A report on repeat arrests finds that one in four of the over 4.9 million people who are arrested and jailed each year are jailed more than once. Grantee Prison Policy Initiative cites repeat arrests as a key driver of over incarceration. Most repeat arrests are for low level offenses and are often related to poverty, mental health conditions, substance use, and racial discrimination. The report recommends steps to address the issue, including redirecting funds from prisons toward other resources, connecting people to social services, using alternatives to jail for low-level offenses, and supporting community-based mental health and health care.
