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Merrick Garland, a man with light-toned skin and white, short hair, stands at a podium with a backdrop of American flags.

Department of Justice

Pool photo by Carolyn Kaster
News
Shackled For Days and Weeks: A Federal Report Finds Widespread Abuse in Prisons
The report, by the Justice Department’s internal watchdog, comes after an investigative series by The Marshall Project and NPR exposed similar abuses.
A photo illustration with a black and white photograph of the exterior of a prison in the background with red rectangles overlaying it. In the middle is a semi-circle with the typewritten text from several phrases, including “tortured for 18 hours with an..” and “I began to feel a sharp pain on the left side of my chest.” Below the text is a photo of an officer's hands on the wrist of a man in handcuffs.
A photo of a White woman with brown hair holding a phone while talking to a White man wearing a blue shirt. The man is out of focus and seen from behind.
Analysis June 17
A North Carolina County Wanted New Court to Stem Its Opioid Crisis. Then Came Trump’s Cuts.
As the Justice Department slashes funding to programs across the U.S., Wilkes County’s planned recovery court was halted before it started.
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A photograph shows two police officers standing next to a gate on a street. One officer is wearing a helmet and holds a wooden baton.
Closing Argument May 24
As Trump Abandons Police Reforms, These Local Officials Vow to Press On
The Department of Justice said it’s pulling back from policing changes. Will cities and states have the tools to enforce them?
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A photograph shows a crowd of police officers, wearing riot gear and holding batons, standing in formation in the middle of a street.
Closing Argument May 17
Five Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Police Reforms Are Being Rolled Back
As reforms stall in some states, the U.S. Supreme Court just made it easier for police to be sued — and perhaps easier for police to defend themselves.
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A police officer, wearing a cap, a vest and navy uniform, looks at a computer screen while sitting at desk.
Closing Argument May 3
There’s a Lot to Learn About Crime. Trump’s Orders Are Making It Harder to Get Answers.
The administration so far has cut funds for tracking bad cops, shootings and violent extremism, cancelled crime prevention grants, and more.
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A police officer’s head and shoulders are silhouetted against a blue and purple background.
Analysis April 29
Trump’s New Order on Policing Seems Sweeping. But What Will It Really Change?
The president’s directive may please some law enforcement officials, but some experts say certain provisions are redundant and ignore how police agencies really work.
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A photo shows a line of police officers standing on a corner while wearing riot gear and holding batons.
News March 12
Trump Is Backing Away From Police Reform. Here’s What That Means for 12 Places.
The administration appears set to end federal oversight of police, including agencies that have committed systemic civil rights violations.
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Metal fencing can be seen in front of two structures, one on the right with a short wooden staircase, and one on the left with beige siding. A sign in front of the building on the right reads: Federal Medical Center Carswell.
News February 25
‘Fear for Their Lives’: Trans Women Federal Prisoners Told They Will Be Housed With Men
After a minor change in a judge’s order, the Trump administration arranged to move over a dozen transgender women to men’s facilities.
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An officer in a navy uniform holds a walkie talkie while walking through a hall. There is an open gate in the foreground. Two people in orange uniforms with towels are walking in the background.
Closing Argument February 15
How Trump Is Trying to Expand the Already Colossal U.S. Prison System
The administration’s efforts — from mass deportation to harsher punishments for some crimes — rely on access to more prison and jail cells.
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Trump, a White man in a navy suit and a red and navy tie, signs a document while sitting in the Oval Office.
Analysis January 22
Trump’s New Order to Expand the Death Penalty Misses Key Details
The order shows the president’s desire for more executions. But it’s unclear how the administration will carry out its plans, legal experts say.
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