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Jacob Kang-Brown

@jkangbrown.bsky.social
279 followers 291 following 46 posts

senior researcher @prisonpolicy.org

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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 08/10/2026
Instead of releasing people, jails are increasingly complying with ICE detainers and handing folks over to the federal agency. ➡️ Since 2024, the average number of daily detainer-related arrests has grown by 144%
Bar graphs comparing ICE arrests from jail detainers in 2024 (178 per day) and 2026 (435 per day).
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
technically speaking, your local cops ARE part of ICE. in fact, a lot of them volunteer labor for ICE.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The full data table along with links to the new monthly reports we received via FOIA request here: www.prisonpolicy.org/data/usms_de...
prisonpolicy.org
US Marshals Detention Average Daily Population by Month, 2021-2026
Information on how many people are held in federal detention on what charge by month
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Updated the graphic to show the increased detention in summer 2026.
Updated graphic showing relative percent change in U.S. Marshals detention immigration (up 29%) and all other reasons (down 10%) relative to the FY 2024 baseline.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
After @jkangbrown.bsky.social and I published analysis of ICE arrest data, Jacob got updated USMS figures. We can now see the feds have expanded the number of people detained on federal immigration charges by *29%* since 2024, circumventing sanctuary laws www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/10...
prisonpolicy.org
Cooperation with ICE doesn’t stop community arrests: New data on the results of state strategies
The Trump administration has demanded local and state collusion on immigration enforcement, and promised to pull back on community arrests in return. But our analysis ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 07/10/2026
🚨Most state sanctuary policies restrict collaboration with ICE & ignore the U.S. Marshals. The Trump admin has used this loophole to fuel its deportation agenda: ➡️ New data show that since 2024, the number of people detained for federal criminal immigration charges is up 25%
Line graph showing that between October 2024 and May 2026, the average daily U.S. Marshals detention population changed by +25%.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Andrew Thrasher @tituslegaldesign.com · 06/10/2026
New report from @jkangbrown.bsky.social + @bson.bsky.social at @prisonpolicy.org does a great job of capturing this ⤵️ through analysis of ICE detainer and arrest data. Worth reading to understand the broad set of tools available to ICE via local and state law enforcement collaboration.
prisonpolicy.org
Cooperation with ICE doesn’t stop community arrests: New data on the results of state strategies
The Trump administration has demanded local and state collusion on immigration enforcement, and promised to pull back on community arrests in return. But our analysis ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 06/10/2026
🚨NEW: The Trump admin has demanded local & state collusion on immigration enforcement, promising to pull back on community arrests in return. But new data reveal that it never delivered on that promise, and ICE's assault on communities only worsened 🧵
prisonpolicy.org
Cooperation with ICE doesn’t stop community arrests: New data on the results of state strategies
The Trump administration has demanded local and state collusion on immigration enforcement, and promised to pull back on community arrests in return. But our analysis ...
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
And thank you to all my wonderful colleagues at @prisonpolicy.org who make this work possible, the people at the Deportation Data Project that were able to secure the ICE detainer and arrest data that we analyzed, and others that helped or answered questions.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
For details, methodology, or state-specific tables, check out the piece. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/10...
prisonpolicy.org
Cooperation with ICE doesn’t stop community arrests: New data on the results of state strategies
The Trump administration has demanded local and state collusion on immigration enforcement, and promised to pull back on community arrests in return. But our analysis ...
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Many states could to make stronger policy like Oregon to block ICE detainers and close the federal criminalization loophole that allows ICE to use a federal criminal charge put people in local jails with US Marshals contracts.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Finally, US Attorneys are filing more cases and more people are being detained facing immgiration-related criminal charges, the new FOIA docs that we received show the number of people in US Marshals detention facing those charges are up 25% since FY2024.
line chart showing people detained in federal system on immigration charges up 25% since 2024, vs all other reasons decreased by 11%.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
States with the strongest protections have fewer ICE arrests, and those with wishy-washy policy like New Jersey have arrest rates similar to collaborator states like Florida or Georgia.
bar chart showing ICE arrest rates in different states
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The ICE detainer system appears to be fragile -- primarily operating out of a couple of ICE-leased office buildings, and requiring routine actions from local law enforcement to work.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
While the scope of law enforcement collaboration on ICE arrests has expanded via 287(g) and other methods detainers still play a central role.
