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An offender stands before Judge Denise Navarre Cubbon in a juvenile court in Ohio.

Criminal Justice Reform

Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor, via Associated Press
Analysis
10 Stories That Defined The Marshall Project’s First 10 Years
For a decade, our journalism has driven change and delivered information to millions, including people behind bars. We’re just getting started.
A photo collage of an illustrated black dog against a green backdrop is at the top left, an illustration of a yellow silhouette of a person walking on barbed wire with the word "violation" below the figure is at the top center, a photo of a magazine cover with a prison facility on the cover is on the top right. Beneath the top row, a photo of a mom and her three children playing in their living room appears on the left, and six different people's faces are in a collage on the right. A collage with the words "Inside Story" is on the bottom right, and a collage of cut out words such as "Criminal" "Con" "Felon" "Convict" "Offender" is on the bottom left.
Feature September 26
The Future of Prisons?
Inspired by Germany, South Carolina let prisoners design their own units, write house rules and settle their own disputes. Then came politics.
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Inside Story September 24
Inside Story Season 2 to Premiere Soon
The video series, developed by formerly incarcerated people, about the criminal justice system returns for another season.
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Vice President Kamala Harris, an Indian and Black woman with medium skin tone wearing a black suit, looks to the left while holding a microphone. She is sitting on a chair in front of three American flags.
Election 2024 July 21
5 Things to Know About Kamala Harris’ Criminal Justice Record
Here’s where Vice President Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor, stands on important criminal justice issues.
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Gov. Jeff Landry, a White man wearing a blue suit and red tie, speaking at a podium in January 2024.
Closing Argument March 9
These States Are Once Again Embracing ‘Tough-on-Crime’ Laws
Louisiana is one of several states passing punitive measures in response to public fears.
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A poster of a Black barber adjusting the head of a Black boy, wearing a cape while he sits on a chair.
Cleveland June 5, 2023
Don’t ‘Punish Them More.’ Effort Grows to Ease Job Barriers After Prison Release
Nearly 2,000 formerly incarcerated people return to Cleveland each year with few job prospects. Some lawmakers want to change that.
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A Black man, wearing a gray beanie and brown puffer jacket, sits in front of a touch screen monitor at a voting booth. He looks at the screen together with his daughter, who is wearing glasses, a floral shirt and pink jean jacket.
Closing Argument March 4, 2023
Crime Dominates Voters’ Minds and Politicians’ Tongues
Chicago’s mayoral runoff and other spring elections in cities such as Denver and Akron, Ohio, will hinge largely on crime and public safety issues.
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A black and white photograph shows a large electronic billboard with a closeup of an eye at the front of a store in New York.
Analysis February 27, 2023
What the Panic Over Shoplifting Reveals About American Crime Policy
Lawmakers consider bills to crack down on people ripping off retailers, even as some stores walk back claims about a growing theft problem.
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News July 6, 2022
New Orleans Battled Mass Incarceration. Then Came the Backlash Over Violent Crime.
After decades of a “lock them up” approach, voters put progressives in key criminal justice posts. Now a rise in violent crime is their toughest challenge yet.
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An illustration shows segments of barbed wire overlapping the silhouettes of three people in blue and orange. Overlaying the silhouettes are hands and fists held up in the air.
Inside Out February 3, 2022
Prosecutors Who Want to Curb Mass Incarceration Hit a Roadblock: Tough-on-Crime Lawmakers
In an age-old battle over local control, some legislators seek to wrest power from prosecutors who aim to curb mass incarceration
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