evidence-based policy Archives

Lead Poisoning Drove America’s Crime Epidemic — and Georgia Imprisoned the Victims

The government permitted mass lead poisoning of children, then spent $80 billion/year imprisoning the victims. Evidence shows lead explains 10-30% of the crime decline — more than mass incarceration.

Georgia Prison System Assessment: 84M in Critical Staffing and Infrastructure Failures

Georgia’s prison system operates in emergency conditions: 82.7% first-year officer turnover, 29 of 34 facilities requiring critical upgrades, Security Threat Groups comprising 33.4% of population. This legislative analysis of the December 2024 system-wide assessment provides fiscal impact, evidence-

Georgia’s $40 Billion Mistake: How Bad Science and Federal Bribes Created a Constitutional Crisis

Georgia prison facility with statistics overlay showing 100 homicides and $40 billion spent

Georgia spent $40 billion on Truth in Sentencing laws that academic research proves make prisons deadlier and increase crime. The policies—rooted in the discredited “superpredator” myth and response to lead poisoning the government allowed for 70 years—created what the DOJ calls “among the most severe constitutional violations” nationwide. One hundred homicides occurred in Georgia prisons in 2024 alone. California and Mississippi reformed similar laws and achieved better safety outcomes at lower cost. The evidence for reform is overwhelming. The question is whether Georgia will act.