trend chart showing spikes in ICE arrests by different methods, with large increases after Trump inauguration, arrest quotas being announced in May 2025, and a surge in summer 2026.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The briefing digs into the increased use of detainer-related arrests during the Trump administration, and what states can do about it.
bar graph showing increase from 178 detainer-related ICE arrests a day in 2024 to 435 people arrested per day in this way on average in 2026.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
New analysis of ICE detainers and arrests in 2026 with @bson.bsky.social for @prisonpolicy.org shows that law enforcement collusion tends to expand ICE arrests, and that the mass deportation project falters in places that resist. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/10...
prisonpolicy.org
Cooperation with ICE doesn’t stop community arrests: New data on the results of state strategies
The Trump administration has demanded local and state collusion on immigration enforcement, and promised to pull back on community arrests in return. But our analysis ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 29/07/2026
Is your county pushing for a new jail? We’re here to help. Our advocacy team offers free research help and technical support across all stages of the criminal legal system. ✉️ Learn more here, and drop us a line:
prisonpolicy.org
Contact us
Contact form to get in touch with Prison Policy Initiative staff.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 27/07/2026
🚨NEW: Pres. Trump's belligerent use of policing and prosecutions has already left its mark on the federal system. Over the last two years, federal incarceration and detention have grown by 12%, with immigration detention and prosecution being a main driver. 🧵
Line chart showing that the number of people confined by federal agencies is more than six times greater in 2026 (260,000) than it was in 1984, although it remains below its 2011 peak.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 25/07/2026
🚨NEW: ICE spends $222/day to detain each person in custody — much more than it costs to incarcerate someone in a federal prison or the U.S. Marshals detention network, to supervise them, or to release them. The rapid growth of federal detention comes at a steep financial cost.
Graph showing the daily cost of immigration detention ($222), alternatives to ICE detention ($2), federal prisons ($129), U.S. Marshals detention ($128), pretrial detention ($13), and release ($0).
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/07...
prisonpolicy.org
The federal system: A patchwork of agencies rapidly expanding federal surveillance and punishment
Because it is so fragmented, the federal system can be particularly hard to understand, which only makes it harder to change effectively through policy. We ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
new from @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/07...
prisonpolicy.org
The federal system: A patchwork of agencies rapidly expanding federal surveillance and punishment
Because it is so fragmented, the federal system can be particularly hard to understand, which only makes it harder to change effectively through policy. We ...
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The Trump administration plans a rapid increase in criminalization in the years ahead, but by ending jail contracts with the US Marshals, states and local governments can help limit this agenda.
Chart showing increased numbers of people booked into federal custody for immigration, drugs, and other reasons. Sharp increases are projected for fiscal year 2027
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The federal systems of confinement (ICE detention, federal prisons, and US Marshals detention network) and community supervision have been changing under Trump, here’s my explanation of what is going on and things people can do to limit it. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/07...
prisonpolicy.org
The federal system: A patchwork of agencies rapidly expanding federal surveillance and punishment
Because it is so fragmented, the federal system can be particularly hard to understand, which only makes it harder to change effectively through policy. We ...
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Or her latest briefing on states that do not have discretionary parole, published earlier this week. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/06...
prisonpolicy.org
Since you asked: What does early release look like in states that eliminated discretionary parole?
While 17 states and D.C. have taken discretionary parole off the table for most or all incarcerated people, they still have other forms of parole ...
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
For more background on probation and parole, check out the work of my @prisonpolicy.org colleague Leah Wang, either her comprehensive report from this spring www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/corr...
prisonpolicy.org
Punishment Beyond Prisons 2026: Incarceration and Supervision by State
The overuse of probation and parole, along with punitive restrictions, can extend the reach of the prison walls.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
We made corrections in many states over the decades, read the methodology for the full details.
Table listing states with corrections, see methods of briefing for the details.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
But we were able to collect addtional data from state agencies and fix these problems. This makes much clearer what is actually going on in these states.
Two graphs showing the actual trends in the number of people on probation in Virginia and Pennsylvania overlaid on the original data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.Two graphs showing the actual trends in the number of people on probation in Massachusetts and Minnesota overlaid on the original data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
One focus of my briefing was communicating the methods we used for fixing data published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Evolving methods from year to year, plus strange imputation by the Bureau makes using the data for trend analysis impossible.
