California Could Become the First State to Dramatically Restrict Police Use of Deadly Force
A state Senate bill, which would significantly restrict police's use deadly force, faces stiff opposition from law enforcement organizations.
Criminal Justice
Poor Care Played a Role in the Deaths of Immigrants in ICE Custody
A new report highlights troubling patterns in medical care in immigration detention facilities.
Is San Diego County Failing Its Most Vulnerable Inmate Population?
A disability rights organization and private lawsuits allege negligence among San Diego County staff and officials toward inmates with mental illnesses. The county says otherwise.
Trump Commutes the Life Sentence of the First-Time Drug Offender Backed by Kim Kardashian
President Donald Trump on Wednesday commuted the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, who has already served 21 years of a life sentence for charges of cocaine possession and money laundering.
Football Team Losses Can Affect Prison Sentences
New research finds juvenile court judges in Louisiana give out harsher sentences—especially to black defendants—following an unexpected loss by LSU.
Perp Walk Politics: The Downsides of the Blue Carpet
The perp walk scratches a satisfying itch for retribution, but it also gives alleged assailants the opportunity to co-opt what should be a somber moment for their own self-aggrandizement.
Are Prison Commissaries Fair?
Prisons and jails charge inmates substantial portions of their annual wages for basic necessities.
Is America Making Progress in Curtailing Mass Incarceration?
According to a new report, while the overall number of inmates in the U.S. is declining, some states are still seeing their prison populations rise.
The Biggest Obstacle to the Pentagon’s War on Sexual Assault: the Military Justice System
A legal principle intended to protect service members after World War II has spawned a dangerous precedent.
Activists in Oakland Are Pushing for Better Research Around Police Violence and Community Trauma
Community trauma remains a major issue in marginalized communities. But there's still little research to show how police cause mental-health issues—or what can be done to lessen the communal anguish.
The Triumph of Trump's Law and Order Politics
By bending over backwards for the Protect and Serve Act, Democrats just proved that Trump's law and order mantra may remain his most lasting legacy.
After the Golden State Killer's Apprehension, People Are Concerned About the Privacy of Genetic Tests. They Shouldn't Be.
The Joseph DeAngelo case has raised concerns about the privacy of data produced by consumer genetic tests. But really, law enforcement should be using DNA evidence more often.
A Harvard Sociologist Breaks Down the Moral Failures Plaguing the U.S. Prison System
Harvard University sociologist Bruce Western weighs in on the role of prisons in perpetuating human vulnerability.
How Over-Incarceration Is Driving a Push for Criminal Justice Reform
A conversation with Jasmine Heiss from the Vera Institute of Justice about a recent poll that uncovers American's souring sentiment toward incarceration policy.
How to Organize a Prison Strike
Organizers inside and outside of the penitentiary walls are teaming up—and getting creative—to fight for reform.
One Small City in New York Is Finding Innovative Ways to Combat Domestic Abuse
For years advocates have wondered: How can abusers effectively be held accountable for stalking, harassing, assaulting, threatening, or killing their current and former partners? Kingston, New York, might have an answer.
Thousands of Privately Owned Companies Are Profiting From the U.S. Prison System
A report released by the Corrections Accountability Project this week exposes over 3,100 corporations—including over 2,500 privately traded companies—that profit from the U.S. prison system.
A Report to the U.N. Reveals Deep Racial Disparities in America's Criminal Justice System
There are 2.2 million incarcerated individuals in the U.S.
The Catalyst
Thelton Henderson transformed California's criminal justice system. Now comes the backlash.
Felons on Parole Will Soon Be Able to Vote in New York
An executive order issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo could extend voting rights to over 35,000 people.
Immigration Judges Are Bewildered by the DOJ's Decision to Slash Legal Guidance for Detainees
Analysts say the decision breaks the Trump administration's promise to cut the immigration court backlog.
One New York Police Chief Is Upending Conventional Drug Enforcement
The police chief of Chatham, New York, has a revolutionary strategy for policing the opioid epidemic.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Dismisses Nearly 8,000 Convictions in a Drug Lab Scandal
A drug lab chemist in Amherst had tampered with evidence and abused various confiscated drugs over an eight-year span.
Sacramento's Quest to End Solitary Confinement for Kids
After settling a lawsuit for conscience-shocking behavior, a youth detention facility in Sacramento is setting the course to end punitive solitary confinement nationwide.