Prison reform stories

Sep 25, 2026

Cornyn and Whitehouse introduce STRONGER Act to expand prison substance abuse treatment

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the STRONGER Act, bipartisan legislation that would update and reauthorize the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners program to reduce recidivism and address addiction in prisons.

Sep 25, 20262 sources

Sep 22, 2026

Federal judge orders Texas to install air conditioning in all prisons by end of 2029

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Texas must accelerate its $1 billion-plus plan to install air conditioning in all state prisons by the end of 2029, citing constitutional violations. The decision comes after inmate advocates argued the state was moving too slowly to address dangerous heat conditions that have led to at least two dozen deaths.

Sep 22, 20264 sources

Apr 24, 2026

Pope Leo XIV Criticizes Prison Conditions During Equatorial Guinea Visit

Pope Leo XIV visited a notorious prison in Equatorial Guinea and delivered a rare public critique of inmate conditions, calling for justice reform and greater freedoms during his Africa tour.

Apr 24, 20264 sources

Top claims

▪Drug treatment courts do more to reduce recidivism than traditional incarceration
▪Retired provincial court judge Clifford Toth, the inaugural judge of the Regina Drug Treatment Court, stated the program successfully proved skeptics wrong over its 20-year history.
▪The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners program grants also fund community-based aftercare and post-release treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and transitional housing.

People involved

John Cornyn

Subtopics

Criminal justice reform2 Addiction & recovery1 Criminal justice1 Extreme weather impacts1 Human rights1 Pope Leo XIV1 Public health1 Substance abuse treatment1

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