criminal justice reform

A year ago, as the coronavirus began to spread across Maryland, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby stopped prosecuting drug possession, prostitution, minor traffic violations and other low-level offenses, a move aimed at curbing COVID-19’s spread behind bars. That shift — repeated by prosecutors in many other cities — didn’t just reduce jail populations. In Baltimore, nearly all categories of...

Virginia lawmakers agreed on a bill that would automatically expunge nine different misdemeanor charges after seven years and a clean record.

Booking photos taken by police when a person is arrested are often made public, but some experts say releasing someone’s mug shot can undermine the presumption of innocence, perpetuate racial stereotypes and leave an indelible stain on a person’s life

As volunteer groups that work with prisoners face enormous challenges, blocked from entering facilities due to COVID-19 restrictions, FailSafe-ERA is a Northern Virginia prison ministry promising to redouble its efforts, motivated by the death of the founder’s own son who was waiting for his chance to leave jail.

A group has a mission to bring hope to offenders at a local jail, but COVID-19 restrictions make it very difficult. Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey introduces us to some people trying harder than ever to help these isolated inmates.

Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reports on priorities as Virginia’s General Assembly convenes.

President-elect Joe Biden made criminal justice reform a major campaign promise. But presidential power is limited in its ability to overhaul the country’s sprawling prison network. PBS NewsHour’s political reporter Candice Norwood joined LX News to explain some of the challenges a Biden administration could face reforming the U.S. criminal justice system.

In many states across the country, people with felony convictions are prohibited from voting, or only allowed to vote under certain conditions, even after they’ve served their sentence. Jay Jordan, who served time in prison as a young man and is currently the Director for Californians for Safety and Justice, explains how limiting their rights hurts more than just former...

American imprisons more people than any other country in the world. And we imprison a larger percentage of our Black population than South Africa did during apartheid. Do you want this to change? With Election Day around the corner, the ball’s in your court.

Just days before he was supposed to start playing professional basketball overseas, Aswad Thomas was shot twice in his back, ending his career. Today, he is managing director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, and working to mobilize other crime victims to use their votes this November to push for services like trauma recovery centers and criminal justice reforms.

Alice Johnson, who had her lifetime prison sentence commuted by President Donald Trump, gave a passionate speech about criminal justice reform.

A Virginia Senate committee has approved legislation that would establish an alert system to dispatch mental health providers along with police to help stabilize people in crisis situations

Virginia lawmakers plan to take up dozens of criminal justice reforms during a special legislative session this week, but one proposal in particular is expected to spark an intense battle: a push to change a law that allows police to charge people with felony assault even if the arresting officers aren’t seriously hurt

A Michigan Judge has refused to release a Black 15-year-old girl who was incarcerated after failing to do her homework online, saying that the girl is benefiting from the juvenile detention center. Joshua Rovner of The Sentencing Project says youth of color are four times as likely as white youth to be detained or committed. He joined LX News to...

Cafe Momentum is more than just a great Dallas restaurant — it’s a place where teens coming out of the juvenile justice system are given a second chance. During a 12-month paid internship program created by Cafe Momentum founder Chad Houser, the teens are taught life and job skills and made to feel part of a team — sometimes for...

Roc Nation’s philanthropy arm, Team Roc, filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Corrections earlier this year on behalf of over 150 inmates in the state’s Parchman prison in response to conditions described as “barbaric.” Attorney Jessica Rice, who is working with Team Roc, explains why this case is important in Mississippi and details the long history of...

Americans overwhelmingly want clear standards for police on when officers may use force and consequences imposed on officers who do so excessively

Gov. Ralph Northam signed a series of bills into law that reform the current criminal justice system in Virginia. He also proposed two amendments focused on marijuana charges and eligibility for parole. One of the new laws states that anyone who has a suspended license for unpaid fees or fines will have it reinstated. There will no longer be a…