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Each week, Closing Argument will walk readers through the latest news and best links on one topic in the criminal legal system. Our goal is to make these complex issues digestible without sacrificing detail, context or nuance.

An Asian woman, standing in a crowd, holds a sign reading "This is our home too!!!"
Closing Argument March 25
New FBI Data Shows More Hate Crimes. These Groups Saw The Sharpest Rise.
Bias-related crimes rose in 2021 to nearly 11,000 incidents.
By Weihua Li and Jamiles Lartey
The wood-paneled and red-carpeted inside of an empty courtroom.
Closing Argument March 18
New Scrutiny on Murder Charges Against People Who Don’t Actually Kill
The U.S. is the only country that still uses the “felony murder” legal doctrine.
By Jamiles Lartey
A Black woman and a White woman carried signs reading "DC Statehood is racial justice" during a protest.
Closing Argument March 11
How a Growing Political Fight Threatens Local Control of Criminal Justice
Anxiety about crime — and plain politics — are fueling efforts to supplant local rule, from Washington, D.C., to St. Louis and other localities.
By Jamiles Lartey
A Black man, wearing a gray beanie and brown puffer jacket, sits in front of a touch screen monitor at a voting booth. He looks at the screen together with his daughter, who is wearing glasses, a floral shirt and pink jean jacket.
Closing Argument March 4
Crime Dominates Voters’ Minds and Politicians’ Tongues
Chicago’s mayoral runoff and other spring elections in cities such as Denver and Akron, Ohio, will hinge largely on crime and public safety issues.
By Jamiles Lartey
A White woman in a pink jail uniform stands against a brick wall as she makes a phone call.
Closing Argument February 25
Fighting the High Cost of Prison Phone Calls
Tired of exorbitant phone bills, prisoners and their families are pushing to lower costs.
By Christie Thompson
A man in a white prison uniform with the label "Alabama Dept of Corrections" on his back stands near his bunk bed. There are multiple bunk beds lined up in the foreground.
Closing Argument February 18
How ‘Cruel and Not Unusual’ Conditions Persist in Many Lockups
Insight from a discussion with journalists, formerly incarcerated people and experts.
By Jamiles Lartey
A Black man kneels at the side of a street, where a memorial is situated that has flowers, a teddy bear, and a pink ballon.
Closing Argument February 11
How Police Traffic Stops May Change After Tyre Nichols’ Death
Several cities and states are reconsidering the practice, which can be one of the most dangerous interactions with police.
By Jamiles Lartey
A closeup of Black hands holding a sign with a picture of Tyre Nichols, a Black man, with words underneath that read "Tyre Nichols, Rest in Power."
Closing Argument February 4
Biden Promised a Police Misconduct Database. He’s Yet to Deliver.
In the aftermath of Tyre Nichols’ killing, some are questioning the administration’s urgency on police reform.
By Jamiles Lartey
RowVaughn Wells, mother of Tyre Nichols, cries at a news conference in Memphis, Tenn. on Monday. Nichols died after being beaten by Memphis police officers on Jan. 7.
Closing Argument January 28
Tyre Nichols’ Death: How Black Officers Alone Can’t Stop Brutal Policing
A dialogue with Wilbert L. Cooper, a reporter from a family of Black officers, on why Black officers are no cure for police violence.
By Jamiles Lartey and Wilbert L. Cooper
Three police officers in riot gear walk down a slope outdoors.
Closing Argument January 21
How Police Unions Try to Tilt the Scales on Oversight Boards
As more cities set up police watchdogs, some officers’ unions seek new ways to try to weaken them.
By Jamiles Lartey
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