Legislative Reform

Feature May 22

The Billionaire's Crusade

Broadcom's Henry Nicholas is spending millions to give victims a bigger voice, but not everyone agrees.

By Beth Schwartzapfel

News May 22

Is The “First Step Act” Real Reform?

Congress and criminal justice, a scorecard

By Justin George

News May 18

Maryland Leads as Prison Populations Continue to Decline

Sentencing reforms still curbing mass incarceration, but some eye reversals.

By Nicole Lewis

News March 8

Convicted of a Drug Crime, Registered with Sex Offenders

In Kansas, even many minor drug offenders must appear on the state’s public registry. A new bill would change that.

By Maurice Chammah

Feature June 6, 2017

Can This Marriage Be Saved?

Left and right came together on criminal justice reform. Then Trump happened.

By Justin George

Commentary May 2, 2017

The Limits of Prosecutorial Power

There are criminal justice actors more powerful than prosecutors.

Jeffrey Bellin

News August 21, 2016

Does College Hazing Defy the Laws It Spawned?

Many states bar dangerous rituals, but little seems to change.

By Josiah Bates

Analysis October 21, 2015

Congress Prepares to Deliver (a Little) Criminal Justice Reform

Is this the beginning — or the end?

By Bill Keller

News May 27, 2015

Out of Prison, Out of Luck

When the test of innocence is withheld.

By Christie Thompson

News February 11, 2015

Anyone in Favor of Child Sex Slavery?

Not in Congress. But what do all those anti-trafficking bills actually do?

By Christie Thompson

News January 16, 2015

Hands Off My Yacht

Left and right unite against forfeiture laws. But can they convince the Department of Justice? Update: Yes.

By Christie Thompson

Looking Back December 29, 2014

The Willie Bosket Case

How children became adults in the eyes of the law.

By Eli Hager

Graphics December 23, 2014

Shifting Away from Solitary

More states have passed solitary confinement reforms this year than in the past 16 years.

By Eli Hager and Gerald Rich

News December 12, 2014

‘The Ferguson Bill’

A new law promises to track civilians killed by police. Don’t hold your breath.

By Eli Hager

Feature December 11, 2014

Trial By Cash

Judicial elections have gotten ugly. That’s bad news for defendants.

By Christie Thompson

News December 2, 2014

Pulling the Teeth from the Prison Rape Elimination Act

Delay, defy, defang.

By Alysia Santo

Commentary November 21, 2014

Is the Criminal Justice System Defensible?

A debate between Judge Harvie Wilkinson III and Stephen Bright.

By Andrew Cohen

News November 17, 2014

Right and Left Unite on Drug Sentencing. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Will Senator Grassley kill the Smarter Sentencing Act?

By Christie Thompson