Maryland continues to send more youth, ages 14-17, to adult court – automatically based on the charge – than any other state except Alabama. Nearly 80% of youth charged in adult court in Maryland are Black. Marylanders, urge your legislators to pass the Youth Charging Reform Act: bit.ly/4kyFl43

Our newest report finds that across multiple states, criminal records account for a large share of already lengthy prison sentences, often adding years or even decades to sentences, without evidence of community safety benefits. Read more: bit.ly/3MQRO6K

Had a great visit with @sentencingproject.bsky.social at “Inside Out” exhibition. So appreciate their work in the carceral space. @nicoledporter.bsky.social @ruckmanphoto.bsky.social @empearce.bsky.social

In 2024, four million Americans were banned from voting due to a felony conviction. We're committed to expanding voting rights in every state & working with state partners to provide specific data on state felony disenfranchisement. bit.ly/3kGns8t

Maryland continues to send more youth, ages 14-17, to adult court – automatically based on the charge – than any other state except Alabama. Nearly 80% of youth charged in adult court in Maryland are Black. Marylanders, urge your legislators to pass the Youth Charging Reform Act: bit.ly/4kyFl43

Decades of mass incarceration have separated families. We need #CommunitiesNotCages to bring our people home where they belong. If you're in New York State, call your legislators NOW to eliminate mandatory minimums, grant a second look, and support transformation: bit.ly/CNC_action

As a member of the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition, we joined MYJC's Lobby Day in Annapolis on Monday! We met with lawmakers directly, urging them to pass the Youth Charging Reform Act (SB 323 / HB 409) this year.

Today, in a massive show of support, 1,025 organizations, including immigrant justice, human rights, civil rights, faith, and labor organizations, sent a letter to members of Congress to express horror, outrage & deep grief about the recent shooting deaths by federal agents in Minneapolis.

We're hiring a Research Consultant! Here are more details: bit.ly/4qEpVgM Apply or share with your network! Applications are due February 23, 2026!

Advocates behind the Washington bill say restricting incarcerated people from voting while they’re completing their felony sentences undermines the state’s constitutional values and perpetuates racial injustices imbued in the criminal legal system.

Virginia lawmakers voted last week to place a measure on the November ballot this year to automatically restore voting rights to people when they exit prison.

Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of leadership, service, and equality. #MLKDay

The Sentencing Project joined 400+ civil rights groups calling on Congress to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through budget negotiations. Read the coalition letter ⬇️

MARYLAND EVENT: Join us at the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition's Youth Justice Lobby Day in Annapolis. 📍 Where: St. Anne's Parish: 199 Duke of Gloucester Street 📅 When: February 2, 2026 at 4PM RSVP: bit.ly/MYJCLobbyDay26

A group of Baltimore City youth have created art displayed throughout the city as a way to be a voice for their peers that challenges negative stereotypes and shares positive stories about the city's youth.

Research on the incarceration of women is critical to understanding the full consequences of mass incarceration & to unraveling the policies and practices that lead to their criminalization. The female incarcerated population stands over seven times as high than in 1980. Learn more: bit.ly/3YkWnHn

Interested in joining The Sentencing Project as a Spring Youth Justice Research Fellow? Check out the description and apply by January 10, 2026! bit.ly/3MvIXXz

Our newest resource focuses on the automatic charging of youth in adult courts. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have automatic charging provisions. We know from decades of adolescent research that charging youth as adults harms youth wellbeing and community safety.

Private for-profit prisons incarcerated 90,873 people in 2022, representing 8% of the total state and federal prison population. Since 2000, the number of people housed in private prisons has increased 5%. Read our fact sheet: bit.ly/45mPTuh

The United States makes up roughly 4% of the world population but holds an estimated 40% of the world’s life-sentenced population. Learn more: bit.ly/4gMO5kk

Interested in joining The Sentencing Project as a Spring Youth Justice Research Fellow? Check out the description and apply by January 10, 2026! bit.ly/3MvIXXz

Our fact sheets reveal a disturbing resurgence in youth incarceration and widening racial disparities as of 2023. Research shows that over-incarcerating our youth won’t deter crime—it only deepens cycles of trauma & inequality, harming families and communities. Read: bit.ly/4rU3ZiS

While many U.S. states have scaled back their disenfranchisement provisions, a trend that has accelerated since 2017, the United States still lags behind most of the world in protecting the right to vote for people with criminal convictions. bit.ly/3XXcVGr

"States should take the first step in undoing the harms of mass incarceration by passing “second look” laws that allow judges to review sentences after a person has served a lengthy period of time," writes Kara Gotsch for @notusperspectives.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4aLzpSh

Our newest resource focuses on the automatic charging of youth in adult courts. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have automatic charging provisions. We know from decades of adolescent research that charging youth as adults harms youth wellbeing and community safety.

“There really isn’t an issue with mass incarceration in other countries,” Nicole Porter of @sentencingproject.bsky.social tells us. “The United States by far is the world’s number one jailer.”

