The Clean Slate Act's Record-Sealing Provisions Go Further Than Cory Booker's Marijuana Justice Act
The bill applies to all federal marijuana offenders, and it creates a process for sealing records of other nonviolent offenses.
Sentencing
U.S. Prisoners Have Lost a Combined 20,000 Years of Life to False Convictions
Annual exoneration report shows growth in amount of time served and increasing levels of official misconduct.
Paul Manafort Sentenced to Nearly Four Additional Years in Federal Prison Just as New York Files New Charges
Double jeopardy or a way of circumventing a potential Trump pardon? Or both?
Here Is What Paul Manafort Was Convicted of Doing
The former Trump campaign chairman faces four years in prison, and possibly 10 more, for lying to lenders and the U.S. government.
Please Don't Help the Alabama Authorities Catch This Escaped Drug Dealer
Dyron Rashad Primus is serving 15 years for synthetic marijuana charges. That's absurd.
Rather Than Running for President, Maybe Joe Biden Should Just Launch an Apology Tour
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the former vice president acknowledges regrets about his role in the drug war and mass incarcerations.
The Number of Men in Federal Prison for Viewing or Sharing Child Pornography Has Nearly Septupled Since 2004
Most are serving mandatory minimums, usually for crimes that did not involve assault or sexual abuse.
Hello, FIRST STEP Act! Goodbye, Jeff Sessions! The Year in Criminal Justice Reform
2018 was a mixed bag, but that means there was still a lot of good news.
Former Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
Cohen blames Trump for sending him down a "path of darkness"
Texas is Trying to Execute a Man for a Murder He Didn't Commit
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied a recommendation to relieve him of execution.
Rapper Meek Mill Is Attempting a 1-Million-Person Jail Break
Some people don't belong behind bars. This celebrity-launched criminal justice reform group wants to free them.
A Mom Gets in Trouble for Being a Sex Offender Even Though She Wasn't Convicted of a Sex Crime
When Tessah Mitchell attempted to register her children for day care, a crime from 18 years ago caught up with her.
Florida Judge Sentences Corrupt Cops to Prison, Slams Prosecution for "Slap on the Wrist"
Former Biscayne Park Officers Charlie Dayoub and Raul Fernandez are going to prison after pinning burglaries on innocent black men.
California Reforms Murder Laws to Require Defendants to Actually Play a Role in the Killing
Hundreds may see their sentences overturned or shortened.
20 Years in Prison for Florida Man Who Swiped $600 Worth of Cigarettes
He has prior felony convictions, but 20 years still seems harsh.
Donald Trump Should Stick it to Jeff Sessions and the 'Deep State' by Pardoning Reality Winner
The woman who leaked a report showing Russian attempts to infiltrate voting systems gets the longest sentence ever imposed for her offense.
Man Faces 30 Years in Prison on Child Porn Charges for Taking Sexy Photos of 17-Year-Old Girlfriend When He was 20
Since Ohio's age of consent is 16, it was legal for Edward Marrero to have sex but not to sext.
He Was Assaulted by Three Teens at Work, But He's Going to Prison for Defending Himself
Gaps in Connecticut's self-defense law lead to 18-month sentence.
Reality Winner Accepts Harsh 5-Year Sentence for Leaking Russian Hacking Report
Would she have gotten a better deal if she hadn't been denied bail?
Is Criminal Justice Reform Leaving Small and Rural Communities Behind?
A new report shows that the recent trend of reducing prison populations is heavily an urban phenomenon.
Trump Should Hurt Sessions by Helping Drug Offenders
Commutations for people serving absurdly long sentences would be a great new way to torture the attorney general.
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.
Discovery of Police Corruption Freed Dozens of Imprisoned Americans in 2017
Government misconduct a big driver of exonerations last year.
Report: Imprisoning Drug Users Doesn't Stop Drug Use or Prevent Overdoses
Somebody tell the president.
Judge Reduces Woman's Prison Sentence Because She Got Sterilized, but It Was Totally Her 'Choice'
Paternalistic nudging in action
Here Are 5 Criminal Justice Reform Measures That Americans Say They Support
A new poll says voters want change. They can get it if they truly want it.
The 28 States Where a Little Pot Can Still Send You to Jail
Tomorrow New Hampshire becomes the 22nd state to eliminate that possibility.
Child Sex-Trafficking Victim Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Child Sex-Trafficking
Hope Zeferjohn's role was limited to chatting with the "victim"-who was never actually trafficked-on Facebook.
Gov. Cuomo Wants a New Hate Crime Law. Would Police Use It to Suppress Protests?
Enhanced sentences for rioting against a "protected class"? In two states, that now includes law enforcement.
Trump Wants to Arrest His Way Out of the Opioid Overdose Crisis
The president lacks subtlety or substance over a chronic public health problem-go figure.
Federal Judge Notes Good Done by Gay Escort Site, Sentences Founder to Six Months in Prison
The law must be followed, even if breaking the law actually makes people safer.
Jeff Sessions Wants More Mandatory Minimums, Less Justice
The attorney general is determined to reverse the recent trend toward more judicious use of severe penalties.
More Evidence That Eric Holder's Charging Memo Helped Drug Offenders
It looks like the policy Jeff Sessions rescinded did have a significant impact on the sentences received by nonviolent, low-level defendants.
Read Jeff Sessions' Utterly Illogical Defense of Tough Drug Sentences
The attorney general says there are no low-level, nonviolent drug offenders in federal prison.
Federal Prosecutors Say They Never See Low-Level Drug Offenders
Defending the DOJ's new, harsher charging policy, assistant U.S. attorneys say they only prosecute high-level offenders.
How Many Drug Offenders Benefited From the Holder Memo That Sessions Rescinded?
The impact of the new charging policy was not as big as the DOJ implied.
Jeff Sessions Is a Glutton for Punishment
The attorney general wants prosecutors to maximize penalties for drug offenders, regardless of the threat they pose.
California Senate Passes Bill Easing Up on Some Drug Sentencing
If successful, state would stop piling on more punishment for prior convictions.
Florida Lawmakers Impose Harsh New Mandatory Minimums for Fentanyl
The Sunshine State ratchets up the drug war.
Appeals Court Rejects 'Shockingly High' 19-Year Sentence for Child Porn Collection
The 2nd Circuit says the recommended prison term was "substantively unreasonable."
Florida Man Gets Insanely Harsh 100-Year Sentence for Possessing Child Pornography
The judge thinks committing a crime and looking at pictures of it are basically the same thing.
Elected Florida Prosecutor Tries to Stop Using the Death Penalty, but Governor Won't Have It
A cop was killed, so there will be no debate about morality of the system.