The folks at Prison Policy Initiative have made an annual tradition of releasing a significant report looking forward to reform policy and politics in the new year. The latest variation, available here, is titled “Winnable criminal justice reforms in 2025,” and here is the report’s introduction and linked TOC:
In this year’s guide to winnable criminal justice reforms, we’ve added new information on solitary confinement, fines and fees reform, decriminalizing traffic offenses, and so-called “truth in sentencing” laws. We’ve also updated all of our sections with new example bills, resources where you can learn more, and we’ve reorganized our guide to make it easier to find the reforms you’re interested in. While this briefing is not intended to be a comprehensive platform, we’ve curated this list to offer policymakers and advocates straightforward solutions that would have the greatest impacts on reducing incarceration and reversing harms experienced by people impacted by the criminal legal system, without further investments in that system.
This year’s guide to winnable criminal legal system reforms comes at a time when change feels like an uphill battle across the country. After the results of the 2024 election, advocates will likely have to work even harder to combat new policies that threaten to worsen mass incarceration. For that reason, we’ve also included some talking points to use to fight back against the return of 1990’s style “tough-on-crime” policies that will accelerate the growth of prison populations.
Because each state’s criminal legal system varies so much — from law and procedures, the data collected, and even how the same words are defined — it can be difficult to apply lessons from other states to the same problem in one’s own. This guide is designed to facilitate the sharing of ideas and information across states. That said, while we point to multiple bills, model legislation, and regulations in this document, we also recognize that many of these examples reflect compromise and could be strengthened or made more transformative. This information is intended to serve as a resource as you determine which problems are a priority in your state and which lessons from elsewhere are most useful.
Expand alternatives to criminal legal system responses to social problems (6 recommendations)
Protect the presumption of innocence so people receive a fair shot at justice (2 recommendations)
Decrease the length of prison sentences and provide pathways for all people to exit prison (5 recommendations)
Treat people humanely during incarceration (6 recommendations)
Treat people on community supervision fairly, and keep them thriving in the community (4 recommendations)
Set people up to succeed when they exit prisons and jails (4 recommendations)
Give incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people political representation and voice (4 recommendations)
Reduce spending on the criminal legal system and increase investments in communities (3 recommendations)
Tips to fight back against the return of 1990’s style tough-on-crime measures