Criminal Justice Reform
Key Takeaways From Biden's Criminal Justice Reform Plan
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden unveiled a wide-reaching plan on Tuesday with goals to reduce prison populations, create a more just society, and increase community safety.
L.A. County's New Sheriff Announced Reforms to Limit ICE. Immigrant Rights Groups Don't Think They Go Far Enough.
Alex Villanueva says he'll reduce the number of misdemeanors considered grounds for deportation, but will continue to allow ICE contractors to transfer undocumented inmates into ICE custody.
Why Does Gavin Newsom Want to Move Juvenile Justice Out of the Department of Corrections?
Research has long shown that detention of youth can cause harm and is ineffective at preventing crime.
A Pacific Standard Guide to Kamala Harris' Record on Criminal Justice Reform
The presidential candidate has an interesting record of championing reform while working within political constraints.
Can a Criminal Record Ever Be Fully Expunged?
Even if a record is officially wiped clean, it's legal for criminal justice agencies and other websites to keep criminal records online.
Our Bail System Costs the Country $15 Billion Per Year
Pre-trial detention hurts defendants and taxpayers.
Inside the Effort to Install Independent Oversight of the Texas Criminal Justice System
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice currently has an ombudsman within the agency, but two state politicians argue that making the position independent will lead to more objectivity.
Grassroots Organizations Are Leading the Way on Criminal Justice Reform
Across the country, jails are often used as holding pens for people who can't afford to pay bail. Local groups are working to change that.
Should Convicted Felons Lose the Right to Vote?
At least six million United States citizens cannot vote in the U.S. because they have been convicted of a felony, but there is a growing movement to change that.
Can Racial Bias Ever Be Removed From Criminal Justice Algorithms?
A recent vote over a proposed tool to predict the risk that a person would pose a threat to public safety in Pennsylvania stirred a debate over its unintended consequences.
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.
Does Congress' Prison Reform Bill Go Too Far or Not Far Enough?
The First Step Act has passed the House, but it's likely to face opposition from both sides of the aisle in the Senate.
The Number of Mentally Ill Inmates in California Jails Is Rising
A new policy brief uses psychotropic medications as a proxy for mental illness, and finds that, despite criminal justice reforms in the state, the population of mentally ill inmates in jails is growing.
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.
Over a Quarter of Americans Believe Their Local Justice System Is Unfair
A new poll from the MacArthur Foundation finds most Americans' sentiments about the justice system are at odds with the Trump administration's punitive policies.
How Art and Activism Can Help Spur Criminal Justice Reform
An interview with Ruby Pinto about a series of new exhibitions across Chicago that make a powerful case for police abolition.
Inside the Fight to End Cash Bail
Advocates in Chicago, New York, and beyond are fighting GOP moneymen, and major insurance companies, to end the predatory practice.