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Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to federal, state and local law enforcement on Long Island, N.Y., in April, 2017.

Politics of Criminal Justice

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Election 2024
These Incarcerated People Are Excited for a Woman President
Some people who took our 2024 election survey said Harris represented change. But they were skeptical she’d address their criminal justice concerns.
An illustration shows, from left, an elephant symbolizing Republicans; simplified figures including a person stepping out with vertical bars to their right, crossed by wavy lines suggesting a flag; a woman holding a sign; a donkey symbolizing Democrats; a ballot box; and hints of barbed wire on either side of the drawing. The color scheme of the drawing is in marigold yellow, coral, blue, black and light gray.
An illustration shows, from left, a woman with her arm around a person who is holding a ballot; the word “Republicans”; a person with their arms in the air; a keyhole; a badge with a star on it; a person wearing a red, white and blue hat; a person with their arms out around two people confronting each other; a person speaking through a megaphone; a justice scale; and the words “Democrats” and “Independents.” The color scheme of the drawing is in marigold yellow, coral, red, blue, black and pale yellow.
Election 2024 October 17
‘Trump Remains Very Popular Here’: We Surveyed 54,000 People Behind Bars About the Election
Support for the former president is strong inside prisons and jails — even as his party tries to roll back voting rights for people with felony convictions.
By , and
An illustration shows, from left, a person speaking with a raised fist in a speech bubble; an elephant symbolizing Republicans; a person speaking with an exclamation point in a speech bubble; a hint of barbed wire and a person’s head with a check mark; a person speaking with handcuffs in a speech bubble; a person’s head with “VOTE” in a speech bubble; a donkey symbolizing Democrats; a person with a thumbs-up in a speech bubble; a simplified image of a flag; and a person with medium-length hair speaking with a gavel in a speech bubble. The color scheme of the drawing is in marigold yellow, coral, blue, black, white and light gray.
Election 2024 October 17
What People Behind Bars Really Think About the ‘Cop vs. Felon’ Election
People in prisons and jails weigh in on Harris’ qualifications for president, Trump’s potential sentence and more.
By
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.
By
Silhouettes of about 11 people stand in a line outside. An overpass bridge and parked cars can be seen in the background.
Closing Argument August 24
How a Drop in Border Crossings May Change the Presidential Campaign
The Democratic National Convention sought to address one of the party’s biggest weaknesses with voters.
By
The hand of a person with light-toned skin holds a red, white and blue sticker that reads “Yo voté!” “M’ vote!” “I voted!” and “iamelectionready.”
Election 2024 August 16
FAQ: How The Marshall Project Is Covering the 2024 Election
Learn more about who we are and how we choose what political stories to cover.
By The Marshall Project
Tim Walz, a White man with white hair and glasses, wearing a navy suit jacket and khaki pants, walks outside with two men behind him to his left.
Election 2024 August 7
Tim Walz on Criminal Justice: 5 Things to Know
Where Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, stands on policing, guns, prison reform and other issues.
By and
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a seated man with light-toned skin and short-cropped dark hair, signs a bill that is composed of a high stack of papers. Eight masked people with varying skin tones and genders stand behind him.
Election 2024 August 1
Facing Rollbacks, Criminal Justice Reformers Argue Policies Make People Safer
Advocates are refining their rebuttal to “tough on crime” messaging: Don’t focus on punishment, but on reforms that improve public safety.
By
The cover of News Inside Issue 17. You can download the PDF <a href="https://d63kb4t2ifcex.cloudfront.net/upload/assets/news-inside-issue-17.pdf" target="_blank">here.</a>
News Inside August 1
Drawing Attention
News Inside Issue 17 features the opinions of justice-affected people on Trump’s felonies, and a nonfiction comic about death penalty mitigation.
By
Gov. Michael Dukakis, a White man in a checkered shirt, holds a leaflet that has the words "Vote for George Bush" and "Security" printed on them, among other text that is not visible.
Election 2024 July 31
What It Means to ‘Willie Horton’ a Political Candidate
Donald Trump supporters run their version of the original dog-whistle attack ad against Kamala Harris. Here’s the history.
By
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