Law Enforcement Leaders Release Agenda Calling for Trump Administration to End 'Unnecessary Incarceration'
Current and former prosecutors and police chiefs say "today's crime policies...are simply ineffective in preserving public safety."
Criminal Justice
Protests Over Alleged Rape by French Police Turn Violent
An initial police investigation found the rape of a 22-year-old was 'accidental.'
Trump's Executive Orders on Crime are More of the Same, Just More Intense Rhetoric, Says Harvey Silverglate
Trump's orders are "draconian" but Obama gets too much credit for too little actual criminal justice reform, according to famed civil liberties attorney.
3 Reasons Trump Is Wrong to Oppose Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Civil asset forfeiture reform is an idea that's time has come, in Texas and elsewhere, whether Donald Trump is ready or not.
What Was Rand Paul Thinking in Voting for Jeff Sessions? That the A.G. Agrees With President Trump (Updated)
Senator and staff explain the puzzle of opposing Loretta Lynch, supporting Jeff Sessions, and threatening to filibuster Elliott Abrams
Ready for a Federal 'Blue Lives Matter' Law?
Trump releases executive orders calling for more federal action on crime-fighting, police protections.
Is Trump a 'Fascist, Loofa-Faced, Shit-Gibbon' for Opposing Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform? (New Reason Podcast)
"The police don't have to even charge you with a crime to seize your stuff."
Georgia Bill Would Require Universities to Hand Over Rape Investigations to the Police
Supporters of the bill say current rules infringe on students' due process rights.
How a Heartwarming 'Hero Flight Attendant' Meme Helps Donald Trump Deport People
A viral tale of Alaska Airlines staff saving a sex-trafficked teen turns out to be propaganda for federal immigration enforcement.
Trump Does Not Know What Civil Forfeiture Is, but He Likes It
The president agrees there should be no restraint on a form of legalized theft he clearly does not understand.
The Sessions Debacle, the Travel Ban SNAFU, and Trump's Residency Between Your Ears: Matt Welch on Red Eye
Watch Fox News at 3 a.m. for some unkind words about Elizabeth Warren, the new attorney general, and people with cracked iPhones
Jeff Sessions, Fan of the Drug War and Asset Forfeiture, Confirmed as Attorney General
Sen. Rand Paul votes aye with rest of GOP.
The Fight for Criminal Justice Reform is Moving to the States
New initiatives by criminal justice groups will target state-level reform, where 86 percent of U.S. prisoners are held.
Get Acquitted on Gun Possession Charges. Get Sent To Prison for Over 3 Years Anyway.
That happened to Wisconsin man Damien Payne, because he was on parole.
Gov. Christie Helps N.J. Police Keep Property Seizure Info Secretive
Vetoes legislation requiring better reporting of how law enforcement gets its hands on people's stuff.
Your Government at Work: Trying to Prosecute Restaurateur for Tweeting Photo of Underage Kids Who Tried to Buy Beer [UPDATE: Acquittal!]
Why is government mad? The kids were sent by cops to entrap him into selling them the beer.
Trump Says U.S. Murder Rate at Highest Level in 45 Years. That's Not Even Close to Being True
Even with the murder rate ticking upwards over the past two years, we are still at a level that's less than half of the peak murder rate over the past 45 years.
Will Your Old Emails Finally Get Fourth Amendment Protections?
The 'Email Privacy Act' is back, but the Senate is still a barrier.
Updated! Meet the Libertarian-Leaning GOP Texas State Senator[s] Whose Career[s] Donald Trump Wants To Destroy
Konni Burton is leading a coalition to reform civil-asset forfeiture abuses. So naturally the president is against her.
No Super Bowl Sex-Trafficking Hordes in Houston
Where were all the Super Bowl 2017 sex-traffickers? Living only in activist and law-enforcement imaginations, it seems.
The Law Is an Ass, but this Georgia Sheriff Who Arrested His Ex-Wife Is a Total Asshole
Claimed she and another women defamed him by calling him "POS" on Facebook.
The NYPD's Transparency Policies Make No Sense
Officer Richard Haste's departmental trial for the killing of teenager Ramarley Graham was open to the public, but records of the trial are not.
Killer Who Blamed Marijuana Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder
A Denver man who shot his wife after eating cannabis candy agrees to a sentence of 25 to 30 years.
Border Patrol Union Ousts Pro-Reform Chief For One Of Their Own
The union opposed Mark Morgan's efforts to increase transparency, accountability, and clearer guidelines on use of force by Border Patrol agents.
Terrorism and Liberty in the Trump Era
Terrorism is only a real threat if it frightens us into destroying our liberties.
Trump, Terrorism, and Freedom: New at Reason
"I tend to err on the side of security, I must tell you."
In Bowling Green 'Massacre,' FBI Agents Foiled an FBI Terror Plot
A 2011 "terrorist plot" in Kentucky is oft used to warn against Muslim refugees. But the only terrorists in this case were manufactured by the FBI.
Prof Screams at the NYPD Because They Didn't Beat Up 'Nazi' Gavin McInnes
'It's not up to these students to kick the ass of a neo-nazi! They don't have to raise their fist! They were taught to be peaceful! Fuck you!'
San Bernardino Deputy Threatens to 'Create' Charges Against Man Videotaping Him
"I'll create something. Do you understand? You'll go to jail," deputy tells citizen.
Here's That Time Jeff Sessions Wanted to Execute Drug Dealers
"I don't think that sounds like something I would normally say," says the guy who definitely said that.
Get Ready for the 'Office for Victims of Crimes Committed by Removable Aliens'
President Trump orders new government entities to keep track of everything from petty crimes to 'honor killings' committed by undocumented immigrants.
NYPD is Developing an Algorithm to Measure Police-Community Relations
'Sentiment meter' would help law enforcement understand where and how to improve cooperation with the public.
Texas Sought Banned Death Penalty Drugs From Overseas Party Dealers
In the future, President Trump's lifelong fanaticism for capital punishment could make such shady deals unnecessary.
This Inmate Received Clemency from Obama. He Still Might Die in Prison
On his last day in office, Obama commuted the sentences of 330 inmates. For one of those prisoners, it was a bitter day.
Trump Is Wrong About Crime in Chicago (and His Voters Are Wrong About Crime Everywhere Else Too)
Trump voters overwhelmingly believe crime is getting worse, even though it's far better than it used to be. The president is only feeding that misconception.
Teen Throws Paper Airplane in Class. He Was Arrested and Faces 30 Days in Jail.
Police don't belong in schools.
Trump's Sanctuary City Funding Threat Protects Police Money
Law enforcement representatives had worried about loss of grants.
Trump's Chicago Crime Slams: Political Posturing, Federal Overreach, or Legit Assistance?
Mayor and president use their bully pulpits to kvetch at each other. Does it even mean anything?
In Sentencing, Tough Is Not Necessarily Smart
Trump should not take his criminal justice cues from his attorney general.
Why Are Cops Putting Kids in Cuffs?
Federal funding, zero tolerance, and lack of choice encourage the creeping criminalization of student misbehavior.
College Students Meet to Have Sex, But a Poorly-Timed Touch Gets the Male in Trouble with Title IX
Michigan State University accused Nathan of pushing Melanie, something even Melanie says he didn't do.