Two graphs showing abrupt changes in the estimated number of people on probation in Virginia and Pennsylvania due to methodology changes.Two graphs showing abrupt changes in the estimated number of people on probation in Massachusetts and Minnesota due to missing data and incorrect imputation.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
In the interest of just getting the data out there, we published much more than we could analyze in the briefing. Here's the data table as an excel file structured for reading into a stats program. www.prisonpolicy.org/data/incarce...
prisonpolicy.org
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
It's the first time I've seen all this kind of data together in one place. I hope that other researchers will find these a useful resource in their efforts to understand changes in criminalization. Maybe it can give you a head start on a project? Let me know if you need help.
Chart showing trends in New York in community supervision and incarceration rates from 1978 to 2024. After rising from 1978, Probation, parole, and incarceration rates peak around 2000 and begin to decline, with the decrease accelerating in 2020. Chart showing trends in Florida in community supervision and incarceration rates from 1978 to 2024. Probation rises more rapidly than incarceration and peaks much higher, around the year 2000 and begin to decline. Incarceration peaks around the great recession and declines since. Parole rates are low throughout.  Chart showing trends in California in community supervision and incarceration rates from 1978 to 2024. After rising from 1978, Probation, parole, and incarceration rates stay at or near peak levels through 1990s and 2000s, with substantive declines around 2010. Chart showing trends in Texas in community supervision and incarceration rates from 1978 to 2024. After rising quickly from 1978, probation reaches well over 1 in 50 people in the state by 1995, declining to 1 in 100 by 2024 and much higher than the four other states in this post.
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Jacob Kang-Brown @jkangbrown.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
This month @prisonpolicy.org we published an new data file with the number of people in jail, prison, and under community supervision for each state from 1978-2024. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/06...
prisonpolicy.org
Probation and parole trends by state: A look back at the data on ‘alternatives’ to incarceration
We compiled, corrected, and analyzed 45 years of state-level probation and parole data, and found that while most (but not all) states have reduced the ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 03/06/2026
🚨NEW: 3.5 million people are on probation or parole in the U.S. That's more than 1.5x the number of people locked up, making community supervision the leading form of correctional control. How did we get here? New data reveal how probation & parole have changed over time 🧵
Pie chart showing that the majority of people under correctional control are on probation or parole.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
In this briefing, we cleaned up and pieced together state-level community supervision data covering roughly the last 45 years, including state-level annual data tables and detailed trendline graphics going back to the 1970s. new from @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/06...
prisonpolicy.org
Probation and parole trends by state: A look back at the data on ‘alternatives’ to incarceration
We compiled, corrected, and analyzed 45 years of state-level probation and parole data, and found that while most (but not all) states have reduced the ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 19/02/2026
🚨WEBINAR: As calls for criminal justice reform grow louder, advocates are increasingly up against "carceral humanism" – a harmful strategy that offers only the appearance of change. Get tips & tools to resist these narratives at our upcoming webinar👇 zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Infographic with text:

Caging Compassion:
Recognizing & resisting carceral Humanist narratives in criminal justice reform

This webinar will offer useful tips for advocates seeking to avoid superficial carceral humanist reforms in their quest to make genuine, lasting systemic change.

Sarah Staudt
Policy and Advocacy Director, Prison Policy Initiative
Emmett Sanders
Policy and Advocacy Associate, Prison Policy Initiative
Mon Mohapatra
Organizing Coordinator, Community Justice Exchange
James Kilgore
Building Power Fellow, Community Justice Exchange
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 21/02/2026
If you want to know where the U.S.'s priorities lie, funding for immigration policing & detention skyrocketed by $20 billion in less than 10 years. Meanwhile, funding for vital community resources–like public libraries–didn't even keep up with inflation. www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/mone...
