they always fail 🧵