decarcerate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to pursue policy aimed at reducing the number of people in prison in (a country or region).
We aim to decarcerate our state by repealing mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
-
to free from prison.
The county has moved to decarcerate prisoners being held for possession of marijuana.
Etymology
Origin of decarcerate
First recorded in 1900–05; de- ( def. ) + (in)carcerate ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since Jared’s father had gone to federal prison, someone who knew I was working to decarcerate the federal prison system told Jared to call me.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2023
We think we can decarcerate with easy choices.
From Slate • Oct. 20, 2022
“It is not to just keep building more warehouses — the solution is to decarcerate, get people rehabilitated and out of jail.”
From Seattle Times • Aug. 11, 2021
Iran had a pre-pandemic prison population of about 189,500 in a system of facilities designed to hold fewer than 150,000, and the government failed to take meaningful action to decarcerate upon the arrival of COVID-19.
From Slate • May 6, 2020
“The polling underscores the breadth and depth of support for efforts to decarcerate in the juvenile justice system,” said Liz Ryan, the executive director of Youth First.
From The Guardian • Feb. 13, 2017
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
