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Issues

Learn about our key areas of focus to end mass incarceration and promote racial justice.
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Racial Justice

Ending mass incarceration must include combating racial inequality and disparity.

Sentencing Reform

It's time to take a second look at extreme sentences.

Voting Rights

The criminal justice system shouldn't have a say in our democracy.

Youth Justice

We must end youth incarceration and provide all youth with the support they need to thrive.
Featured Campaign

Second Look Network

Ending mass incarceration requires taking a second look at extreme sentences. Learn more about our coalition of legal professionals providing direct representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences.
Advocacy

The Sentencing Project is a leading voice for criminal legal reform.
Advocacy overview
Our Work

Explore our work at the national, state, and local level to promote a fair and effective criminal legal system.

Second Look Network

The Network serves, connects, and empowers legal advocates across the country to bring people serving excessive and unfair prison sentences home.

Get Involved

Changing laws and policies to end mass incarceration require a mass movement. Here are ways you can take action.
Featured Campaign

50 Years and a Wake Up

This year marks the 50th year since the U.S. prison population began its unprecedented surge. Partner with us to end mass incarceration!
Research

Explore our publications, fact sheets, data & more.
Overview
Growth in Mass Incarceration

The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration. Get the facts and statistics on trends in U.S. incarceration.

U.S. Criminal Justice Data

View state-level data to provide a snapshot of key indicators of mass incarceration's impact in the United States

Detailed Data Tool

Compare state-level incarceration data for youth and adults with this expanded data set

Resource Library

Search important resources published by The Sentencing Project, including research publications, advocacy briefs, webinars, and more
Featured Publication

One in Five

One in five Black men born in 2001 is likely to experience imprisonment within their lifetime. Our four-part “One in Five” series examines racial inequities in America’s criminal legal system, as well as highlights promising reforms.
- Glossary of Criminal Justice Terms

Richard Mendel

Senior Research Fellow

Richard “Dick” Mendel is a Senior Research Fellow for Youth Justice, where he conducts research and writes reports to promote reform of our nation’s youth justice systems.

Prior to joining The Sentencing Project, Mendel spent more than 20 years as an independent writer and researcher on youth justice and other social justice issues. During that time, he authored several highly-cited publications on juvenile justice for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, including The Missouri Model: Reinventing the Practice of Rehabilitating Youthful Offenders (2010); No Place for Kids: The Case for Reducing Juvenile Incarceration (2011); and Transforming Juvenile Probation: A Vision for Getting it Right (2018). Previously, Mendel authored: Prevention or Pork: A Hard-Headed Look at Youth-Oriented Anti-Crime Programs (1995) and Less Hype, More Help: Reducing Juvenile Crime, What Works – and What Doesn’t (2000) for the American Youth Policy Forum. As a journalist, Mendel has published articles in The Atlantic, Washington Monthly, The Marshall Project, Legal Times, Baltimore Sun, [Raleigh, NC] News & Observer, The American Prospect, and other publications. He holds a Bachelors in Public Policy from Duke University and a Masters in Journalism from the University of Maryland.