Regulate Use of Force
"When you're conditioned to believe that every person...poses a threat to your existence, you simply cannot be expected to build out meaningful relationships."
Militarization of Police
Washington Post Journalist Radley Balko on Civil Rights, Militarized Policing, and the Power of Video
The Washington Post's Radley Balko was a pioneer in reporting on the disastrous consequences of police militarization and the need for criminal justice reform. Now everyone else is catching up.
Tennessee Cops Raid Wrong Home, Point Guns at Naked Woman While Looking for Teen Suspect
Nashville officers tried to smooth things over with groceries. A traumatized Azaria Hines says what she really needs is "a peace of mind."
Secret Service Asked CBP for Helicopters and Spy Planes in Response to White House Protesters
The Secret Service wanted the helicopter to deploy a "fast ropes" commando team if necessary.
Lots of Talk But Much Less Action on Police Reform
Getting government officials to put their packs of enforcers on shorter leashes is the definition of an uphill battle.
After Failing To Quell Unrest, the Feds Will Depart From Portland
President Trump sent federal agents to squash protests, but the situation has continuously escalated.
A SWAT Team Blew Up This Family's Home in Pursuit of a Suspect Who Wasn't Even There
Nor did the suspect live at the residence.
The Feds Are Still the Jackbooted Thugs We Were Warned About
Government agents brutalizing people are in the wrong, whether or not we sympathize with those on the receiving end.
Trump Administration Justifies Federal Police Surge With Fake News
Plus: "learning pods" are an unfair target, COVID-19 reinfections are unlikely, and more...
Rand Paul: It's Time To Demilitarize the Police
The line between peace officer and soldier of war has become far too blurry.
Don't 'Abolish the Police.' Privatize Them.
"A lot of people think that law enforcement must be provided by a [government] monopoly," says economist Edward Stringham. But "there are plenty of private examples of people working to create order and safety in society."
Sen. Brian Schatz Says 'Libertarians Should Be Freaking Out About Portland.' Where Has He Been?
The Hawaii senator fails to fully consider the causes of bad policing.
Department of Homeland Security Reportedly Sending 150 Agents to Chicago in Expansion of Federal Crackdown
Trump and other White House officials say the feds may soon be coming to other major cities as well.
Sending Secret Police To Do Protester Snatch-n-Grabs Is Bad, Mmmkay?
The Reason Roundtable talks Portland, policing, federalism, coronavirus, and the perennially dumb discourse.
Feds Send Outside Agitators To Escalate Conflict in Portland
Plus: How H-1B visa restrictions cost U.S. jobs, a woman sues the British health service over hormone blockers, and more...
ACLU Sues Federal Agents Deployed in Portland
The ACLU of Oregon says it's the first of many lawsuits regarding the Trump administration's deployment of federal law enforcement to Portland.
Homeland Security Acting Like 'An Occupying Army' Says Sen. Wyden, After Federal Agents Shoot Peaceful Portland Protester
Plus: Free press threats, marriage licensing woes, Fiona Apple fights for prisoners, Trump spox talk up masks, and more...
Why Haven't We Seen the Body Cam Footage of Duncan Lemp's Killing?
It's been nearly four months since a Maryland SWAT team killed Duncan Lemp, and there's been no transparency.
To Demilitarize the Police, We Need To Change More Than Just Their Uniforms
The problem isn’t just that cops look like occupying soldiers, it’s that too many think and act like them.
How Police Reform Bills in Congress Compare
Everybody is talking about changing law enforcement, but not all proposals are equally worthy—or serious.
The War on Drugs Drug Spurred America's Current Policing Crisis
Police strategies have changed dramatically in the past few decades—and not because of soaring crime. America's War on Drugs is a prime culprit.
The Libertarian Roots of Police Reform: Q&A with Radley Balko
How to stop police killings and enact real, lasting reforms.
Police Reform Should Match the Needs of Different Communities
Leave people room to experiment with approaches to protecting life, liberty, and property.
We Filmed the Cops. People Changed Their Minds.
Videos of police abuse haven't stopped police brutality. But they've helped build a consensus for police reform.
