Every year, the Prison Policy Initiative releases its 'Whole Pie' report, offering one of the most comprehensive visualizations of mass incarceration in the United States. This report details how people are held in federal and state prisons, local jails, immigrant detention centers, and youth facilities. But beyond these numbers, the report makes it clear that incarceration is just one piece of a much larger system that continues to affect millions of people long after their release.
Mass Incarceration Is Just the Beginning
One of the most striking takeaways from the Whole Pie 2025 report is that while more than 1.9 million people are currently incarcerated, millions more remain entangled in the criminal legal system in other ways:
671,000 people are on parole, meaning they are still under state supervision after being released from prison.
2.9 million people are on probation, serving sentences in their communities under strict conditions that can quickly lead to re-incarceration for minor infractions.
19 million Americans have a felony conviction, the most serious type of conviction a person can receive.
79 million carry a criminal record, which continues to limit their opportunities in employment, housing, and civic life.
113 million people have an immediate family member who has been incarcerated.
The Lasting Consequences of a Criminal Record
Even after serving their time, millions of Americans face lifelong punishment in the form of collateral consequences. A criminal record can result in:
Barriers to employment, as many companies still hesitate to hire justice-involved individuals despite their skills and potential.
Limited access to housing, as landlords often screen for criminal records, shutting out many from stable living situations.
Restricted voting rights, which can prevent people from fully participating in their communities.
Ineligibility for public benefits, making it even harder to rebuild after incarceration.
Why This Matters for Fair Chance Hiring
The Whole Pie report serves as a powerful reminder that justice-involved individuals do not just struggle with incarceration. They struggle with a system that continues to punish them long after they have served their time. This is why fair chance hiring is so crucial. Employment is one of the strongest factors in preventing recidivism and helping people successfully reintegrate into society.
At Honest Jobs, we work every day to connect people with records to employers who recognize their value. But reports like this show that we need systemic change. More businesses must commit to fair chance hiring, ban-the-box policies, and workplace practices that break down the barriers that keep justice-involved individuals from moving forward.
It’s Time to Look at the Bigger Picture
Mass incarceration statistics are shocking, but they only tell part of the story. The true scale of the criminal legal system includes millions of people who are trying to move forward but continue to face obstacles at every turn. If we want to create real opportunities, we need to focus on solutions that extend beyond prison walls. Solutions like fair chance hiring, reentry support, and criminal record relief.
To learn more, check out the Whole Pie 2025 report from the Prison Policy Initiative: Read the Full Report
Let’s work together to change the narrative, break down barriers, and build a future where everyone has a fair chance to succeed.