decarceration

[dee-kahr-suh-rey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of freeing a person or people from prison.

   One goal of the project is the decarceration of youth in California.

2. policy or actions intended to reduce the number of people in prison.

   Community food projects can play a role in decarceration.

Word History and Origins

Origin of decarceration¹

First recorded in 1960–65; de- ( def. ) + (in)carceration ( def. )