Mass Incarceration

Mass incarceration - The United States incarcerates its citizens more than any other country, with 5% of the world’s population but nearly 25% of its incarcerated population. In 1972, there were only 200,000 people incarcerated in the United States, but that number has grown to over 2.2 million today. Many people charged with crimes lack the resources to investigate cases or obtain the help they need, leading to excessive sentences and wrongful convictions, even in cases involving the death penalty. Wealth, not guilt, shapes outcomes when people are charged with crimes. This disproportionately impacts poor people and people of color. See EJI’s Criminal Justice Reform overview for more information. 

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