Help End Prison Gerrymandering
Prison gerrymandering funnels political power away from urban communities to legislators who have prisons in their (often white, rural) districts. More than two decades ago, the Prison Policy Initiative put numbers on the problem and sparked the movement to end prison gerrymandering.
Can you help us continue the fight? Thank you.
—Peter Wagner, Executive DirectorDonate
Can you help us continue the fight? Thank you.
—Peter Wagner, Executive DirectorDonate
Articles by Wanda Bertram
- Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signs bill ending prison gerrymandering
Connecticut becomes the 11th state to end the practice of prison gerrymandering.
May 27, 2021 - State legislatures, members of Congress, and national newspapers push for an end to prison gerrymandering in 2021
A New York Times editorial, a federal bill, and other encouraging updates from our fight to make sure incarcerated people are counted in the right place.
Apr 16, 2021 - New Boston Globe oped explains how and why states must end prison gerrymandering — now
Advocates will find Abdallah Fayyad’s new Boston Globe column a useful article to distribute to policymakers, as a concise explainer about why ending prison gerrymandering is important this year.
Mar 25, 2021 - Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs law ending prison gerrymandering
For immediate release — On Tuesday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed an omnibus criminal justice package that (among several victories) makes Illinois the....
Feb 25, 2021 - Virginia legislature passes law ending prison gerrymandering
The new law makes Virginia the third state this year, and the ninth state in total, to end the practice known as prison gerrymandering.
Apr 27, 2020 - Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs law ending prison gerrymandering
Colorado moved swiftly, ending prison gerrymandering in a single legislative session.
Mar 23, 2020 - Virginia poised to become 8th state to end prison gerrymandering, as House votes on SJ18
The Virginia House of Delegates is expected to vote within the next two weeks on SJ18, a constitutional amendment to reform the state's redistricting process. The....
Feb 19, 2020 - Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signs law ending prison gerrymandering
Nevada moved swiftly, ending prison gerrymandering in a single legislative session.
May 31, 2019
Recommended Reading:
About the Prison Policy Initiative
Learn more about the organization behind the Prison Gerrymandering Project.
The Racial Geography of Mass Incarceration
The transfer of Black and Latino incarcerated people to communities very different than their own is a nationwide problem.
How to get elected without being a candidate first.
Iowa Public Radio explores how Anamosa Iowa ended prison gerrymandering.
