The Watchdog Inside the DA's Office
In Philadelphia and other cities, prosecutors have formed “conviction review units”—special teams that reinvestigate cases they may have gotten wrong.
To Reduce Recidivism, States Scrap Barriers for Ex-Offenders
Hoping to make it easier for people leaving prison to re-enter society—and avoid going back—several states enacted laws aimed at helping ex-offenders get jobs, pay off court debt, and access food stamps.
A Replacement for Overworked Public Defenders?
Through a suburban Philadelphia program, offenders’ family members learn how to help their criminal defense—and do some of the nitty-gritty work lawyers would typically handle.
A Mental-Health Crisis in Alabama’s Prisons
In a 302-page opinion, a federal judge in Montgomery condemned the dire conditions faced by prisoners with mental illnesses.
The Rise of Rural Incarceration
Local jails in smaller counties are seeing enormous growth. A new report explains why.
Seeking Justice: ‘Are We Punishing People for Being Sick?’
Addressing mental health in the criminal justice system, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey outlines a "blueprint for change."
Why Jails Are Booming
A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative shows that the populations of local jails are swelling for reasons that have little to do with crime.
How ‘Raise the Age’ Laws Might Reduce Recidivism
Several states that prosecute 16-year-old offenders as adults are reconsidering that approach.
Measuring Local Criminal Justice Systems Ahead of Reform
With court data hard to come by, Measures for Justice is working with counties in six states to provide transparency at every step in the process—from arrest to post-resolution.
L.A. County’s Program to Decrease Youth Incarceration
Public works internships teach a trade and skills participants carry with them through life, whether they stay on with the county or not.
Matching Ex-Offenders With Hard-To-Fill Health Care Jobs
People with arrest and conviction records can help with hard-to-fill jobs, but employing them creates legal and administrative challenges.
States Consider Barring Death Penalty for Severely Mentally Ill
Advocates say murderers with mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are less culpable, and therefore less deserving of the death penalty.
What Caused States to Execute Dramatically Fewer Prisoners in 2016?
The decrease could be a momentary dip or a part of a larger trend.
Getting the Mentally Ill Out of Jails
Tens of thousands of mentally ill people languish in jail. Many cities and states increasingly are working to get them treatment instead.
To Help Ex-Offenders Get Jobs, Some States Reconsider Licenses
Felons can’t be a riverboat owner or a horse meat processor in Illinois. Lawmakers there and in several other states are weighing changes to their licensing restrictions.
Locked Up: Is Cash Bail on the Way Out?
Six in 10 adults in U.S. jails have not been convicted of a crime. They are locked up awaiting trial, mostly because they’re too poor to post bail.
Face-to-Face Family Visits Return to Some Jails
In-person visits between family members and inmates are starting to make a comeback in some jails, bucking the trend toward long-distance, video-call visitation.
Delaware Corrections Officer Dies in Prison Standoff; Oregon’s Potential Pension Reforms
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Wyoming budget cuts; Alaska’s potential major gas tax hikes; and Texas, Florida legislation targets sanctuary cities.
Case Study: Reducing Recidivism by Training Probationers in Construction
In Northern California, Sacramento County’s Probation Department has an 85 percent job placement success rate.
Program in Tennessee County Aims to Divert Single Moms From Jail
A $50,000 MacArthur Foundation grant will help Campbell County develop a gender-responsive risk and needs assessment for women at high risk of incarceration.
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