As we continue our mission to expose injustice, confront the data behind mass incarceration, and advocate for a more humane, equitable criminal legal system, Sustainable Action Now is proud to highlight a critical moment for research, collaboration, and public policy transformation. This November, the national dialogue on incarceration takes center stage at the American Society of Criminology (ASC) Annual Meeting, where leaders, scholars, and frontline advocates converge to shape the future of justice reform.
From November 12–14, 2025, the ASC conference arrives in Washington, D.C., creating a pivotal opportunity for experts and organizations to share groundbreaking research and strategies that challenge the deeply embedded systems sustaining mass incarceration. Among the most vital participants this year are two respected members of the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) research team: Wendy Sawyer and Jacob Kang-Brown. Their presence underscores the growing urgency to confront the realities of incarceration, racial disparities, and the profit-driven expansion of carceral institutions — including the ongoing harms perpetuated by private prisons.
For readers and activists who closely follow our prison justice coverage, you can dive deeper into related issues and analyses through our dedicated resource section:
➡️ https://sustainableactionnow.org/category/private-prisons/
A Moment of Truth for Criminal Justice Reform
The ASC annual meeting is not merely an academic event — it is one of the largest, most influential gatherings of criminologists, justice advocates, policymakers, and researchers in the world. Its purpose is to move beyond the surface-level narratives and examine the underlying structures that shape policing, sentencing, incarceration, reentry, and community well-being.
This year’s conference comes at a time when the United States continues to grapple with:
- The highest incarceration rate in the world
- Expanding surveillance systems that continue punitive cycles
- Racialized sentencing practices that disproportionately harm communities of color
- Persistent lobbying efforts by private prison corporations
- Barriers to economic stability for returning citizens
- State-level regressions in reform efforts, despite years of progress
The work of the Prison Policy Initiative remains central to understanding these systems. Their research clarifies not only how people enter prisons and jails, but how government structures and private enterprise maintain these systems at an enormous human and economic cost.
The Role of the Prison Policy Initiative at ASC
PPI’s representation at ASC brings a level of depth and authority that is essential for meaningful reform. Both Wendy Sawyer and Jacob Kang-Brown are widely respected for their ability to translate complex incarceration data into actionable insights for policymakers, journalists, grassroots organizers, and the public.
Wendy Sawyer — Research Director & Institutional Analyst
Sawyer has long been a leading voice dissecting the intersections of race, gender, poverty, and criminalization. Her work illuminates how the prison system perpetuates cycles of disenfranchisement through structural disadvantage, restrictive policies, and economic exploitation.
Jacob Kang-Brown — Senior Research Associate
Kang-Brown’s analyses explore incarceration trends nationwide, with a special focus on state-level systems, jail growth, local policymaking, and the transition from incarceration to community. His research provides the backbone for many national datasets that shape policy debates.
Their participation offers a unique chance for attendees to engage with the people responsible for some of the most relied-upon incarceration data in America. Anyone attending ASC is encouraged to connect, collaborate, and learn from their critical work.
Sustainable Action Now encourages stakeholders, educators, journalists, and advocates attending the conference to reach out and schedule time with Wendy or Jacob. Their availability during November 12–14 positions this as a rare moment for direct engagement with the research leaders shaping today’s reform landscape.
Why Meetings Like ASC Matter: Connecting Research With Real-World Impact
ASC is where data becomes dialogue — and dialogue becomes action.
For decades, a major challenge in criminal justice reform has been bridging the gap between academic research and the lived realities of incarcerated individuals and their families. Conferences like ASC help synchronize the goals of practitioners, researchers, activists, and policymakers.
Through panels, presentations, and cross-sector collaboration, the conference tackles questions such as:
- How do we dismantle the financial incentives that sustain mass incarceration?
- What alternatives to incarceration are effective and scalable?
- How can communities better support successful reentry and reduce cycles of recidivism?
- What steps are needed to phase out private prisons and end profit-driven detention?
- How can data-driven insights reshape sentencing laws, parole systems, and jail policies?
For a deeper dive into how private prisons continue to shape the incarceration landscape — and why their influence poses a major obstacle to justice — explore our continually updated coverage here:
➡️ https://sustainableactionnow.org/category/private-prisons/
Reinforcing the Fight Against Private Prisons and Carceral Exploitation
One of Sustainable Action Now’s most urgent areas of advocacy involves exposing the exploitation embedded in the private prison industry. These corporations continue to generate billions in revenue by lobbying for policies that keep beds filled — often at the expense of human rights, rehabilitation, and community stability.
Private prisons have historically driven:
- Higher rates of violence
- Lower standards of care
- Reduced access to education and rehabilitation
- Poor living conditions
- Questionable oversight and accountability
- Extended detention for financial gain
The fight for justice requires a clear understanding of how these entities operate and how they influence policy. Our full archive of reporting and analysis — including investigative pieces, legislative updates, and data-driven briefings — is available for readers, researchers, and advocates to use freely:
➡️ https://sustainableactionnow.org/category/private-prisons/
Strengthening the Movement: What Comes Next
As Sustainable Action Now continues expanding our reporting, research translation, investigative coverage, and frontline advocacy, events like ASC strengthen our ability to collaborate with the nation’s leading justice experts. By lifting up the voices of researchers like Sawyer and Kang-Brown, we amplify the evidence needed to challenge harmful systems and redirect public policy toward a more sustainable, equitable future.
We strongly encourage partners, attendees, journalists, and policymakers attending ASC to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with PPI’s team. For everyone not attending, we will continue to follow the proceedings, highlight key research findings, and publish ongoing coverage on the movement to end mass incarceration in America.
A Call to Action
Our work does not end with conferences, reports, or panels. Sustainable Action Now will keep pushing:
- For the elimination of private prisons
- For transparency in sentencing and detention practices
- For a nationwide reduction in incarceration
- For the expansion of meaningful alternatives to imprisonment
- For justice systems rooted in rehabilitation, not retaliation
The time for sustainable justice reform is now.
Stay engaged. Stay informed. Stay committed to change.
Explore our extensive coverage, research compilations, and advocacy tools here:
➡️ https://sustainableactionnow.org/category/private-prisons/
Together, we can build a system that reflects our values — one that prioritizes people, not profits; dignity, not detention; and justice that truly serves our communities.