Screenshot showing that in 2025, immigration policing and detention cost the U.S. $54.3 billion
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Detention Watch Network @detentionwatchnetwork.org · 19/02/2026
People are uniting together, uplifting their shared values to welcome people and keep everyone safe, calling on businesses to take a stand, and demanding ICE out of their communities. 🔗Learn how to fight back against detention warehouses in our new warehouse toolkit: bit.ly/noicewarehouse
bit.ly
DHS Expansion of Immigration Detention into Warehouses
This is a live toolkit and will be updated as needed. Table of Contents Introduction & Background Warehouses in Context Impact on Communities National Expansion Map and Status Core Campaign Demands f...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Craig Gilmore @craiggilmore.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Here's an incredible toolkit for people working to stop ICE buying or leasing warehouses to convert to concentration camps. From the amazing gang at @detentionwatchnetwork.org Please circulate::
docs.google.com
DHS Expansion of Immigration Detention into Warehouses
This is a live toolkit and will be updated as needed. Table of Contents Introduction & Background Warehouses in Context Impact on Communities National Expansion Map and Status Core Campaign Demands f...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Stuart Schrader @stschrader1.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
How and why police actually support the federal invasions—I have been working on this article for ~6 months, trying to make sense of Trump’s nationwide surge of DHS officers, how it has evolved, what brought us here, and what will remain after it ends.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Detention Watch Network @detentionwatchnetwork.org · 12/02/2026
“The violence we see today is a direct consequence of the $170 billion that Congress handed to Homeland Security in last year’s reconciliation bill, fueling the administration’s mass detention & deportation agenda at an unprecedented scale, “ said Setareh, from DWN in an op-ed for the @thehill.com
thehill.com
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 11/02/2026
🚨NEW: Mass incarceration costs the U.S. an alarming $445 billion every year. Where exactly does it all go? Follow the money with our new report 🧵 www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/mone...
Flow chart showing that the U.S. spends $445 billion on mass incarceration every year.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Brenden Beck @brendenbeck.net · 11/02/2026
There's a great new report out from @prisonpolicy.org tracking changes in criminal justice system spending. More money for policing and immigration enforcement, less for prisons and courts since 2017. @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/mone...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Here’s an under-discussed risk of lucrative fed contracts with local jails: what happens when the feds decide to pull out, or (as DHS seems to be doing more and more) stop paying invoices on time? Well, Cumberland county taxpayers are getting hit with a huge bill www.pressherald.com/2026/02/04/i...
pressherald.com
ICE pulled detainees from Cumberland County Jail. That could hurt taxpayers.
The agency already owes the jail more than $1 million for having housed detainees over the past several months. The county manager says both issues are causing budgeting headaches.
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Detention Watch Network @detentionwatchnetwork.org · 29/01/2026
NEW REPORT: Exposes years of extensive environmental hazards and carceral violence at the Glades Detention Center in #Florida. Click to read: bit.ly/4rdMhFK @afsc-org.bsky.social @aclufl.bsky.social
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
A new nationwide study published in Health Affairs found that fewer than 1 in 3 kids with an opioid use disorder receive critical medications and age appropriate care. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/01...
prisonpolicy.org
New study: Kids who need treatment for opioid use disorder rarely get it
A new nationwide study published in Health Affairs finds that adolescents aged 12 to 17 struggle to access and remain engaged in treatment, often because ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Wendy Sawyer @wendyppi.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
We are hiring our first "creator in residence" - a fully-remote, four-month residency. Please share! More info: www.prisonpolicy.org/jobs.html
prisonpolicy.org
Employment opportunities
Employment opportunities at the Prison Policy Initiative
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
As ICE operations begin in Maine, local organizers are raising money for rapid response via the Solidarity Fund. Donations urgently needed, starting to hear of arrests as of last night www.mainesolidarity.org
mainesolidarity.org
Maine Solidarity Fund
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
"In new data from 562 jails, we find that more than 1 in 8 jail bookings (13%) are related to a failure to appear (FTA), and more than half of those are FTA only." great/disturbing/enraging new analysis from @jkangbrown.bsky.social www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/01...
prisonpolicy.org
How many jail stays are due to missed court dates?
Failing to make it to a court appearance – routine for attorneys and witnesses – leads to 19 million additional nights in jail each year ...
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Reposted by Jacob Kang-Brown
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 07/01/2026
Today, ICE shot & killed someone, and then said the officer was using "his training." When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
mprnews.org
Live updates: ICE says agent, ‘fearing for his life,’ kills woman in south Minneapolis
ICE officials say the woman was shot and killed Wednesday morning in south Minneapolis after attempting to run over agents with her car. Witnesses dispute ICE’s version of what happened. Mayor Jacob…
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