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A White woman covers her face with both hands as she cries during a court hearing. A Black woman on the right consoles her with her hand on her back.
Closing Argument September 24
‘A Moral Disgrace’: How The U.S. Stopped Counting Deaths Behind Bars
The Department of Justice is failing miserably at collecting data on deaths. Experts say that makes it hard to identify the worst prisons and jails.
By Jamiles Lartey
Heavily-armed police deployed during protests over the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014.
News January 8, 2021
Hidden in Bill Passed Over Trump’s Veto: Limits on Police Militarization
But local cops can still receive Pentagon equipment, including automatic rifles.
By Eli Hager and David Eads
Roy Wright’s family was excluded from COVID-19 relief payments from the federal government, even though he is an American citizen, because his wife was listed with her taxpayer identification number on their tax return.
Feature December 15, 2020
Why Millions of Americans Still Can't Get Coronavirus Relief Funds
Filing taxes with an undocumented immigrant means the whole family loses out on payment.
By Julia Preston
President Donald Trump announces his support of the "First Step Act" at the White House in November.
News November 16, 2018
What’s Really in the First Step Act?
Too much? Too little? You be the judge.
By Justin George
A classroom at the Thomson Correctional Center, a federal prison, in Thomson, Ill.
News May 22, 2018
Is The “First Step Act” Real Reform?
Congress and criminal justice, a scorecard
By Justin George
Feature June 6, 2017
Can This Marriage Be Saved?
Left and right came together on criminal justice reform. Then Trump happened.
By Justin George
Analysis December 16, 2016
Why Congress May Bring Criminal Justice Reform Back to Life
Four reasons a bipartisan bill has a better chance than you think
By Bill Keller
Juvenile offenders wait to go to the gym inside the Juvenile Detention Center in Toledo, Ohio.
News September 22, 2016
The Criminal Justice Reform That Could Actually Reach Obama’s Desk
In a year of inaction, a bill that changes the way we treat juveniles makes some headway.
By Eli Hager
President Barack Obama announced "executive actions" he will take on gun laws in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 5, 2016.
News January 5, 2016
Why Do Obama’s Gun Initiatives Sound Kind of Familiar?
Perhaps because he’s been here before.
By Eli Hager
David Perdue, R-Ga., center, voted against the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 last month.
Analysis November 6, 2015
The Dissenters
Not everybody is aboard the criminal justice reform bandwagon. Here’s why.
By Maurice Chammah
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