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Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to federal, state and local law enforcement on Long Island, N.Y., in April, 2017.

Politics of Criminal Justice

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Closing Argument
Why the Way We Understand the South Matters — Especially in Criminal Justice
In a special edition of Closing Argument, Jamiles Lartey reflects on the region as the nation’s 250th celebration approaches.
By
A photo shows the silhouette of a person with long hair, standing in front of a U.S. flag.
A photo shows people walking in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building.
Closing Argument June 6
How The Supreme Court Is Tightening Early Prison Release
In recent decisions, the justices restricted the bipartisan First Step Act that President Donald Trump signed in his first term.
By
Three screen captures from a video showing a courtroom scene where the judge sits at the bench on the right, and across a dark green carpet sits the prosecutor at a table. The images are overlaid on each other with edges overlapping. Behind the images in faded text appears language from the Florida immigration law that has been blocked by a federal judge.
Feature July 15, 2025
Arrested, Shackled and Deported from Florida — Despite a Federal Court Order
A man was convicted and deported to Mexico, and at least 26 other people have been arrested under a Florida immigration law that officials were ordered not to enforce.
By , and
A photograph from an angle of the South Carolina State House, a light-colored building with a triangular pediment and columns in front, and trees on a lawn with paths.
Closing Argument June 28, 2025
How ‘Coercive Control’ Is Expanding Domestic Abuse Laws in Several States
The concept takes into account nonphysical tactics abusers use to trap their partners. But some worry the new laws will hurt victims.
By
Louisiana Rep. Delisha Boyd, a Black woman wearing glasses and a black dress, speaks into a mic while standing in front of a podium. Two Black men wearing suits stand in the background.
Closing Argument June 21, 2025
These States Are Debating Castration for Sex Crimes. Experts Call It Cruel and Pointless.
Critics say there’s no evidence that castration prevents future sex offenses. Yet several states are weighing such measures.
By
A collage with ripped paper-style cutouts of silhouettes of police officers in orange and green over a black-and-white background photo of two police officers standing next to each other.
News April 28, 2025
Trump’s Anti-DEI Push Raises Concerns Among Black Officers in Local Police Departments
DEI professionals and officers of color fear that a Trump-led backlash will erase the diversity gains made after the George Floyd protests.
By
A photo collage displays a jail, a brick building surrounded by wire fences, men in jail uniforms holding a burning fabric by a broken window, a demolition excavator, a badge that reads “City of St. Louis Division of Corrections” and a text clipping.
St. Louis April 21, 2025
St. Louis Jail Is a ‘Potential Powder Keg’
A facility built for progress reflects ‘decades of neglect’ and the city’s deepest struggles, from mental illness to systemic dysfunction.
By
A photograph of the Georgia State Capitol building.
Closing Argument April 12, 2025
The Bipartisan Push to Rethink Long Sentences for Abuse Survivors
A Georgia bill offers a model for other states looking to protect people who are accused or convicted of crimes stemming from their abuse.
By
A woman in an orange jail uniform crouches toward the ground, against a fence.
Closing Argument March 29, 2025
How States Are Undoing Criminal Justice Reforms
Louisiana, New York and other states are rolling back reforms — and efforts to reduce excessive sentencing or expand parole are smaller in scope.
By
President Donald Trump, a White man wearing a dark suit and red striped tie, and his attorney Todd Blanche, a man with light-toned skin wearing a dark suit with a dark tie, appear on a monitor in a courtroom.
Analysis January 10, 2025
‘Was This Fair?’ People Behind Bars React to Trump’s Sentencing
The president-elect avoided punishment for his 34 felony convictions, highlighting how the legal system often treats the wealthy and powerful.
By The Marshall Project
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