No country on the planet locks up more people than the US (or spends more money doing it—almost $81 billion a year). But studies show that throwing tons of people in jail or prison does NOT make communities safer.
What does? Let’s find out.
Incarcerating people for drug-related crimes does not reduce crime OR the rate of illegal drug use.
In 2018, the Tuscon (Arizona) Police Department began a program called “pre-arrest diversion.” Instead of incarcerating people who are suspected of drug-related crimes, the police connect them with substance-use counselors. This approach decreases arrests and reduces illegal drug use. Programs launched in Seattle and the Houston area have seen similar results.
Participants in Seattle’s LEAD (law enforcement assisted diversion) program, for example, have 60% lower odds of being arrested and 39% lower odds of being charged with a felony, compared to people who are processed through the criminal legal system in the standard way. A Harris County (which includes Houston), Texas, study found that its diversion programs lowered a person’s future convictions by 48% and improved employment outcomes by 53%!
It’s estimated that 44% of people in jail and 37% of people in prison have a mental illness. Shouldn’t we be providing them with healthcare and treatment instead of locking them up? Yes! A Chicago study tracked what happened when at-risk youth in grades 7-10 attended weekly group therapy sessions:
Clearly, making healthcare accessible benefits individuals, families, and communities—but too many people who need it the most still cannot afford it. Another study found that men who lose Medicaid coverage (a government program that helps cover medical costs for people with limited income and resources) are 14% more likely to be incarcerated afterward. And if those men have a history of mental-health issues, then that number goes up to 21%.
Incarceration, to be clear, is terrible for people who are experiencing mental-health issues —74% of people in state prison who’ve been diagnosed with a mental health condition report never having received any mental healthcare while incarcerated! Data shows that punishing people behind bars only leads to further trauma and harm. Rather than rehabilitating people or reducing crime, it actually increases future criminal behavior.
Almost every city and state in the country is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. But did you know that providing housing can actually reduce crime?
Recent research details how programs that provide housing assistance to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County reduced crime and improved people’s chances of getting a job.
According to that study, Housing First assistance (a program that gets people experiencing homelessness into homes, no questions asked) reduces participants’ probability of being in jail by 95% and of being charged with a crime by 85%! But having reliable housing does more than reduce crime—it also helps people live more independent and self-sufficient lives. Housing First, for example, lowered participants’ reliance on social benefits by 35%.
There are many varieties of violence-intervention programs, but they usually involve bringing people who are most at-risk of either committing or experiencing violence together with trusted community members who can help them get the resources and help they need.
Violence-intervention programs have reduced gun violence and violent crime by as much as 60% in some communities! For areas struggling with violence, these programs can make a profound difference:
The facts are clear. Instead of throwing billions of dollars into funding prisons, we need to invest in programs that are proven to help people, strengthen our communities, and address the root causes of incarceration.
When we meet people where they are and provide them with the care and support they and their families need, crime goes down, violence drops, and their employment prospects rise.
Interested in learning more? Join the movement now and we’ll share campaign updates and information from our partners on the ground who are doing the work—and changing people’s lives.
Saying “I love you” shouldn’t cost a thing — especially during the holidays. But for decades the predatory prison telecom industry has charged people who are incarcerated absurdly high rates just to call home. How did this happen? And what can we do about it?
Cash bail separates families and devastates lives. End cash bail and make sure there’s a place at the table for everyone this Thanksgiving!
Millions of people have voted already, and millions more are voting right now. But remember, we may not know the results of this election today. Here’s why.