A Few Days of Riots Can Echo for Many Years
America has survived worse in terms of urban unrest. But that's not necessarily reason for optimism.
Support, Don't 'Dominate,' Protesters Seeking 'Equal Justice Under the Law,' Writes Former Defense Secretary Mattis
Plus: Protest updates, Grindr goes woke, Twitter suspends an account for repeating Trump's words, and more...
Tom Cotton Wants to Double Down on the Authoritarianism That Sparked Riots
Police brutality brought Americans into the streets. What would military force do?
Defense Secretary Mark Esper Contradicts Trump on Using Military To Quell Protests
The president has said he's willing to deploy active-duty military personnel to cities and states that aren't doing enough to crackdown on street violence.
Hong Kong Protesters Stand Up to China's 'Draconian' Takeover
Pro-democracy legislator Charles Mok explains what China's new national security law means for dissidents and the future of the city.
Joe Biden Basically Admits Libertarians Were Right All Along: Cops Shouldn't Have Military Gear
Biden voted for the 1997 bill that created the Pentagon's 1033 program, which allows surplus military gear to be passed along to local cops. It took 23 years, but he finally changed his opinion.
Those Curfews Sure Didn't Work
Plus: George Floyd's death ruled "homicide caused by asphyxia," and more...
America's Terrible Weekend
The Reason Roundtable talks riots, police, protesters, policies, and more.
Trump Urges Governors To 'Dominate' Protestors With More Aggressive Tactics
Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Cotton is asking the military to commit war crimes against American citizens. Trump approves!
Videos Show Police Aggression Against Protesters Across the Country. Here Are Two Ways To Help It Stop.
Plus: the return of the "outside agitator" narrative, Trump can't designate Antifa a terror group, and more...
Nation's Cops Seem Determined To Demonstrate Why People Are Protesting Them in the First Place
Aggressive police tactics are likely to worsen the situation.
The Breonna Taylor Shooting Shows How Reckless Drug War Tactics Lead to Senseless Deaths
At this point, police can hardly be surprised when they are mistaken for armed criminals.
Maryland Man Killed in No-Knock SWAT Raid Was Shot While Asleep, Family Says
Montgomery County police say Duncan Lemp "confronted" a SWAT team executing a search warrant on his family's house. His family says he was shot in bed.
Oakland Uses SWAT Force With Tanks and an Armored Vehicle To Evict Squatting Activists
A group of homeless mothers moved into an Oakland, California, home they didn't own.
Federal Indictment Says Deadly Houston Drug Raid Was Based on Lies From Start to Finish
The Justice Department says Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas were killed in an operation based on a fraudulent warrant triggered by a false report to police.
Cops Destroyed This House To Arrest a Shoplifter. A Federal Court Says Police Don't Have To Pay for the Damage.
Are there any limits to what police can do in pursuit of a suspect? The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals apparently doesn't think so.
'I Still Think They're Heroes,' Houston's Police Chief Says of the Cops Who Killed a Couple During a Fraudulent Drug Raid
While the narcotics officers charged with murder and evidence tampering were bad eggs, Art Acevedo says, their colleagues acted "in good faith."
Iowa Cops Buy an Armored Vehicle With $300,000 in Asset Forfeiture Funds
It's a nasty mix of police militarization and civil asset forfeiture.
Cops Still Love Their Armored Vehicles
Remember concerns about militarized policing? It’s still a big threat to civil liberties and to relations between Americans and law enforcement.
Lawsuit: SWAT Team Shot 12-Year-Old in Kneecap During Raid
The Illinois boy now suffers from severe PTSD and will walk with a limp for the rest of his life, the lawsuit says.
Police Agree To Pay Woman $750,000 After Raiding Her House and Killing Her Dog Over an Unpaid Gas Bill
The case highlights the dangers of using SWAT teams for anything and everything.
Facial Recognition Tech Straight Out of 'Robocop' Could Be a Real Threat to Civil Liberties
As governments and law enforcement agencies rush to incorporate facial recognition tech, California lawmakers have a chance to slam on the brakes.
Minneapolis' Mayor Wants to End 'Warrior' Training That Teaches Cops to Treat Us All Like Threats
The local police union promises to defy him.