Uncivil Disobedience
Jason Brennan argues that there is no moral distinction between civilians and agents of the state, even in the right to resist injustice.
Criminal Justice
William Barr's Never-Ending War
Trump's nominee for attorney general is apt to encourage his worst instincts on drug policy.
Should We Be Upset If the IRS Has Been 'Gutted'?
A new report from ProPublica whitewashes the IRS, while ignoring the positive benefits of tax evasion.
McConnell Says He Will Bring Criminal Justice Bill to Senate Floor for Vote
After weeks of pressure from the White House and fellow Republicans, Mitch McConnell says he will schedule a vote for the FIRST STEP Act.
Maryland Man Saves a Life, Says D.C. Cops Rewarded Him by Seizing His Car
Benjamin Davis III wasn't issued a ticket or citation. But he says police had his car towed anyway.
It Took a Jury 9 Minutes to Decide a Man Could Legally Blast 'Fuck tha Police' Near an Officer
The deputy said he took issue with the word "fuck" in the song despite using it himself moments earlier.
Human Trafficking Grant Goes to Arrest Suspected Victims in Tucson
A Tucson Weekly investigation finds that federal funds to "fight sex trafficking" are actually perpetuating it.
Trump's Cluelessness Remains His Best Defense Against Charges That He 'Knowingly and Willfully' Violated Campaign Finance Law
If Trump did not recognize hush payments to his (alleged) former mistresses as illegal campaign contributions, he is not criminally culpable.
Video Shows NY Cops Ripping Baby From Screaming Mom's Arms
According to a witness, Jazmine Headley got in trouble for sitting on the floor of a government office because there were no seats available.
Repudiating the 'Dual Sovereignty' Exception to the Double Jeopardy Clause Could Undermine the Federal War on Weed. Oh No!
The Supreme Court seems disinclined to overturn precedents allowing serial prosecutions of the same crime.
Trump Considers Tying Criminal Justice Reforms to Border Wall Funding
The FIRST STEP Act might get shoved into an end-of-year spending bill.
Wayne County Cops Seized Her Car Over $10 Worth of Weed. Now She's Suing.
The lawsuit argues that the excessive penalty violated her Eighth Amendment rights. The Supreme Court is currently considering a similar case.
When Nonviolence Isn't Enough
Does the right to self-defense apply against agents of the state?
California's Republican Party Is Irrelevant. Embracing Criminal Justice Reform Could Help Change That.
Conservatives and moderates don't agree on much, but they do agree on this: The state GOP is dead in the water and needs a new strategy to revive itself.
Garden State Crime Is Down Since New Jersey Ditched Cash Bail
Money is no longer needed to get out of jail. This hasn't resulted in danger to the community.
The Current Posture of the Crime Victims Rights Challenge to Jeffrey Epstein's Plea Deal
In a case I'm working on, Jeffrey Epstein's victims hope to set aside a non-prosecution agreement based on violations of their rights under the Crime Victims' Rights Act.
New York City Wants to Make It Illegal to Send a Sexy Pic Without Affirmative Consent
It's been dubbed "NYC's Anti-Airdrop Dick Pic Law," but the bill is much broader than that.
Mandatory Warrantless Rental Inspections Inspire Seattle Lawsuit
Institute for Justice to city: Show probable cause, guys.
China's Xi Fools Another U.S. President With Promises of a Fentanyl Crackdown
And once again, Trump is distracted from real policy by symbolic brutality.
Stop Ignoring Double Jeopardy
The Supreme Court should reconsider the misbegotten "dual sovereignty" doctrine.
Deputies Confused a Granny's Cotton Candy for Meth. A High Bond Kept Her Jailed For Months.
How an unscientific field test and the bail system stripped a Georgia grandmother of justice.
