Prison Policy Initiative
Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) is a nonprofit research organization that produces data and analysis on mass incarceration and its effects on communities and families. PPI maintains a mail scanning appendix tracking which states use mail scanning systems, tracks postcard-only mail restrictions, and produces research on prison phone costs and communication barriers. Their website at prisonpolicy.org is a key resource for families seeking current information on state policies.
What Is Prison Policy Initiative?
Prison Policy Initiative was founded in 2001 and is known for producing detailed research reports on mass incarceration. For families navigating prison communication, PPI is particularly useful for its mail policy tracking which documents which states have implemented mail scanning, where processing centers are located, and which counties have postcard-only restrictions.
PPI also tracks county jail policies and produces the widely cited Whole Pie report annually documenting the full scope of incarceration in the United States. Families can use PPI's resources at prisonpolicy.org to find current state and county-level policy information.
Related Terms
Explore other glossary terms that are closely connected to this topic.
Mail Scanning
Mail scanning is a system where incoming physical mail is intercepted at a central processing facility, scanned digitally, and delivered to the inmate electronically or as a photocopy rather than as the original physical letter.
CommunicationDigital Mail
Digital mail is the electronic delivery of letters and photos to inmates through approved platforms, either by family uploading content directly through a service like JPay or Pigeonly, or through a mail scanning system that converts physical mail into digital format.
AdministrationRecidivism
Recidivism refers to the tendency of a formerly incarcerated person to reoffend and return to prison. Research consistently shows that maintaining family contact during incarceration significantly reduces recidivism rates. This is a key argument used by advocates for free prison phone calls and improved communication access. Studies show that incarcerated people who maintain strong family bonds are less likely to return to prison after release.
People Also Ask
Related questions families often search for alongside this topic.
What is Mail Scanning?
Mail scanning is a system where incoming physical mail is intercepted at a central processing facility, scanned digitally, and delivered to the inmate electronically or as a photocopy rather than as the original physical letter.
Read full definitionWhat is Digital Mail?
Digital mail is the electronic delivery of letters and photos to inmates through approved platforms, either by family uploading content directly through a service like JPay or Pigeonly, or through a mail scanning system that converts physical mail into digital format.
Read full definitionWhat is Recidivism?
Recidivism refers to the tendency of a formerly incarcerated person to reoffend and return to prison. Research consistently shows that maintaining family contact during incarceration significantly reduces recidivism rates. This is a key argument used by advocates for free prison phone calls and improved communication access. Studies show that incarcerated people who maintain strong family bonds are less likely to return to prison after release.
Read full definitionReady to Get Started?
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