lack of competition results in soaring costs for prisoners The costs taxpayers spend to incarcerate men and women are often augmented by prisoners and their families, according to a study by Prison Policy Initiative (PPI). For the basic necessities state prisons do not provide, prisoners must find a way to fill this deficit. Prison commissaries are one method of transference of a state’s obligation to care for prisoners. The result, more often than not, is the enrichment of private companies that provide packages to prisoners, PPI … [Read more...] about Report: Prison commissaries have legal monopoly
PPI
Mississippi’s approach to ‘making America safe again’
Jackson, Mississippi’s approach to making America safe again mandates that any conviction that involves possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime should result in a five-year enhancement of federal prison time. Project EJECT is the means by which U.S. Attorney Michael Hurst executed his plan to remove violent offenders from communities, reported the Jackson Free Press. “Today is a new day,” Hurst said. “The message to violent criminals in Jackson is simple: you break the law, you terrorize our neighborhoods and you will be ejected … [Read more...] about Mississippi’s approach to ‘making America safe again’
Florida reduces in-person visits with more video
Florida never seems to pass up the opportunity to make a bad situation worse, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Are prison video calls a convenience or a scheme to make money for prison officials? Florida ignores criminal justice reform and spends around $2.4 billion annually on its prison system, which in this situation means reducing in-person visits, according to Times columnist John Romano. There are studies that show inmates who stay connected to the outside world are less likely to re-offend. It also leads to better-behaved inmates, … [Read more...] about Florida reduces in-person visits with more video
CA bills aim to reform law for juveniles and adults
Sacramento, CA —On April 4, the California Senate Public Safety Committee voted to pass Senate Bills 1392 and 1393, half of the Equity and Justice Package, authored by Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens). The two Senate leaders are joint authors on bills that together seek major justice reforms for juveniles and adults. “Mass incarceration is a massive moral failure and policy failure. It’s a moral failure because we now know that it is injurious to families and to the economies of low-income … [Read more...] about CA bills aim to reform law for juveniles and adults
Prisoner medical co-pay looks cheap on the surface
Charging incarcerated people medical co-pays forces them to make difficult choices Medical co-payments for prisoners nationwide could be doing more damage than good, according to a recent report from the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI). Wendy Sawyer, author of the PPI report, compared the cost of medical co-pays in prisons and jails to what people on the outside pay, relative to their wages. “A $2 to $5 medical co-pay in prison or jail may not seem expensive on its face. But, when we consider the relative cost of these co-pays to … [Read more...] about Prisoner medical co-pay looks cheap on the surface
States upping age for juvenile prosecution
Some states across the country are increasing the age at which juveniles are prosecuted as adults. “Legislatures around the country are voting to treat 17-year-old offenders as juveniles,” the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JJIE) reported. "Louisiana acted last year, as did South Carolina, leaving just seven states nationwide that still prosecute all youth under 18 as adults,” the JJIE reported. In April, New York became the latest state to make the decision not to charge juveniles as adults, leaving just six states that still … [Read more...] about States upping age for juvenile prosecution
Average inmate pay drops despite billions on prisons
In a billion-dollar prison labor market, wages for incarcerated people nationwide have declined since 2001, a recent report says. The April report by Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) said the average minimum wages paid per day to incarcerated workers for non-industry prison jobs is now 86 cents, down from 93 cents in 2001. This means that the average maximum daily wage also declined from $4.73 in 2001 to $3.45 today. “The vast majority of prison labor is not even cloaked in the idea of rehabilitation,” said Heather Thompson of the University … [Read more...] about Average inmate pay drops despite billions on prisons
US prison commissary giants are set to merge
As prisoners across the nation wage protests over what they consider slave labor for low or no pay, two of the country’s biggest prison commissary companies are set to merge. HIG Capital, owner of Trinity Services Group, a commissary and food-service operator, announced that it would be acquiring Keefe Group, one of the largest for-profit operators of prison and jail commissaries, according to a Prison Policy Initiative article. Throughout the nation, the prison commissary business brings in an estimated $1.6 billion in sales a year. Keefe, … [Read more...] about US prison commissary giants are set to merge
New Tool to Analyzing Criminal Justice Policy
Incarceration rates are not the entire story of the criminal justice system. For reformers seeking to rationalize our criminal justice policies, the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) has created a significant new tool for analyzing the complicated issue of developing proposals for reform. PPI’s “Correctional Control: Incarceration and Supervision by State” issued on June 1, is the first report to aggregate data on all types of correctional control nationwide. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/50statepie.html The scope of correction … [Read more...] about New Tool to Analyzing Criminal Justice Policy
Overcrowding in County Jails Changes Bail Practices
Overcrowding in county jails has California reviewing its bail practices. California’s bail practices have clogged the jails and become a tool that preemptively punishes the poor. Many individuals who pose no threat to society are jailed while awaiting trial. Realignment shifted many state prisoners to county jails. “64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in pretrial custody because they cannot afford bail. Jail Profile Survey, http://www.bscc.ca.gov/ Like a flood moving … [Read more...] about Overcrowding in County Jails Changes Bail Practices