Because 90% of all prisoners in the United States are in state facilities, the work that states are doing to reduce their prison populations is crucial. Attempting to end mass incarceration necessitates realizing this is a situation requiring not one national solution, but fifty state solutions. Below are current state solutions that could be effectively modeled by other states for meaningful reform.
"For Lewis Conway Jr., deciding to run for office was the easy part. The Austin native was a community activist looking for another way to make change. But until mid-August, the fate of his candidacy for City Council was uncertain. He had served eight years in prison and 12 on parole, and although his voting rights were restored, city officials questioned his eligibility. Only this month was he officially cleared for the November ballot."
The Appeal
August 30, 2018
Read More"At first glance, it may seem typical that Lewis Conway Jr. got his name on the ballot for a seat on the Austin City Council — he paid the filing fee and turned in his application before the deadline. But Conway's success Tuesday is unique for one big reason: He's a convicted felon."
Texas Tribune
August 21, 2018
Read More"Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez has said the facility within the Del Valle jail is needed because the county’s current facilities are in poor physical shape. The setup splits the female population into four facilities, she said, which is inefficient and at times uncomfortable for the women who have to walk through men’s facilities."
Austin American-Statesman
August 11, 2018
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