Thanks to @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social for highlighting ways that NYC can learn from innovative reforms taking place in prisons and jails across the country

Innovative programs helping some states make life safer & more humane for the people who live & work behind bars could be a helpful blueprint as the NYC jail remediation manager & other experts look to improve conditions in city jails, @lbeisen.bsky.social writes in @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social.

@lbeisen.bsky.social talks with The Last Mile about how corrections officers in some states are working to reduce the number of incarcerated people in restrictive housing, and improve prison conditions more broadly, with the help of an organization called Amend @ucsanfrancisco.bsky.social.

Great to be joined by experts from @vera.org and Prison Fellowship for a conversation on prison reform, and ways that some states are trying to make prisons less violent, more humane, and more conducive to rehabilitation. For more on their work, check out our recent report: bit.ly/4bo97UR

“We can’t wait as a country to roll up our sleeves and … improve the conditions in our prisons, for both staff and those who are incarcerated inside these facilities.” — @lbeisen.bsky.social talks with @wbur.org about findings from a new Brennan Center report on prison reform.

“These broken systems harm everyone.” — @lbeisen.bsky.social talks with @wbur.org On Point about why prison reform is needed, and how some states have made changes to help improve conditions for people who live and work behind bars.

A Brennan Center report looks at how some states are trying to reduce violence and improve conditions in prisons, and increase rehabilitation opportunities. A recent piece in @forbes.com examines how some of those same principles can be applied to federal prison reform.

The DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel said the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, contradicting decades of Supreme Court precedent. Why they got it wrong, from former OLC Assistant Attorney General Chris Fonzone:

“Our justice system has failed large swaths of the country. It has failed those who are incarcerated in our often inhumane prisons and jails.” @lbeisen.bsky.social talks with @thelastmileorg.bsky.social about how some states are trying to improve conditions for people who live and work in prisons.

Are we safer yet? “Violent criminals were a small minority of the state’s detainees with charges or convictions last year. Just 1.9% had homicide charges or convictions, 2.2% sexual assault and 3.7% for weapons offenses.” www.al.com/news/2026/04...

This week, we released “The Data Behind Prison Reform.” Built from the data highlighted in our report, Prison Reform in the United States, this analysis provides a visual representation of what is working to reduce violence in prisons and reduce recidivism. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

For nearly 150 years, guillotines were a public spectacle in France. Now it’s nearly impossible to see one. www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...

A criminal justice system that is more equitable, fair, and focused on human dignity is critical to the success of a healthy democracy. Please tune into a podcast where we highlight our @brennancenter.org report demonstrating that prison reform in the U.S. is possible.

Some states have begun to make changes to reduce violence in prisons, and improve conditions for people who live and work behind bars. In Governing, @lbeisen.bsky.social and Ram Subramanian detail some of those innovative approaches, and why reforms need to expand. #[bit.ly/3QbuO3t

The SCOTUS oral argument on birthright citizenship is TODAY at 10 A.M. You can listen to the argument live at supremecourt.gov. 3 things to listen for 🧵🔽 @brennancenter.org

The Brennan Center’s @jessewegman.bsky.social explains why he’s starting a newsletter about the Supreme Court — what needs to change for the institution, why, and how to go about it.

Prisons nationwide have adopted new approaches and policies, reducing violence and recidivism. On The Briefing with Michael Waldman, Brennan Center experts and Maine Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty discuss a new report that delves into these innovations. bit.ly/4d9ME0y

How are states reforming prisons? The Brennan Center’s L.B. Eisen and Maine Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty discuss a new report that tracks innovations and progress in prisons nationwide on The Briefing with Michael Waldman. bit.ly/4d9ME0y

13 states have clean slate laws, which aim to break down barriers that people with criminal records face to participating in society. Now Maryland has a chance to join them, and more should follow. bit.ly/4s11r0Z

A Brennan Center poll finds more than 80% of voters believe formerly incarcerated people deserve a second chance and can prepare for reentry through rehabilitative, educational, or vocational programs in prison. Here's how some states are innovating prisons to improve outcomes. bit.ly/4bo97UR

How can prisons be less violent and reduce recidivism? Maine Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty lays out options on The Briefing with Michael Waldman: bit.ly/4d9ME0y

Justice Brennan viewed conditions in prisons as a critical issue w/in the context of a just society. In Governing our @brennancenter.org team discusses our work finding prison reform is possible & working across a geographically & politically diverse set of states www.governing.com/management-a...

How incarcerated people are treated behind bars “profoundly affects their chances of success on the outside — as family members, as neighbors, as co-workers,” @lbeisen.bsky.social and Ram Subramanian write in Governing.

A new Brennan Center report highlights innovative correctional practices across the country that improve outcomes for people inside, staff, and public safety. Stay informed by subscribing to The Briefing, our free weekly newsletter: bit.ly/3Yrz5jM

Life behind bars is often marked by social and physical isolation, violence, and few rehabilitation opportunities. Our new report details programs in some states that are trying to change that, including a unit in Pennsylvania that’s inspired by practices in Northern Europe. More in Axios.

