In the United States, punishment does not always end at sentencing. For many people placed on probation, the penalties extend far beyond court supervision. They reach into housing, employment, voting rights, and increasingly, access to food. A newly added analysis titled “Hunger as punishment: How states restrict SNAP benefits for people on probation” on the
New Jersey is once again at the center of a national reckoning over private prisons, immigrant detention, and the ethical responsibility of public pension investments. In a forceful letter sent today to Governor Mikie Sherrill, Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17), Chair of the Public Safety and Preparedness Committee, called for the immediate divestment of approximately $800,000
On February 25, 2026 at 1 p.m. EST, Sustainable Action Now urges advocates, policy leaders, researchers, and community organizers to attend a critical national webinar examining one of the most urgent and misunderstood dynamics in modern criminal justice reform: How do we recognize and resist “carceral humanist” narratives that soften the language of incarceration without
Specialty Courts — A Disappointing Form of Diversion Read More »
Private Prisons, SAN NewsAcross the United States, specialty courts—often branded as treatment courts, problem-solving courts, or accountability courts—are increasingly promoted as a humane alternative to incarceration. These courts are typically designed for people facing charges connected to substance use, mental health needs, or other social vulnerabilities. Their promise is appealing: address the “root causes” of criminalized behavior, reduce
How Missed Court Dates Fuel Mass Incarceration and the Private Prison Pipeline Read More »
Private PrisonsIn the public imagination, jail is often associated with serious crimes, violent offenses, or lengthy trials. The reality of the American justice system is far more mundane—and far more troubling. A staggering number of people are jailed not because they have been convicted of a crime, but because they failed to show up for a
Explore more on private prisons and reform → In the United States, nearly half of all incarcerated individuals are housed in rural jails and prisons, often isolated in communities with limited infrastructure and few healthcare options. For these populations, access to medical care is already a daily struggle. Now, proposed federal legislation threatens to make
Highlights from a Transformative Year at the Prison Policy Initiative Read More »
Private Prisons, Politics, SAN NewsAt Sustainable Action Now, we are committed to examining systems that impact human rights, justice, and social equity. One area where scrutiny is especially critical is the private prison system in the United States. Recent insights from the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) highlight a year of intensive research, advocacy, and data-driven action aimed at addressing
Investigating Parole Systems and Reform Through “Parole in Perspective” Read More »
Private PrisonsUnderstanding how parole systems operate in the United States is a crucial step toward meaningful criminal justice reform. With thousands of individuals navigating complex and often opaque parole processes every year, transparency and informed reporting are essential to ensure fairness, accountability, and public awareness. Sustainable Action Now highlights how journalists, advocates, and engaged citizens can
Florida’s Political Power Struggles, Executions, and the Erosion of Justice Read More »
Death Penalty, Innocence Project, Politics, Private Prisons, SAN NewsFlorida finds itself at the center of two overlapping crises — one political, one moral — both revealing deep fractures in governance, justice, and humanity. On one side, Republican leaders in the state are pressing to redraw congressional maps before the 2026 midterm elections, citing what they call a flawed federal census that allegedly undercounted
U.S. Leads Global Rates of Women’s Incarceration in 2025 Read More »
Private Prisons, SAN NewsA new report released in 2025 has once again drawn attention to a troubling reality: the United States continues to lead the world in the incarceration of women. According to the latest data shared by the Prison Policy Blog, every U.S. state now outranks most democratic countries in the rate at which women are imprisoned.