Why We Must Fix Our Prisons, by Sen. Jim Webb, from Parade Magazine (US), 3/29/09

The United States hasn't always been the world's leading jailer, and now that we are, we aren't any safer than before.

New jails are being built in the middle of urban areas, disguised as sky-scraping office buildings while new prisons are built or expanded in rural areas. The prison boom is doom to any community plan that would embrace a sustainable future.

Mass incarceration doesn't reduce crime, or make communities stronger.

Prisons are not the 'clean industry' hired consultants promise, and fall far short of the goals of economic prosperity local officials tout when romancing their constituents. Horrible environmental impacts will face future generations -- imprisoned or free.

No New Prisons is a collaboration of citizens and groups opposing new prison construction and expansion. Everyone is invited to share and create resources for citizens just like you.

By the 1990's, the U.S. was opening on average one new prison or jail every week. Today, the United States has the largest prison population in the world and the highest incarceration rate in the world. It took America 160 years to incarcerate its first million people, but just twelve years to incarcerate the second million.  -- Justice Policy Institute

Spokane County (WA) Corrections Needs Assessment Master Plan Draft; Feb. 14, 2008 -- Long but informative document on designing and implementing a new jail. Cost the people of Spopkane Cty $1 Million. (pdf, 5.6 mB)

FACT SHEET: California's Massive Prison Expansion Deal; Largest Prison Construction Project In History; from Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) & Critical Resistance, Nov 07 (pdf)