Despite crime levels hitting historic lows, 39 states across the country increased their prison populations in 2023 — a stark reversal from 13 years of slow decarceration. @sentencingproject.bsky.social provides analysis into this new trend and recommendations for decarceration: tinyurl.com/2vt885kn

Between 2000 and 2023, youth incarceration fell by almost 75%. However, racial and ethnic disparities in youth incarceration and sentencing persist amidst overall declines in youth arrests and incarceration.

Research on female incarceration is critical to understanding the full consequences of mass incarceration and to unraveling the policies and practices that lead to their criminalization. The female incarcerated population stands over seven times as high than in 1980.

Your support creates real change. 💙 This #GivingTuesday, help us fuel research, advocacy, and reforms that give second chances and strengthen communities. Donate today: sentproj.org/GivingTuesday2025

We're grateful for community. We thank you for being a part of our community and being a part of our shared fight for justice!

Our report identifies alternatives to youth incarceration program models that consistently produce better public safety outcomes than incarceration with far less disruption to young people’s healthy adolescent development.

Between 2000 and 2023, youth incarceration fell by almost 75%. However, racial and ethnic disparities in youth incarceration and sentencing persist amidst overall declines in youth arrests and incarceration.

A @sentencingproject.bsky.social report shows US remains a leader in mass incarceration as 39 states increased prison populations despite record-low crime rates, locking up its citizens at a far higher rate than any other industrialized nation. #endmassincarceration fmeproject.org/39-states-in...

Despite crime rates hitting historic lows, 39 states increased their prison populations in 2023. Our latest policy brief shows how states are undoing years of reforms that downsized prison populations: sentproj.org/americas-incarceration-crossroads

In @apnews.com: “As long as we’ve looked at data for Washington state, Native youth are much, much more likely to be incarcerated than their white peers."—The Sentencing Project's Josh Rovner

Felony murder laws compel harsh decades-long–or even life–sentences even when the person charged did not directly cause or intend the loss of life. John Oliver takes a closer look on these laws on the latest ep of @lastweektonight.com: youtube.com/watch?v=Y93ljB7sfco

Our issue briefs on diversion provide detailed guidance for advocates & system leaders interested in expanding and improving the use of diversion as an alternative to arrest or formal prosecution in juvenile court: bit.ly/4aCQcUU

This year, The Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project (YASP) received The Sentencing Project's Marc Mauer Racial Justice Award! Learn more about YASP's work building a movement to end the practice of trying and incarcerating young people as adults and creating a world without youth incarceration:

Join us tomorrow (11/6) at 1PM ET for The Sentencing Project's virtual Marc Mauer Racial Justice Award, where we will honor The Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project! RSVP: sentproj.org/MauerRacialJusticeAward

Check out this new brief w/ @sentencingproject.bsky.social on how to get people w/ convictions who can vote out to the polls! W/ @blibal.bsky.social @nicoledporter.bsky.social #RobStewart Summarizes existing and emerging research that partners w/ community orgs already doing the work!

Maine & Vermont are the only states that allow people in prison to vote but incarcerated voters in those states still face confusing absentee voting processes, and lack access to candidate information and key election dates. The right to vote means nothing without real access! bit.ly/4nPzHf1

Maryland’s Second Look Act offers a path to justice—giving people the chance to petition for sentence review after decades behind bars. Your voice matters. Learn how you can support second chances and the movement for fairer sentencing: bit.ly/3L9ZnnJ

As #YJAM2025 comes to an end, this week reminds us of the power of being United and Building a Better Future. Transforming youth justice requires collaboration across communities, policymakers, and systems. Together, we can create a future rooted in equity, safety, and opportunity. #UnitedForAction

In 2024, four million Americans were banned from voting due to a felony conviction. We're committed to expanding voting rights in every state & working with state partners to provide specific data on state felony disenfranchisement. bit.ly/3kGns8t

#ICYMI: A replay of our webinar on voting from prison is now available. Hear what we've learned & continue to learn from formerly and currently incarcerated people, advocates and changemakers, and Department of Corrections staff about accessing democracy during incarceration. https://bit.ly/42TeVCv

When youth lead, systems change. When youth are heard, communities heal. This #YJAM2025, we’re #UnitedForAction by centering youth voices.

Our Executive Director Kara Gotsch joined The Legal Lens Show with Angela Reddock-Wright for a discussion on current challenges in sentencing and criminal justice reform. Listen to the full podcast episode: bit.ly/4hqBbcP

As federal efforts threaten justice reform, states are stepping up. Our updated Second Look Movement report shows how second look laws are transforming lives—giving courts the power to revisit harsh sentences and recognize rehabilitation: bit.ly/3wzLEjk

OCT 23 @ 1PM ET: Join us for a virtual discussion on what we have learned and continue to learn from formerly and currently incarcerated people, advocates and changemakers, and Department of Corrections staff about accessing democracy during incarceration. sentproj.org/voting-from-prison-webinar