Opinion

Why Progressives Should Welcome Jonathan Majors’ Light Sentence

Freddie deBoer / Truthdig Apr 23, 2024 Ending mass incarceration requires accepting greater leniency for people who do genuinely bad things. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Biden’s Criminal Justice Plan Can’t Reform the System He Helped Create

Jacqueline Luqman / Real News Network Jul 29, 2019 A new gloss can't hide the damage the former vice president has done to marginalized communities. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

California’s Failed Prison Reform Is Killing Inmates

Jason Pohl / The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson / ProPublica Apr 29, 2019 The Golden State's sweeping 2011 prison downsizing and criminal justice reforms have led to a sharp increase in inmate deaths at county jails. Dig deeper ( 19 Min. Read )

Kamala Harris’ Calls for Reform at Odds With Past as Prosecutor

JULIET LINDERMAN and TAMI ABDOLLAH / The Associated Press Apr 1, 2019 The California senator has cast herself as a fierce progressive, but legal advocates argue that she has made a career of punishing the poor. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Ending the American Tragedy of Mass Incarceration

By Richard Blaustein / LARB Feb 2, 2019 The book “Start Here” yields a vision for a future United States that will not stand out for its distressing criminal justice system. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

12 Congressional Hearings That Are Shamefully Overdue

Ralph Nader / Common Dreams Feb 1, 2019 Political activist Ralph Nader calls on an empowered Democratic Party to launch a series of bold new investigations in the House. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Trump Says He’s Eager to Sign Bipartisan Criminal Justice Bill

KEVIN FREKING / The Associated Press Dec 19, 2018 The sweeping legislation would give judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and would boost prisoner rehabilitation efforts. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Facing Pressure, McConnell Agrees to Criminal Justice Vote

MARY CLARE JALONICK and KEVIN FREKING / The Associated Press Dec 13, 2018 The Senate majority leader says he will bring legislation to the floor to overhaul the nation's federal sentencing laws. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Facing Pressure, McConnell Agrees to Criminal Justice Vote

MARY CLARE JALONICK and KEVIN FREKING / The Associated Press Dec 11, 2018 Amid a push from the president and bipartisan support, the Senate majority leader allows the bill to overhaul sentencing laws to proceed. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Five States Where Voters Can Change the Criminal Justice System

Naomi LaChance / Truthdig Oct 17, 2018 Ballot initiatives seek reforms for laws on policing, prosecution, mass incarceration and other issues. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Inmates in 17 States Plan Prison Strike

Julia Conley / Common Dreams Aug 18, 2018 Urging Americans to support the protest, a spokesperson says, "Every single field and industry is affected on some level by prisons, from our license plates to the fast food that we eat to the stores that we shop at." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Poll: Blacks Think Civil Rights Goals Not Achieved

JESSE J. HOLLAND and EMILY SWANSON / The Associated Press Mar 30, 2018 Fifty years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., only 1 in 10 African-Americans think the U.S. has achieved the goals of the civil rights movement he led. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )