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.
“In the weeks since, their colleagues have put forth other proposals aimed at helping Pennsylvania’s aging prison inmates and those serving life sentences. Here’s a rundown of all the criminal justice proposals that have come through the Senate so far this year.“
Pennsylvania Capital Star
March 16, 2019
Read More“But recently talking about the site’s history didn’t seem like enough for Sean Kelley, senior vice president and director of interpretation. Two years ago, after discussions about how the museum addressed the rising number of people incarcerated in the United States — especially people of color — Mr. Kelley helped rewrite the museum’s mission statement, declaring that Eastern State would no longer be neutral in recognizing mass incarceration as a crisis.“
New York Times
March 12, 2019
Read More‘Statewide, the practice can shift power to areas that host prisons, which tend to be more rural. Kuniholm said the census count helps determine what resources and services are allocated to an area. ‘It amplifies the voice of communities that have prisons and want to keep those prisons full, and it diminishes the voice of communities that are harmed by mass incarceration,’ she said.“
WITF Harrisburg
January 28, 2019
Read More“Pennsylvania’s state prison population saw its biggest drop ever in 2018, the fifth consecutive year the number of people behind bars in the state prison system has declined. The number of people incarcerated in state prison dropped to 47,370 inmates at the end of 2018 – a 1,068 decline from the prior year when there were 48,438 people behind bars in the state Department of Corrections. The state’s inmate population is down from 51,512 five years ago, corrections data show.“
New Castle News
January 11, 2019
Read More“Following Ring's advice: decriminalizing marijuana and expunging records, abolishing the death penalty, and creating a path to parole for lifers doesn't make Pennsylvania any less safe. In fact, it will save money, reduce the size of government, and be an important step toward racial justice. It can also bring us together in a time of growing polarization.“
Philadelphia Inquirer
October 29, 2018
Read More"State Sen. Sharif Street (D-3) joined state Reps. Jordan Harris (D-186) and Donna Bullock (D-195) in spearheading a bicameral hearing of the Democratic Legislative Policy Committee at the State Correctional Institute — Dallas in Luzerne County, where they discussed proposals aimed at reforming Pennsylvania’s justice and prison systems."
Philadelphia Tribune
August 31, 2018
Read More"This Clean Slate legislation allows for individuals to petition the courts for their records to be sealed if a person has been free from conviction for 10 years for an offense that resulted in a year or more in prison and has paid all court-ordered financial debts."
Pennsylvania Governor's Office
June 28, 2018
Read More"I'm sure every Pennsylvania resident can easily come up with - right off the top - 10 better ways $400 million could've been spent. My list: schools, healthcare, roads and bridges, jobs, universal pre-k, tax cuts, victim services, diversionary programs, drug treatment, and ending hunger would be a good start."
Penn Live
June 25, 2018
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