We are in the midst of a profound crisis in our nation’s correctional system.
Across the country, our nation’s prisons are dangerously understaffed and overcrowded.
Policymakers must act now to protect the health and safety of correctional staff, incarcerated people, and the public at large.
Prisons across the country are dangerously understaffed, overcrowded, and plagued by rapidly deteriorating conditions.
One Voice United (OVU) and FAMM, two leading organizations representing correctional staff (OVU) and incarcerated people and their families (FAMM), have joined together to form the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign.
For too long, our constituencies have been pitted against one another while the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, friends, and loved ones has suffered. While it may be surprising to some people that we would work together to draw attention to this crisis, we know our fates are intertwined and we have a shared goal of ensuring the health and safety of everyone who works and lives in prison.
EndorseFor too long, our constituencies have been pitted against one another while the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, friends, and loved ones has suffered. While it may be surprising to some people that we would work together to draw attention to this crisis, we know our fates are intertwined and we have a shared goal of ensuring the health and safety of everyone who works and lives in prison.
SAFER PRISONS SAFER COMMUNITIES
In The News
June 23, 2025
New York’s Prisons Were in Crisis. Did Hochul Do Enough to Fix Them?
The prisons were not far from Ms. Hochul’s mind as well. Over the past decade, the number of state corrections officers has dropped by 42 percent, to about 11,000. To address this staffing shortage, Ms. Hochul placed in the budget a measure allowing corrections officers to be hired from out of state and lowering the minimum age to 18 from 21.
Read ArticleJune 23, 2025
Why is Wisconsin’s prison system such a ‘mess,’ and what can be done to fix it?
Wisconsin incarcerates more people per capita than the majority of countries in the world, including the United States.
Wisconsin Watch and other newsrooms in recent years have reported on criminal charges against staff following prison deaths, medical errors and delayed health care and lengthy prison lockdowns linked to staffing shortages in Wisconsin prisons.
The state prison population has surged past 23,000 people, with nearly triple that number on probation or parole. Meanwhile, staff vacancies are increasing again across the Department of Corrections.
Read ArticleJune 19, 2025
Va Department of Corrections implements heat relief measures for prisons without air conditioning
The Corrections Department is taking significant steps to cool facilities without air-conditioning for their 22,000 inmates, which will include:
Installing fans
Providing extra ice and water pouches
Adjusting the scheduling and locations of some activities
Misting fans in some facilities
Smoke exhaust fans in some facilities to increase airflow
Read Article