The Marshall Project has received the 2026 Marc Mauer Racial Justice Award, recognizing the nonprofit newsroom’s investigative reporting on the criminal justice system and its commitment to telling the stories of incarcerated and other justice-impacted people.
The award honors individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to understanding and engaging with issues of race and mass incarceration. It is named for Marc Mauer, a longtime leader in criminal justice reform whose work has helped deepen public understanding of racial disparities in the justice system.
“Our journalism examines how the criminal justice system operates and who is most affected by it,” said Jennifer Peters, editor-in-chief of The Marshall Project. “That means investigating inequities and holding powerful institutions accountable, while making sure people who have experienced the system firsthand are part of the stories we tell. We’re honored to have that work recognized.”
The Sentencing Project, a national nonprofit that advocates for effective and humane responses to crime, issues this award as part of its work to minimize imprisonment and advance racial justice. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.