Syracuse School Board Elections Heat Up Over Police Debate Student activists pushing for police-free schools in Syracuse, New York, are backing Twiggy Billue, a candidate in the June 22 primary who wants to follow school districts across the country that have cut ties with cops. Rachel M. Cohen Jun 11, 2021
Norfolk Elects Prosecutor Who Says Crime Is a “Symptom of Structural Racism” Virginia’s primaries on Tuesday saw Ramin Fatehi clinch the Democratic nomination for Commonwealth Attorney in Norfolk, the site of a major showdown over reform in 2019. He is unchallenged in November. Daniel Nichanian Jun 10, 2021
Your Guide to Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania’s Elections Today From a historic DA race to judge candidates against mass incarceration, these elections could reshape the criminal legal system. Daniel Nichanian May 18, 2021
Pittsburgh Voters May Ban Solitary Confinement in Jail Today A ballot initiative in Allegheny County would limit how long incarcerated people can be held in isolation. Allegations of abuse in the local jail led activists to push for the reform. Ahmari Anthony
The Battle for D.A. Is Testing Philadelphia’s Commitment to Reform Larry Krasner ended an era of tough-on-crime policies in the DA’s office and sparked a nationwide movement. Now voters will decide whether to continue on this path. Maura Ewing May 17, 2021
Philly’s Judge Elections This Month Have the Power To Change the City Activists are backing judge candidates in Philadelphia’s May 18 primary who want to reduce the use of cash bail, avoid long sentences, and bolster tenant protections. Maura Ewing May 06, 2021
How Pittsburgh Activists Are Seizing a Rare Chance To Reshape Courts Grassroots groups are backing a slate of judge candidates in the May 18 primary. If elected, they could curb bail, high sentences, and other drivers of mass incarceration. Sam Mellins Apr 29, 2021
San Antonio Election Will Test Police Union Power This Saturday If Proposition B passes, police would no longer have the upper hand at the bargaining table. Advocates say union contracts have allowed police brutality to go unpunished. James Russell Apr 26, 2021
This Public Defender Has Fought the Manhattan D.A.’s Office. Now She Wants To Lead It. Eliza Orlins, who is running in the June 22 primary, lays out how she would overhaul the "prosecutorial-industrial complex." Daniel Nichanian Apr 19, 2021
This Election Could Transform Policing in Omaha Racial justice protests rocked the city last year. Activists see next week’s mayoral race as a chance to take a new path. Anoa Changa Mar 30, 2021
‘Life Sentences Are Death Sentences.’ How This D.A. Candidate Wants to Decarcerate Manhattan Dan Quart makes the case for addressing the "systemic breakdown" in New York’s prisons and jails with shorter sentences, ending cash bail, and other reforms. Daniel Nichanian Mar 11, 2021
Philadelphia D.A. Race Tests Larry Krasner’s Sweeping Probation Reforms The population of people under supervision dropped during Krasner’s first term, but his opponent in the May primary wants to roll back his changes. Maura Ewing Mar 08, 2021
Policing and Public Safety at Odds in St. Louis Mayoral Race Instead of expanding the "arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate model," advocates want the next mayor to address the root causes of violence. Meg O'Connor Feb 26, 2021
BLM Activist Shakes Up Sheriff Race in County Known for Deadly Jails After 30 jail deaths in 16 years, the sheriff election in Erie County, New York, could force a reckoning. Raina Lipsitz Feb 04, 2021
Let Civilians Run for Sheriff Again, New California Bill Proposes The measure may pave the way for more sheriff candidates who want to challenge mass incarceration, but are currently banned from running. Katie Jane Fernelius Feb 01, 2021
New D.A. Commits to Fixing Georgia’s ‘Backdoor to Incarceration’ The new DA of Athens wants to bring down Georgia’s sky-high probation rate. She also announced an end to marijuana prosecutions and the death penalty. Katie Jane Fernelius Jan 11, 2021
How Ohio’s Racial Justice Movement Won Big at the Ballot Box Years of grassroots organizing helped overhaul the criminal legal systems in Cincinnati and Columbus this November. Activists are already looking ahead. Anoa Changa Dec 15, 2020
How Immigrant Communities Beat Back ICE and Helped Flip Georgia Now these organizers are tackling the January runoffs for the U.S. Senate. Sonam Vashi Dec 10, 2020
Newly Elected Prosecutors Are Challenging the Death Penalty Two more anti-death penalty DAs were elected last week, and the new Los Angeles DA confirmed he would review past sentences. Daniel Nichanian Dec 09, 2020
School Board Elections Are Confronting the School-to-Prison Pipeline In Prince George’s County, Maryland, a push to remove armed police from schools could hinge on the outcome of local school board races. Rachel M. Cohen Oct 23, 2020
