Laws that heighten penalties for drug activity near schools and
other locations frequented by youth have been enacted in all 50
states, but until recently their effectiveness had not been
evaluated. Justice Strategies research finds that “drug-free
school zone” laws fail to deter drug activity near schools while
fueling racial disparity in imprisonment. The convergence of
crime control and immigration enforcement - reflected in rising
levels of immigrant detention and imprisonment - has profound
implications for both criminal justice and immigration policy.
Justice Strategies tracks the growth in the number of immigrants
behinds bars and documents the impact of changing law
enforcement and sentencing practices on immigrant communities.
Many states have responded to budgetary pressures and the
failure of tough-on-crime policies by implementing sensible
reforms. But others struggle with crowding and mounting costs.
Justice Strategies has worked with policymakers and advocates in
several states to pinpoint the c