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Articles on Penal system

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Black men disproportionately make up the US prison population. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Biggest racial gap in prison is among violent offenders – focusing on intervention instead of incarceration could change the numbers

The US has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. When it comes to violent offenders and the Black community, the system isn’t working, argue criminologists.
Female prsioners wave goodbye to their fellow inmates following their release from Chikurubi prison on the outskirts of Harare in Zimbabwe in April 2021. Zimbabwe released about 3,000 prisoners due to COVID-19. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

More than a million prisoners have been released during COVID-19, but it’s not enough

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world released many prisoners, but this has now slowed or stopped. Here’s why those releases should continue.
University study programs in prisons can increase inmates’ chances of success after release. (Shutterstock)

Pi Day: Celebrating the life-changing role of math programs in prisons

Christopher Havens is a prison inmate serving time for murder. He’s also a mathematics whiz who’s advocating for more math in prison as a way to improve the chances of prisoners after release.
A ministry program student at a Texas prison. Some inmates cite religion to avoid gang recruitment. Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images

We spoke to hundreds of prison gang members – here’s what they said about life behind bars

Gangs are still a significant reality in US prisons. But most inmates say that their power has been watered down, and they no longer rule facilities with an iron fist.

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