decarceration
Emptying the jails
Decarceration is the process of reducing prison and jail populations, either by releasing incarcerated people or by diverting people away from imprisonment in the first place.
The term emerged from criminal justice reform movements advocating alternatives to mass incarceration: Decarceration efforts have focused on nonviolent drug offenders.
It's the opposite of incarceration, emphasizing shrinking rather than expanding the carceral system.
Altering criminal punishment guidelines
- bail reformChanging pretrial release rules
- probationSupervised trial period
- paroleConditional early release
- expungementOfficial record removal
alternative sentencing · judicial discretion · clemency · pretrial release · early release · compassionate release · decriminalization · risk assessment
Formal discontinuation of practice
- prison reformEfforts to improve incarceration
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- organizingSystematically putting in order
awareness · solidarity · movement · protest · coalition · campaign · defund · social justice
To let go
- liberationRelease from constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
pardon · clemency · acquittal · unshackling · manumission · extrication · unbinding · unfettering
Conflict resolution through mutual healing
- healingRestoration of health
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
reparation · harm reduction · conflict resolution · peacemaking · rehabilitation · transformation · amends · restitution
Recovery from injury/addiction
- reentry programsPost-release prisoner support
- transitional housingTemporary supported accommodation
- job trainingTeaching skills for employment
- employment assistanceSupport for job seekers
family reunification · community support · social services · mental health services · substance abuse treatment · education programs · mentorship · case management
sentencing reform
Altering criminal punishment guidelines
- bail reformChanging pretrial release rules
- probationSupervised trial period
- paroleConditional early release
expungement · alternative sentencing · judicial discretion · clemency · pretrial release · early release · compassionate release · decriminalization · risk assessment · electronic monitoring
abolition
Formal discontinuation of practice
- prison reformEfforts to improve incarceration
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
organizing · awareness · solidarity · movement · protest · coalition · campaign · defund · social justice · racial justice
release
To let go
- liberationRelease from constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
exoneration · pardon · clemency · acquittal · unshackling · manumission · extrication · unbinding · unfettering · reentry
restorative justice
Conflict resolution through mutual healing
- healingRestoration of health
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
reconciliation · reparation · harm reduction · conflict resolution · peacemaking · rehabilitation · transformation · amends · restitution · truth-telling
rehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- reentry programsPost-release prisoner support
- transitional housingTemporary supported accommodation
- job trainingTeaching skills for employment
employment assistance · family reunification · community support · social services · mental health services · substance abuse treatment · education programs · mentorship · case management · halfway house
- penologypenology, prisons, parole board, prison, corrections officers
- criminologycrime, criminology, criminal behavior, criminologist, criminalization
decarcerationincarceration
Confinement in jail
imprisonment · mass incarceration · detention · confinement · jailing
decarcerationincarceration
Confinement in jail
mass incarceration · imprisonment · tough on crime · mandatory minimums · zero tolerance
incarcerate, incarceration, incarcerated, incarcerating, incarcerates, reincarcerate, reincarcerated, reincarceration