Q&A June 18

Van Jones Answers His Critics

The CNN host defends his involvement with a controversial prison reform bill and the Trump White House.

By Justin George

News May 22

Is The “First Step Act” Real Reform?

Congress and criminal justice, a scorecard

By Justin George

News April 4

Why Are Joe Biden and the NRA Endorsing State Judges?

Wisconsin shows off the new normal in judicial elections: political, expensive and often about something else.

By Christie Thompson

Analysis March 30

The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant

The link between immigration and crime exists in the imaginations of Americans, and nowhere else.

By Anna Flagg

Quiz December 20, 2017

Take Our Quiz: The Year in Criminal Justice

How well do you remember 2017’s biggest stories?

By Christie Thompson

News December 13, 2017

What the Doug Jones Election Means for Criminal Justice Reform

The Alabama Democrat represents the flip-side of his predecessor.

By Justin George

News November 2, 2017

Can Jared Kushner Save Criminal Justice Reform?

“Fat chance!” is giving way to “Well, maybe…”

By Justin George

News October 31, 2017

I Did It Norway

Some American prisons are singing a European tune.

By Maurice Chammah

Feature October 26, 2017

We are Witnesses

The American criminal justice system consists of 2.2 million people behind bars, plus tens of millions of family members, corrections and police officers, parolees, victims of crime, judges, prosecutors and defenders.

By The Marshall Project

Feature September 24, 2017

How Conservatives Learned to Love Free Lawyers for the Poor

By reframing the issue around the evils of big government, Republicans are notching victories that have eluded more liberal legislatures.

By Alysia Santo

Analysis July 19, 2017

Nine Lessons About Criminal Justice Reform

What Washington can learn from the states.

By Bill Keller

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 30, 2017

The Problem with the Justice Department

It’s a building full of prosecutors.

Mark Osler

News April 26, 2017

Congressman Calls for Probe into Private Prisoner Transport

Rep. Ted Deutch, a Florida Democrat, keeps up pressure on the House.

By Eli Hager and Alysia Santo

News April 14, 2017

The Fine Print in New York’s Raise the Age Law

Thousands of juveniles could still head right to adult court.

By Eli Hager

Analysis February 9, 2017

Everything You Think You Know About Mass Incarceration Is Wrong

Or at least misleading, says this contrarian scholar. Here’s why it matters.

By Eli Hager and Bill Keller

Q&A January 29, 2017

Can Pollsters Drive Down Crime?

The NYPD’s public opinion guru thinks so.

By Simone Weichselbaum

Commentary January 19, 2017

Dear President Trump: Here’s How to get Right on Crime, Part 3

Listen to Pence, Carson, Priebus, Kushner — and look out your window.

Marc Levin

Commentary January 18, 2017

Dear President Trump: Here’s How to get Right on Crime, Part 2

End overcriminalization, reward success, pay attention to the heroin crisis.

Vikrant P. Reddy

Commentary January 17, 2017

Dear President Trump: Here’s How to get Right on Crime, Part 1

Focus on intent, tailor the punishment to the crime, prepare prisoners for life after incarceration.

Pat Nolan

Case in Point January 9, 2017

The Punishing Price of Freedom

Alabama never forgave Phillip Chance for running away.

By Andrew Cohen

Commentary December 22, 2016

Our Favorite Criminal Justice Reporting in 2016

Some of the best work from across the country.

The Marshall Project

Commentary December 21, 2016

Some of Our Best Work in 2016

In-depth investigations, insightful features and one story to give us hope.

By Kirsten Danis

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

News December 14, 2016

Let’s Go to Prison!

A national field trip to Incarceration Nation, under the shadow of Donald Trump

By Eli Hager

Crime on the Ballot November 9, 2016

These Prosecutors Campaigned for Less Jail Time — And Won

Reform-minded candidates unseat incumbents in some races.

By Maurice Chammah

Crime on the Ballot November 9, 2016

Law and Order Trumps Reform

There’s a new sheriff in town.

By Bill Keller

Crime on the Ballot November 1, 2016

A Look at this Year’s Soft-on-Crime Attack Ads

Campaign ads in the age of criminal justice reform.

By Maurice Chammah

Commentary October 28, 2016

Better by Half

How New York City Cut Crime and Incarceration at the Same Time

Vincent Schiraldi and Judith A Greene

Crime on the Ballot October 18, 2016

New Strategy for Justice Reform: Vote Out the DA

A battle in Tampa reflects a shift across the country.

