Abstract
In early 2005, the Vera Institute of Justice launched the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons (CSAAP). In June 2006, the Commission released its report about the safety and health conditions in U.S. prisons and jails, Confronting Confinement, at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing. This article summarizes how CSAAP recommendations have affected national policy. The Confronting Confinement report and the conversations that arose during the hearings held prior to it continue to fuel debate, provide support for needed change, and encourage efforts to ensure the health and safety of prisoners and staff alike. Keeping prison conditions at the forefront of concern remains a challenge, especially given the urgent need to reduce the size of the incarcerated population.
