decarcerate

American  

[dee-kahr-suh-reyt] / diˈkɑr səˌreɪt /

verb (used without object)

1. to pursue policy or actions aimed at reducing the number of people in prison.

   Local judges are making efforts to decarcerate by replacing prison sentences with time in rehabilitation programs.

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verb (used with object)

1. 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.

2. 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

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

“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

This political landscape could be a bellwether of what future prosecutors seeking to decarcerate their jurisdiction should expect.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2019

These poor human outcomes, and the exorbitant cost – one study by the Prison Policy Institute recent pegged it at $183bn a year – have driven the cross-party push to decarcerate in the US.

From The Guardian • Jun. 5, 2018