Sustainable Action Now

Private Prisons

Taking the Lede: Advocates Learn to Shape News Coverage of the Criminal Legal System

On September 18, 2025, at 3 p.m. EST, criminal justice reform advocates gathered virtually for an essential webinar hosted by the Prison Policy Initiative in collaboration with the Center for Just Journalism. Titled “Taking the Lede: How Advocates Can Shape News Coverage of the Criminal Legal System,” the session offered practical strategies for advocacy organizations […]

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Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025: Private Prisons, Mass Incarceration, and the Human Cost of Immigration Legislation

The Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 (H.R. 3486), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 11, 2025, represents a major shift in federal immigration enforcement and criminal justice policy. With a 226–197 vote, the legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration, carrying profound implications for immigrants, the criminal justice system, and

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Youth Confinement in 2025 — A System Still Failing Our Children

A new report, Youth Confinement: The Whole Pie 2025, has laid bare the grim reality of America’s youth incarceration system. While the overall number of system-involved young people held in confinement has gone down in recent years, the findings reveal something deeply troubling: racial disparities are worsening. Black, Latino, and Indigenous youth remain far more

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How Census Policy and Private Prisons Undermine Democracy in Kentucky — and Across America

Kentucky’s democracy is once again under strain. Following the 2020 Census, redistricting data was skewed due to a federal Census policy that counts incarcerated people where they are imprisoned rather than in their home communities. This practice—known as prison gerrymandering—distorts political representation, siphons power away from urban and minority communities, and inflates the political influence

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Youth Confinement in America: A Sustainable Action Now Report

A Growing Concern Amid Declining Numbers A new report, Youth Confinement: The Whole Pie 2025, brings critical insight to a troubling trend: while the total number of youth in confinement continues to drop, racial and systemic disparities worsen. Our goal at Sustainable Action Now is to shed light on these inequities and advocate for lasting

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Study Finds Confined Neurodivergent Youth of Color at Greater Risk of Staff Assault

A new national study has revealed troubling disparities in the treatment of incarcerated youth, showing that neurodivergent youth of color — particularly Black children and teens — are disproportionately vulnerable to physical assault by staff while in custody. These findings highlight urgent concerns about systemic racism, disability rights violations, and the unsafe environments that persist

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The Private Prison Boom: A Deep Dive into the Industry’s Explosive Expansion and Its Human Cost

As immigration enforcement ramps up across the United States, private prison corporations are preparing for a massive, highly profitable expansion—backed by billions in government contracts. While headlines often focus on border crossings and policy debates, what’s happening behind the scenes reveals a concerning trend: a booming detention-for-profit industry with staggering implications for human rights and

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Rethinking Sheriff’s Power with the Prison Policy Initiative and Safety Bound

As advocates for justice, transparency, and humane treatment, Sustainable Action Now closely watches how power in the justice system shapes lives—especially for those detained in county jails. Today, we spotlight a critical collaborative effort: the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) supporting Safety Bound’s bold new platform to reimagine the sheriff. These policy demands challenge the unchecked

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Unveiling Hidden Realities: The “Hiding in Plain Sight” Report

Sustainable Action Now’s commitment extends beyond environmental conservation to encompass crucial issues of social justice and human rights. In this vein, a powerful new report, “Hiding in Plain Sight,” has recently come to light, revealing a critical and often obscured aspect of the current mass deportation strategy: the essential, yet hidden, role of local jails.

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A Call for Fair Representation: How Federal Census Policy Undermines Oregon’s Democracy

At Sustainable Action Now, we believe that a truly democratic society hinges on fair and accurate representation. Every ten years, the U.S. Census Bureau undertakes the monumental task of counting every person in the nation, a process that directly shapes political power, resource allocation, and the very fabric of our communities for the next decade.

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A New Era for Parole Reform – 16 Guiding Principles to Transform a Broken System

America’s criminal justice system has long been plagued by systemic injustice, mass incarceration, and a revolving door of incarceration that disproportionately affects marginalized communities. While conversations around bail reform and prison abolition have taken center stage in recent years, parole reform remains one of the most urgently needed yet chronically overlooked components of true criminal

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Restoring Wyoming’s Democracy: Fixing the Census Count for Fair Representation

The Unseen Impact of Federal Census Policy on State Democracy At Sustainable Action Now, we believe that the bedrock of a healthy democracy is fair and accurate representation. Yet, a critical flaw in federal census policy continues to undermine this principle in states across the nation, with Wyoming serving as a stark example. The way

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The Court Agrees That In Prison, a $15 Fine Means So Much More

At Sustainable Action Now, we believe in upholding justice and dignity for all, especially within systems that often lack transparency and accountability. A recent decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has cast a crucial light on the financial realities faced by incarcerated individuals, affirming that even a seemingly small fine can carry immense

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A Call for Compassion on The Sustainable Action Now Report on Incarcerated Parents

Our latest report delves into a profoundly sensitive and often overlooked area within the justice system: the experiences of pregnant individuals and new mothers within correctional facilities. At Sustainable Action Now, our mission is to champion initiatives that foster a more just, equitable, and humane world. We believe that true sustainability extends beyond environmental stewardship

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The Hidden Health Crisis of County Jail Incarceration

At Sustainable Action Now, we believe in fostering thriving communities where every individual has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified life. Our mission extends beyond environmental sustainability to encompass social justice and the well-being of all. Today, we turn our focus to a critical, yet often overlooked, public health crisis: the profound and devastating

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