By Maurice Chammah

Crime on the Ballot October 16, 2016

Ferguson Still Haunts Missouri — And Not The Way You Might Think

The city’s unrest emerges as a wedge issue in the governor’s race.

By Eli Hager

Analysis September 29, 2016

Criminal Justice Reform: An Obituary

Obama and Newt Gingrich. Koch Industries and the ACLU. With friends like that, how could it lose?

By Bill Keller

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

Analysis August 8, 2016

Why is Arkansas Flailing in Juvenile Justice?

Blame the good guys.

By Dick Mendel

Analysis August 2, 2016

The End of the Bratton Era

A new generation of chiefs favors a lighter touch.

By Simone Weichselbaum

Commentary July 31, 2016

The Overlooked Promise in Hillary Clinton’s Speech

A call for criminal justice reform.

By Ames C. Grawert

Analysis July 29, 2016

Fact-checking the Democrats

A closer look at crime rates and how people really feel about police.

By The Marshall Project

News July 25, 2016

Trump Denounces Chicago on Gun Violence, But Is He Leaving Something Out?

A lot of those guns come from neighboring Indiana, the state his running mate leads.

By Simone Weichselbaum

Analysis July 22, 2016

Truth-testing Trump on Law and Order

“These are the facts,” he says. Mmmm, not so fast.

By The Marshall Project

Analysis July 18, 2016

Two Parties, Two Platforms on Criminal Justice

The Republicans nod to reforms, then take a sharp right turn.

By Maurice Chammah

Commentary July 17, 2016

Five Voices on Reforming the Front End of Justice

While the feds fiddle, some locals are innovating.

By J. Scott Thompson, John Chisholm, Leah Garabedian, Barbara Broderick, and Sallie Clark.

Feature April 19, 2016

The ‘Chicago Model’ of Policing Hasn’t Saved Chicago

Why is everyone else copying it?

By Simone Weichselbaum

Commentary April 18, 2016

Some of Our Best Work of the Past Year

From David Simon's Baltimore anguish to elite police fraternities to teens behind bars.

By Bill Keller

Commentary April 11, 2016

Bill Clinton, “Black Lives” and the Myths of the 1994 Crime Bill

Pause the debate for some inconvenient history.

By Marc Mauer

News March 16, 2016

Should Hard-line Prosecutors Be Nervous?

After voters oust two prosecutors for failing to hold police accountable, maybe.

By Christie Thompson

Analysis March 9, 2016

Seven Things to Know About Repeat Offenders

A new report looks at recidivism among inmates released from federal prisons.

By Bill Keller

Q&A March 3, 2016

“Ghettoside” Author Jill Leovy on What We Have Learned Since Rodney King

Not nearly enough, she says

By Bill Keller

Analysis February 12, 2016

Justice Reform, RIP?

The vaunted bipartisan drive to enact federal criminal justice reform is not quite dead. But its pulse is faint.

By Bill Keller

News February 4, 2016

Six States Where Felons Can’t Get Food Stamps

Few holdouts remain, as drug-war-era bans on benefits are lifted.

By Eli Hager

Analysis January 27, 2016

There Are Practically No Juveniles in Federal Prison — Here’s Why

Obama takes bold action, but for a population of fewer than 30

By Beth Schwartzapfel

Feature January 14, 2016

Republican Candidates on Criminal Justice: A Primer

Their sixth debate is in Charleston, a city still recovering from last year’s church killings.

By The Marshall Project

Commentary January 11, 2016

A Most Violent Year

What the left and right got wrong about crime in 2015.

By Thomas P. Abt

News December 15, 2015

Why Did It Take the Feds So Long to Probe Chicago Cops?

The Laquan McDonald killing was preceded by years of documented violence.

By Simone Weichselbaum

Analysis October 29, 2015

What You Need to Know About the New Federal Prisoner Release

Five reasons it is (and is not) a big deal.

By The Marshall Project

Feature October 23, 2015

Exclusive: Obama Calls the Death Penalty “Deeply Troubling.”

A one-on-one interview with the president.

By The Marshall Project

Analysis October 21, 2015

Congress Prepares to Deliver (a Little) Criminal Justice Reform

Is this the beginning — or the end?