With over a million people behind bars, U.S. prisons are broken institutions that dehumanize everyone who enters — including correctional officers. Our report highlights innovative correctional practices from across the country that can benefit people behind bars and prison staff. bit.ly/4bo97UR

Thanks to @wamu.org for highlighting how the $45 billion Congress approved for ICE to increase detention centers has driven a huge increase in ICE detention across local jails, for-profit detention centers, and now potentially in a new system of government owned warehouses the1a.org/segments/if-...

The Trump administration is using billions of dollars in ICE funding to put more immigrants behind bars than ever before, often in inhumane conditions with little or no oversight. It’s a recipe for a human rights disaster. bit.ly/4qWSVQ4

We joined CNN Explains to provide context on the growing detention industrial complex that relies on a multi-billion dollar network of public and private sector interests that profit from the detention of immigrants. Check out the episode here www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMHV...

New Mexico's legislature just passed a bill that bans local governments from joining ICE's 287(g) program *and* from hosting detention centers. On to the governor. www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...

The president can’t nationalize elections, @seanmorales-doyle.bsky.social tells ABC News Live. The Constitution gives the states & Congress the power to set the rules governing our elections, and states & Congress in turn gave that power to run elections to state and local election officials.

Helpful context on the complicated and interconnected reasons violent crime has been declining since 2022 ⬇️

Congratulations to Illinois, which today became the 13th state to sign clean slate legislation into law. Clean slate laws allow people with criminal convictions in their past to more easily obtain housing, employment, and more by sealing some criminal records after a certain amount of time.

Federal support for criminal justice data collection and research is crucial to public safety, and this year’s grant terminations threaten to undermine that work. Our experts detail the impact work solutions to rebuild support: bit.ly/3Y4QGP2

New from the @brennancenter.org: DOJ recently cut funding for historically bipartisan work designed to help people returning home from prison. Nicole Ndumele and I explored what will happen without this critical funding.  www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Justice 101: Excessive Punishment, The 8th Amendment, and the Justice System @lbeisen.bsky.social joins Kermit Roosevelt III for a hybrid conversation moderated by Dr. Kerry Sautner, in-person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site on Wed., Dec. 3, at 5:30pm ET. Register:

Justice 101: Excessive Punishment, The 8th Amendment, and the Justice System @lbeisen.bsky.social joins Kermit Roosevelt III for a hybrid conversation moderated by Dr. Kerry Sautner, in-person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site on Wed., Dec. 3, at 5:30pm ET. Register:

At the Supreme Court, a private prison company is seeking a ruling that could help all government contractors evade liability. More on the case: bit.ly/4pfafj2

New York City has seen numerous types of crime drop sharply since spiking during the Covid-19 pandemic. We highlight recent trends: bit.ly/4o734Zo

Today the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled “Blue City Chaos and Tragedy: How the Trump Administration is Addressing the Human Cost of Soft On Crime Policies.” This is a false premise, and the hearing included discussion of several bad ideas that won’t make Americans safer 1/5

Congress in July tripled the budget of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including possibly doubling detention capacity. @lbeisen.bsky.social outlines how private prison companies and their ecosystem may grow so large that it will be hard to unwind:

If the Admin is serious about crime prevention & helping cities with crime rates, the work starts with listening to local leaders, following the evidence, & providing support, not with deploying the Guard. @amescg.bsky.social and I walk through the evidence in a new @brennancenter.org analysis:

The Administration's plans to fight crime using the National Guard are not the way to build real, lasting safety. Here's what the evidence shows can work, even as we continue to see national declines in crime. New from the @brennancenter.org: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

Great piece of reporting by @dmac1 and @marianne_levine about ICE's plans to reopen some of the country's most notorious and troubled former prisons as immigrant detention centers. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

President Trump just signed 2 EOs to force Washington, D.C., and other cities from taking steps to substantially eliminate cash bail as a potential condition of pretrial release, threatening to withhold federal funding from cities that fail to end these policies www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

The new budget bill raises fresh question about the decades-old court settlement that sets standards for how immigrant children are treated in federal custody. A new explainer breaks down what’s changing and why it matters: bit.ly/3THmGGH

The sudden loss of federal support for community safety programs that supplement or complement policing threatens to derail these efforts, just as research is beginning to show their value. Congress should push to restore this funding. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

The budget bill allocates billions to lock up immigrant families (mostly mothers and children) while the admin cuts oversight, the minimum needed to make sure the system is humane. I was honored to collaborate with @lbeisen.bsky.social, who has written extensively about mass incarceration

Some politicians and gov officials continue to push a narrative that recent immigrants, especially undocumented ones, are driving crime in the U.S. Research & data do not support the view that immigrants commit crimes at higher rates than native-born Americans. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

The right to challenge one’s detention in court dates back to 1215, when it was meant to keep kings from arbitrarily locking people up in secret dungeons. Today, it’s still a vital protection against unlawful detention. bit.ly/3T6Mv2A