What Drove Expansion of the Corrections System, and How Can It Be Safely Reversed?
Series of major reports examines national and state criminal justice trends
Since 2006, Pew has conducted national and state research chronicling the expansion of the American corrections system and the policies and practices that fueled the growth. The reports in this collection document the high cost to taxpayers and the low public safety returns of incarcerating many lower-level offenders. They also establish frameworks for reducing recidivism, moderating the time that offenders serve in prison, and improving the performance of other parts of the criminal justice system.
Additional Resources


America’s Overdose Crisis
Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care
Sign up

Article
June 13, 2023
37 Scientists Pioneering the Future of Biomedical Research


Podcast
March 21, 2017
Less Incarceration, Less Crime
Crime, Incarceration Down—What's Changed?