Criminal Justice
Marketing Fentanyl as Heroin May Soon Carry Harsh New Penalties
Federal prosecutors didn't need more leverage against drug offenders, but they're going to get it anyway.
One More Word About The Stormy Daniels Affair
Trump's denials of involvement in the Stormy Daniels arrangements may turn out badly for him
Short Circuit: A roundup of recent federal court decisions
Lemurs, scoundrels, and a petulant pedestrian.
No Charges for Wichita Officer Who Killed Innocent, Unarmed Man in 'Swatting'
It's considered "reasonable" for police to kill based on false information.
Three Years After New Mexico Banned Civil Forfeiture, Albuquerque Finally Ends It
Albuquerque tried to ignore strict new state reforms and keep seizing cars, but then it messed with the wrong person.
California Sheriff: Killing Suspects Costs County Less Than Maiming Them
Calculating comments come back to haunt Donny Youngblood as his re-election approaches.
Explaining His Cannabis Conversion, John Boehner Cites a Marijuana Myth
Contrary to what many supporters of legalization seem to think, prisons are not overflowing with pot smokers busted for possession.
Writing Sex Offender Laws Based on Fake Recidivism Numbers Is Rational, Court Says
The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously upholds a law banning sex offenders from public parks.
Now They're Coming for People's Knives. No, Really.
London's got a homicide problem, but leaders insist it's being caused by the tools.
Handing Out Pamphlets Is Not a Crime
A Michigan jury tampering case strikes at the heart of the First Amendment.
ACLU Sues Texas County over Pay-or-Stay Bail System
Magistrates don't consider risk or ability to pay, leaving a system where people are stuck if they're poor.
Backpage Founder's 93 Charges Lack Actual Sex-Trafficking Claims
Indictment reveals money-laundering, conspiracy charges, and a tricky federal law known as the Travel Act.
London Mayor Launches Knife Control Campaign
London's murder numbers now exceed New York's. But the new murders teach old lessons: Drug wars are bad and weapon laws don't stop crime.
If Police Kill Because Citizens Are Afraid, That's a Problem
Fatal shootings in Portland and Brooklyn demonstrate how fear pushes officers to escalate encounters.
Cops Will Use Drones to Monitor Traffic at Coachella
"We want people to come here and have a good time and to feel safe."
Open Season on Russian Oligarchs, Prison Porn Ban Heads to Court, How the Media Got the Pulse Massacre Wrong: Reason Roundup
Plus: YouTube shooter bought and registered gun legally.
Is There a 'Rape Culture' on College Campuses? Watch the Debate.
Journalist Cathy Young faces off against sociologist Michael Kimmel-with opening standup from comedian Dave Smith.
Troubled by Highway Seizures, Kansas Enacts Asset Forfeiture Transparency
Kansas police spend millions in asset forfeiture revenue under vague, lax laws. Now they'll have to open their books.
California Lawmakers Aim to Crack Down on Police Shootings, Open Police Conduct Records
Law enforcement is already resisting.
Court to Cops: Shoot First and Think Later
SCOTUS encourages excessive force by shielding police from liability.
New Backpage Ruling Lays Bare Some of the Lies Undergirding FOSTA
The ruling allows a civil suit against Backpage to proceed for one of the case's three plaintiffs.
The Supreme Court's Continuing Immunity Crusade
A few thoughts on today's summary reversal in Kisela v. Hughes.
Sacramento Sheriff's Dept. SUV Knocks Down Police Abuse Protester, Then Drives Off
This is not how you rebuild those community ties.
Will Stephon Clark's Killing by Police Finally Force Open California Misconduct Investigations?
Lawmakers have tried to counter the powerful law enforcement lobby and failed.
A Wrongful Murder Conviction Cost Him Legal Residency Status. ICE Detains Him Anyway After Decades Imprisoned Unjustly.
A corrupt detective involved in 10 overturned convictions gives ICE an excuse to further harm an innocent man.
Texas Woman Gets 5 Years in Prison for the Crime of Not Realizing She Couldn't Vote
An obsession with election fraud leads to cruel punishments.
Adnan Syed from Serial Is Getting a New Trial. He's One of the Lucky Few.
A high-profile podcast gave his case national attention, but almost all inmates who claim innocence are trapped in obscurity behind bars.
The Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
The (non-existent) "taint" in the evidence Mueller's team has been gathering.
New Mississippi Law Will Stop Courts from Jailing People Who Can't Pay Fines
Scaling back debtor's prisons in a state with one of the country's highest incarceration rates
The 2016 Chicago Homicide Spike - Further Explained
Some additional thoughts about how a 2015 ACLU consent decree with the Chicago Police Department contributed to the 2016 homicide spike--responding to tweets from Professor John Pfaff and to comments from the ACLU.
March for Our Lives Kids Don't Know Just How Safe Schools Are
Students say your right to own a gun conflicts with their right to feel secure.
The 2016 Chicago Homicide Spike - Explained
After an ACLU consent decree with the Chicago Police Department dramatically reduced the number of stop and frisks, homicides significantly increased as a result.
Does the Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel Apply Prior to Indictment?
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concludes binding SCOTUS precedent says "no," but perhaps this view should he reconsidered.
Steven Pinker Wants Enlightenment Now!
Pope Francis is part of the problem, nuclear energy is part of the solution, and libertarians need to admit that not every regulation will turn us into Venezuela.
She Was Caught Shoplifting When She Was 12. Why Is There a Warrant Out for Her Arrest 25 Years Later?
The now working mother says the fine is bizarre, unfair.
Omnibus Bill Chips Away at Citizens' Abilities to Protect Data from Government Snoops Across the World
The CLOUD Act improves data sharing with governments by reducing oversight.
FOSTA Passes Senate, Making Prostitution Ads a Federal Crime Against Objections from DOJ and Trafficking Victims
The measure will "make it harder, not easier, to root out and prosecute sex traffickers," said Sen. Ron Wyden, one of only two senators to vote no on FOSTA.
Minneapolis Cop Finally Charged for Killing Unarmed Woman Who Merely Surprised Him Last Summer
County attorney blames uncooperative police for the delay.
Los Angeles Reverses Course on Police Body Camera Secrecy
A new plan would release footage in cases of officer-involved shootings and use of force.
