Report: 46 states made prison-related reforms in 2014-15

NEW YORK – A new analysis has found that nearly every state made prison-related reforms in 2014 and 2015.

The Vera Institute of Justice report released Thursday finds that in those two years, 46 states enacted 201 bills, executive orders and ballot initiatives.

The fixes ranged from improving bail systems to supporting recently released former prisoners to curbing the use of solitary confinement.

Other states created specialty courts for veterans, the homeless and drug addicts.

Policymakers nationwide also sought to reduce the number of people who ended up behind bars by shortening jail stays and providing alternative sentences.

The non-profit says the reforms are the result of expensive correctional systems and a growing consensus that for too many the criminal justice system is unfair.