Sentencing

Policy

Looking vs. Touching

Is possession of child pornography a crime worthy of years in prison?

Jacob Sullum | 2.12.2014 7:00 AM

Policy

Jacob Sullum in The Washington Post: Is Looking at Child Pornography Tantamount to Abusing Children?

Reason Staff | 2.11.2014 6:37 PM

Politics

Journalists, Politicians More Likely to Overdose on Heroin Than Junkies

Nick Gillespie | 2.6.2014 3:05 PM

Politics

The Rand Paul/Ron Paul Disconnect on Drugs

Brian Doherty | 2.5.2014 3:09 PM

Policy

Recovering From a Punitive Panic

Two encouraging moves toward ameliorating the injustices inflicted by mandatory minimums

Jacob Sullum | 2.5.2014 7:00 AM

Policy

2013 Was a Banner Year for Letting Innocent People Out of Jail

87 were released from prison in 2013 after proving they didn't do it

Scott Shackford | 2.4.2014 4:05 PM

Policy

DOJ Promises More Commutations but Despite 9,000 Petitions Needs Help Finding People to Free

Jacob Sullum | 1.30.2014 6:04 PM

Policy

Executions Taking Longer Under New Drug Formulas

Twice as long

Reason Staff | 1.30.2014 4:30 PM

Policy

Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty for Boston Marathon Bomber

Eric Holder made the call

Reason Staff | 1.30.2014 2:23 PM

Policy

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Major Sentencing Reforms

Jacob Sullum | 1.30.2014 1:31 PM

Politics

Bipartisan Drug Sentencing Reform Legislation Clears Senate Judiciary Committee

Obama didn't mention it at his SOTU, surprise!

Reason Staff | 1.30.2014 12:10 PM

Policy

Supreme Court Lifts Stay on Missouri Execution

Without explanation

Reason Staff | 1.29.2014 6:45 PM

Policy

SCOTUS Makes It Harder to Punish Drug Dealers for Their Customers' Deaths

Jacob Sullum | 1.27.2014 5:08 PM

Policy

Supreme Court Tosses Out Drug Conviction Based on User's Overdose Death

Unanimous ruling that dealer can't be held accountable if drug is a 'contributing' factor, not entirely main reason

Reason Staff | 1.27.2014 1:50 PM

Policy

Mo. Bill Would Allow Firing Squads for Executions

A response to issues with getting the drugs for lethal injections

Reason Staff | 1.17.2014 2:40 PM

Civil Liberties

The Dire Effects of Mandatory Minimum Sentences on American Justice

Brian Doherty | 1.16.2014 5:16 PM

Culture

Beanie Babies Creator Gets Probation for Tax Evasion

No prison time

Reason Staff | 1.14.2014 2:40 PM

Barack Obama

Tonight on The Independents: Obama's Magical Economics, Dennis Rodman's NoKo Meltdown, Non-Violent Life Sentences for Pot, Glenn Reynolds on The New School…Plus Polar Vortex, Statehouse Satanists, and More

Matt Welch | 1.7.2014 8:17 PM

Policy

Steubenville Rape Convict Released

Served less than a year in juvie

Reason Staff | 1.6.2014 4:10 PM

Policy

Man Gets 8 Months in Prison for Slapping Crying Toddler on a Plane

Also used racial slur

Reason Staff | 1.6.2014 4:00 PM

Policy

Pa. Woman Gets 10 Years for Terror Plot

Judge reduced sentence due to her cooperation with investigators

Reason Staff | 1.6.2014 2:20 PM

Politics

Demon Rum and Other Excuses

The year's highlights in blame shifting

Jacob Sullum | 1.1.2014 7:00 AM

Policy

Ohio to Use New Drug Cocktail to Execute Killer

Untried in the United States

Reason Staff | 12.31.2013 6:50 PM

Culture

Seven Pieces of Good News for Freedom in 2013

Highlights from an eventful year.

