Sarah Lustbader Sarah Lustbader Sarah Lustbader, senior legal counsel, was previously senior program associate at the Vera Institute of Justice and a criminal defense attorney at The Bronx Defenders. @SarahLustbader
Louisiana Prosecutors Try To Pull Cases From a Black Judge Who Criticized Discrimination Sarah Lustbader
The First Step Act freed people. Now prosecutors are trying to lock some of them up again. Sarah Lustbader
The First Step Act Freed People. Now Prosecutors Are Trying To Lock Some Of Them Up Again. Sarah Lustbader
The federal government offered four arguments for reinstating the death penalty. They all fail. Sarah Lustbader
Stevens’s views evolved over time. Scalia called it ‘arrogance,’ but it was the opposite. Sarah Lustbader
Blue Bell listeria outbreak killed three people, but only the teenage prankster accused of licking a carton will face charges Sarah Lustbader
What if Justice Roberts gave criminal defendants do-overs like he did for the Trump administration? Sarah Lustbader
Corrupt cops, lazy lawyers, and cowardly politicians: Kevin Cooper’s case exemplifies three and a half decades of systemic failures Sarah Lustbader
In Alabama, departing sheriffs destroy property, deplete funds, and (usually) face no consequences Sarah Lustbader
Spotlight: Departing Alabama Sheriffs Deplete Funds and (Usually) Face No Consequences Sarah Lustbader
Spotlight: De Blasio—The Circumstances of Layleen Polanco’s Death Shouldn’t Be So Perplexing Sarah Lustbader
Bill de Blasio seems perplexed about circumstances that led to a trans woman’s death at Rikers Island. He shouldn’t be. Sarah Lustbader
When saving lives is illegal, something is wrong with the law. When humanitarians are prosecuted, something is wrong with law enforcement. Sarah Lustbader
Spotlight: Prosecuting Lifesavers Exposes Deep Problems With Laws and Their Enforcement Sarah Lustbader
Spotlight: Incarcerated Women Helped Draft New York Law to Free Domestic Violence Survivors Sarah Lustbader
Spotlight: Neighborhood Crime Apps Stoke Fears, Reinforce Racist Stereotypes, And Don’t Prevent Crime Sarah Lustbader
Neighborhood crime apps stoke fears, reinforce racist stereotypes, and trick people into performing police surveillance Sarah Lustbader
Baltimore police union’s tweet tells cops to ‘protect each other’ and reminds them that some children are ‘criminals’ Sarah Lustbader
U.S. drug companies won’t help execute people, so the DOJ will allow prisons to buy from other countries Sarah Lustbader
Good news: NYC prosecutors are keeping track of unreliable cops. Bad news: The list is secret. Sarah Lustbader
Eradicating bias from jury selection is only half the battle: What if the jury pool is skewed? Sarah Lustbader
Julián Castro’s Immigration Proposal Challenges Distinction Between ‘Deserving’ and ‘Undeserving’, a Little Sarah Lustbader
Representation by Those Affected by the Criminal Legal System Is Increasingly Important Sarah Lustbader
If you think the war on drugs is over, just look to the most recent drug task force corruption scandal Sarah Lustbader
Candidates Can Pledge to Appoint Public Defenders to the Bench To Show They Are Serious about Mass Incarceration Sarah Lustbader
Legal but Unspeakable Arkansas lawmaker wants to make it a felony to identify makers of its execution drugs. Sarah Lustbader
Let Them Eat Steak: The Disgraceful Press Coverage of Holiday Meals in Federal Prisons Sarah Lustbader
Should Public Agents Resist Injustice Within the Justice System? If Border Patrol agents should refuse to tear gas children at the border, should prosecutors, police, and judges not refuse some of their duties too? Sarah Lustbader
Colorado Votes on Abolishing Its Clause Authorizing Slavery People laughed when Kanye called for abolishing the "trap door" in the 13th Amendment. Now Coloradans are voting on theirs. Sarah Lustbader
Common Bails Out a Stranger What it’s like to take part in New York City’s Mass Bailout. Sarah Lustbader
Kavanaugh debate, on the left and the right, shows inability to see outside the criminal justice system Sarah Lustbader
Boston DA Nominee Embraces Next Frontier of Criminal Justice Reforms: Declining Cases Many reform advocates believe that declining to prosecute cases is an effective way for prosecutors to shrink the system and break cycles of incarceration that disproportionately ensnare people of color. Sarah Lustbader