Jan. 28, 2026

When we closed the curtain on Gov. Phil Murphy’s tenure, he left behind some big shoes for Gov. Mikie Sherill to step into as her term began. As part of my work, I often speak with government officials who are wary of using their powers to give incarcerated people second chances due to their fear of political blowback. While it would have been easy for Murphy to sit on the sidelines, instead he followed through on his promises to expand access to pardons across the state and help alleviate the collateral consequences of past criminal convictions.

Feb 2, 2026

Early medical release from prison is designed as a compassionate response for people who are severely ill behind bars. In North Carolina, the program remains inaccessible to most.

In 2023, the General Assembly expanded early medical release with rule changes, such as decreasing the age for consideration from 65 to 55. That same year, eight people applied for early release and four died waiting for a response.

February 4, 2026

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) – State prisons in the United States became more violent and nearly 50% deadlier over the past five years as authorities struggled to keep enough guards on the job, according to a government-funded report to be released on Wednesday.

The United States locks away more people than any other nation, including about 1 million people in state-run prisons. The previously unreported evaluation, opens new tab, paid for by the U.S. Department of Justice and conducted by an initiative called Safe Inside, found that those systems are under increasing strain, even as many states sharply reduced the number of people they locked up.

Feb 3, 2026

JEFFERSON CITY — Competing criminal justice philosophies were on display in the Missouri House last week as lawmakers debated bills to help inmates get out of prison sooner and one that would expand the use of mandatory minimum sentences that critics say would keep convicts behind bars longer.

February 4, 2026

An incarcerated person diagnosed with a terminal illness could be released to a care facility or home setting under a bill advanced by an Iowa House subcommittee.  
 
House Study Bill 314 would require that each case be reviewed by the Iowa Board of Parole. Victims of the offender could submit input, and people released for medical reasons would still be under supervision.