Ed Krayewski, Jesse Walker, Jim Epstein, J.D. Tuccille, Scott Shackford, and Matthew Feeney | 12.31.2013 10:00 AM

Civil Liberties

NJ Appellate Court Overturns Felony Drug Charge for Woman Serving 10 Year Sentence Over 1.2 Ounces of Cocaine

Prosecutors in NJ not allowed to seek opinion testimony from cops involved in a case

Ed Krayewski | 12.26.2013 6:26 PM

Civil Liberties

American Man Gets Year in Prison in Dubai over Parody Video

Spoof made fun of country's youth culture

Reason Staff | 12.23.2013 3:20 PM

Policy

Obama Frees Clarence Aaron and Seven Other Drug Offenders Sentenced Under Old Crack Law

Jacob Sullum | 12.19.2013 3:57 PM

Culture

Pussy Riot Members Freed from Prison

Three months ahead of scheduled release, which counts as mercy for Russia

Reason Staff | 12.19.2013 3:40 PM

Policy

Obama Commutes Sentences for Eight Drug Convictions

Said they were "unduly harsh"

Reason Staff | 12.19.2013 2:10 PM

Policy

Your Guilty Plea or Your Life

How mandatory minimums punish drug defendants for exercising their right to a trial

Jacob Sullum | 12.16.2013 10:30 AM

Politics

71 Percent Want to Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Non-Violent Offenders

Emily Ekins | 12.13.2013 4:39 PM

Politics

Poll: 71 Percent of Americans Want to Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Non-Violent Offenders in Favor of Discretionary Sentencing by Judges

Emily Ekins | 12.13.2013 4:30 PM

Politics

Judges Hear Blagojevich Sentencing Appeal

Likely last chance to get prison term reduced

Reason Staff | 12.13.2013 3:40 PM

Policy

Jacob Sullum in Forbes: Mandatory Minimums Give Prosecutors the Power to Coerce Guilty Pleas

Reason Staff | 12.13.2013 11:39 AM

Policy

Man Claiming Torture from Chicago Police Freed After 30 Years in Jail

Says he was tormented into confessing to a rape he didn't commit

Reason Staff | 12.11.2013 3:00 PM

World

Maker of Faulty French Breast Implants Sent to Jail

Sentenced to four years

Reason Staff | 12.10.2013 6:30 PM

Politics

Ex-San Diego Mayor Filner Sentenced to Home Confinement

Also probation and fines

Reason Staff | 12.9.2013 3:50 PM

Policy

Why 97% of Federal Drug Offenders Plead Guilty

Jacob Sullum | 12.6.2013 5:05 PM

Civil Liberties

Putin May Free Jailed Oil Tycoon, Pussy Riot Members by End of Year

In an amnesty deal

Reason Staff | 12.4.2013 4:00 PM

Politics

Judging From His Clemency Record, Obama Likes Turkeys 10 Times As Much As People

Jacob Sullum | 11.27.2013 12:08 PM

Policy

Calif. Serial Killer Sentenced to Death

Oldest convict to be put on death row

Reason Staff | 11.22.2013 7:30 PM

Policy

Eric Holder Condemns Mass Incarceration (Again)

Jacob Sullum | 11.22.2013 5:00 PM

War on Drugs

Court Rejects Doctor's Appeal of Pain Pill-Related Conviction

Sentenced to four life terms for overdose deaths of patients

Reason Staff | 11.21.2013 5:10 PM

Policy

The Punishment Is the Crime

Thousands of Americans are serving life sentences for nonviolent offenses.

Jacob Sullum | 11.20.2013 7:00 AM

Policy

Federal Judge Stays Missouri Serial Killer Execution

Hours before scheduled death

Reason Staff | 11.19.2013 7:40 PM

Politics

Freshman Florida Congressman Arrested for Cocaine Possession

Scott Shackford | 11.19.2013 6:30 PM

Policy

Four Texas Women May Be Freed from Prison over Discredited Expert Testimony

Have been in jail from sexual assault case dating back to 1994

Reason Staff | 11.15.2013 4:10 PM