Department of Justice
How Drug Courts Work: Balancing Punishment and Treatment
A drug court moves a criminal case onto a treatment track. A judge works with a team of lawyers and treatment professionals to supervise the participant’s…
Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal justice reform is the effort to change how police, courts, prisons, and supervision work, and to change which conduct the law punishes. Reform can come from legislatures, courts, voters, and agencies, and people disagree about its goals and methods. Supporters and critics each point to public safety, fairness, and cost to make their cases.
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October 9last updated
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The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Criminal Justice Reform
Mental Health and Substance Use
The History, Science, and Politics Behind Marijuana’s Schedule I Status
For a state-licensed medical marijuana business, the April 28, 2026 rule does more than place its medical marijuana in Schedule III, a category whose usual legal…
Bail Reform
Bail Reform: Are We Making Our Communities Safer or More Dangerous?
At the heart of the American criminal justice system lie two foundational principles: the presumption that an individual is innocent until proven guilty and the constitutional…
Bail Reform
Bail Rights: How Wealth Affects Who Stays in Jail Before Trial
Bail is money or a bond paid to a court so a person charged with a crime can leave jail until trial. Someone who cannot pay…
Topics in Criminal Justice Reform
Police and pretrial
Police Reform covers changes to how police operate and answer for their conduct. Bail Reform covers changes to how courts decide who waits for trial in jail.
Punishment and alternatives
Sentencing Reform covers changes to how long and how severely people are punished. Alternatives to Incarceration covers ways to hold people accountable without jail or prison.
Drug laws
Decriminalization Efforts covers reducing criminal penalties for certain conduct. Cannabis Policy covers how governments treat marijuana.
All Articles on Criminal Justice Reform
Understanding Sentencing Guidelines vs. Individualized Sentencing: A Guide to Federal Practice
When a federal judge sits down to sentence someone convicted of a crime, they face one of the most complex decisions in the American…
Two Paths Through Justice: When America Chooses Punishment vs. Rehabilitation
When someone gets arrested in America, their journey through the justice system can take one of two very different paths. The traditional route leads…
The Sentencing Divide: Mandatory Minimums vs. Judicial Discretion in American Courts
Mandatory minimums limit judicial discretion, while charges, legal exceptions and release rules shape how federal and state courts determine prison sentences.
Getting Out of Jail: Your Guide to Bail and Personal Recognizance
The moments after arrest can feel overwhelming and uncertain. But knowing your rights and options can help you navigate what comes next. Once accused…
Cruel and Unusual Punishment vs Excessive Fines and Bail: Your Eighth Amendment Shield
The Eighth Amendment limits bail, fines, forfeitures and punishment. Its separate legal tests explain when government action crosses the constitutional line.