By Bill Keller

Commentary October 7, 2015

The Clintons Aren’t the Only Ones to Blame for the Crime Bill

Black leaders also embraced it.

By Michael Fortner

News October 1, 2015

Ask Bernie Sanders About Criminal Justice, He’ll Talk About Economics

Sidestepping the issue since his days as mayor of Burlington.

By Eli Hager

Commentary September 15, 2015

Crime, Fear, and the Republicans

Can the GOP interest in criminal justice reform survive Donald Trump?

By Eric Lewis

Commentary September 3, 2015

Obama’s Final 500 Days

People from across the political spectrum suggest criminal justice reforms the president should enact during his remaining time in office.

By Andrew Cohen

Commentary August 13, 2015

Should Cops Get to Review the Video Before They Report?

Sorry, Mr. Bratton. Science says no.

By Kathy Pezdek

Analysis July 15, 2015

‘Justice and Redemption Go Hand in Hand.’

A closer look at the president’s speech on criminal justice reform.

By Andrew Cohen

Analysis July 13, 2015

The President Goes to Prison

But Congress is the place to watch.

By Andrew Cohen

Feature July 10, 2015

Life Without Parole

Inside the secretive world of parole boards, where your freedom may depend on politics and whim.

By Beth Schwartzapfel

News July 10, 2015

Nine Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Parole

For example: Most states don’t require board members to have any experience with the criminal justice system.

By Beth Schwartzapfel

Commentary May 28, 2015

How Nebraska Repealed the Death Penalty

A deep-red state shows the way, with conservatives in the lead.

By Shari Silberstein

Feature May 26, 2015

Policing the Police

As the Justice Department pushes reform, some changes don't last.

By Simone Weichselbaum

News May 26, 2015

Shorter Sentences, Shrinking Prisons

A new report could have a big impact on New York’s prison population — if anyone pays attention.

By Beth Schwartzapfel

Q&A May 26, 2015

The Attica Turkey Shoot

Malcolm Bell, former special state prosecutor and whistleblower, on getting away with murder.

By Tom Robbins

News May 14, 2015

The ‘Madison Model’

A shooting death spotlights Wisconsin’s legacy of police reform.

By Simone Weichselbaum

Feature May 13, 2015

Willie Horton Revisited

We talk to the man who became our national nightmare. Thirty years later, does he still matter?

By Beth Schwartzapfel and Bill Keller

News May 12, 2015

A New Conservative Approach to Justice: Serve the Poor

With jails filling up, right to counsel gains favor.

By Andrew Cohen

News May 7, 2015

A (More or Less) Definitive Guide to Hillary Clinton’s Record on Law and Order

She was for reform before she was against it before she was for it.

By Eli Hager

News April 6, 2015

A Battle for the Bench

Who is the toughest judge in all of Wisconsin?

By Christie Thompson

Commentary March 19, 2015

The Petri Dish

Georgia has become the laboratory of criminal justice reform.

By Andrew Cohen

Commentary March 16, 2015

The Gatekeepers

Four ways prosecutors can improve their decision-making.

By Brian Elderbroom and Lauren-Brooke Eisen

Commentary March 13, 2015

How Not to Raise the Age

Governor Cuomo’s compromise leaves too many children behind.

By Alexandra Cox

Commentary February 25, 2015

The Missed Opportunity of Robert Woodson

One conservative black activist’s campaign for community crime control.

By Vesla M. Weaver

Commentary February 20, 2015

Where Right Meets Left

The odd-couple alliance on justice reform is not as odd as it seems.

By Bill Keller

News February 13, 2015

Another Death Penalty Moratorium

As Pennsylvania hits pause on capital punishment, the script sounds familiar.

By Ken Armstrong

News January 23, 2015

The Politics of Mercy

Is clemency still the third rail? We may find out.

By Ken Armstrong

Justice Lab January 21, 2015

Yes, Mr. President, Incarceration Rates have Dropped ...

… But just a tiny bit, and it took a long time.

By Dana Goldstein

Justice Lab January 15, 2015

‘Blame Liberals’

A new book faults Ted Kennedy, Joe Biden and the NAACP for our prison state.

By Dana Goldstein

Feature November 16, 2014

Death by Deadline, Part Two

When lawyers stumble, only their clients fall.

By Ken Armstrong

Feature November 15, 2014

Death by Deadline, Part One

How bad lawyering and an unforgiving law cost condemned men their last appeal.

By Ken Armstrong