Betsy DeVos' Title IX Campus Reforms Advance a Liberal Cause
Progressives who oppose them are betraying their own principles
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
L.A. County's New Blue-Wave Sheriff Is No Friend to Criminal Justice Reform
Alex Villanueva openly wants to get rid of constitutional policing advisors and to conceal names of bad deputies from prosecutors.
Help Reason Fight for the Unjustly Imprisoned
We do more criminal justice coverage per capita than any comparable national magazine. Please help us do more.
Neil Gorsuch, Civil Asset Forfeiture, and the Original Meaning of the 14th Amendment
Where does Justice Gorsuch stand on the Privileges or Immunities Clause?
Alabama Police Shot Innocent Man Three Times From the Back, Independent Autopsy Says
Meanwhile, the officers involved can't get their stories straight.
Video Shows Chicago Cop Using Handcuffs to Beat Teen Over the Head
Even if he was resisting arrest, this much force seems unnecessary.
Minneapolis Cops Find a Way to Make a Christmas Tree Racist
The most bigoted tree in Minnesota?
SEC Goes After Cryptocurrency 'Influencers,' Starting With DJ Khaled and Floyd Mayweather: Reason Roundup
Plus: the First Amendment problems with prosecuting Wikileaks and the trans troops ban is dealt another blow.
New Tracks From Meek Mill and Chance the Rapper Tackle Criminal Justice and Trump
Settle in with some headphones and get ready to nod.
Lawsuit Alleges California Cops Stole Weed and Cash During Traffic Stops
Numerous motorists say rogue cops in a small Northern California town ripped them off during bogus traffic stops.
New Orleans D.A. Complains About Community Bail Funds Releasing Low-Level Offenders
Organization helps poor people cover costs to get out of jail before their trials. Why is this a problem?
Has Anti-Racism Become as Harmful as Racism? John McWhorter vs. Nikhil Singh
Watch the Oxford-style debate hosted by the Soho Forum.
'Let's Whoop Some Ass': St. Louis Cops Charged With Beating Undercover Detective Posing as Protester
"It's gonna be a lot of fun beating the hell out of these shitheads once the sun goes down and nobody can tell us apart."
Journalists Create a Database to Track Bad New Jersey Cops
The state doesn't track use-of-force incidents, so NJ.com did its own research.
Putin's Potential Penthouse in Trump Tower Moscow Launches Investigation: Reason Roundup
Plus: CNN fires Marc Lamont Hill for Palestine comments and the link between life expectancy declines, opioid pills, and prohibition.
Christmas Lights Show for Charity? New Jersey Town Wants Homeowners to Pay $2,000 a Night
The mayor claims it's a "public safety" issue.
In Rebuke to Saudis and Trump, Senate Votes to At Least Talk About Pulling U.S. Troops From Yemen: Reason Roundup
Plus: good signs in Supreme Court case on asset forfeiture and Ashley Judd talks prostitution.
8 Years in Prison for Voting Illegally Is Way Too Much
But not according Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Indiana Solicitor General: It's Constitutional to Seize a Car for Driving 5 MPH Over the Speed Limit
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer elicited a shocking response during Wednesday's oral argument in a big civil asset forfeiture case.
Coupling Expungement With Marijuana Legalization in New Jersey Means the Cannabis Industry Can Do Well by Doing Good
Legislators in Trenton plan to address past pot convictions while preventing future ones.
Deputies Ignored Their Mom's Calls for Help. Now the County Is Paying Them for Her Death.
Jessica Ortega repeatedly told deputies that her boyfriend threatened to kill her. She died following their negligence.
Today's Supreme Court Oral Argument in Timbs v. Indiana Suggests Justices are Likely to Apply Excessive Fines Clause to State Asset Forfeitures
The Court seems very likely to rule that the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment applies to state governments, and that at least some asset forfeitures violate the Clause. Potentially a big win for property rights and civil liberties.
Profitable Penalties Imperil Justice
The Supreme Court should make it clear that state forfeitures are constrained by the Excessive Fines Clause.
