All articles tagged with #us prisons
Originally Published 2 years ago — by WION
A study analyzing data from 49 states and federal departments of correction has revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on US prisons, with a mortality rate soaring to 77%. The study highlights gross negligence in addressing the crisis within the prison system.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by WION
A study published in Science Advances has revealed a shocking 77% increase in mortality rates within US prisons during 2020, which is more than three times the rise observed in the general population. The study, based on data from 49 states and federal departments of corrections, highlights the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 crisis on incarcerated individuals. It also exposes systemic failures, including reduced transparency and recording of causes of death, raising concerns about human rights violations and mental health challenges within prisons.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Guardian
PEN America has released a list of the most banned or restricted books in the US prison system, which includes unexpected entries such as Amy Schumer's memoir and Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The common reasons for banning books are security and sexual content, but the terms are used loosely and often include books that are not actually threats. The group estimates that over 40% of all prison book bans occurred in Florida last year, and Texas has over 10,000 books on its banned-from-prison list. PEN argues that the censorship of books in prisons is excessive and calls for an end to this practice.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
A new report by Solitary Watch and Unlock the Box, based on the most recently available government data, estimates that about 122,840 people in federal and state adult prisons and federal and local jails were placed in restrictive housing, or solitary confinement, for 22 hours or more on a given day in mid-2019, amounting to about 6% of the total U.S. prison and jail population at the time. The report is the first of its kind and aims to become a benchmark for tracking the practice, as cities, states, and the federal government weigh how to limit its use. The report also highlights the disproportionate impact of solitary confinement on Black, brown, and Indigenous people.