The Appeal Podcast: Reexamining the Science of Shaken Baby Syndrome
With Appeal staff reporter Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg.
Adam H. Johnson Jan 23, 2020
‘Weird News,’ ‘Dumb Criminals’ and the Media’s Monetization of Human Misery
There’s a cynical local-to-national news pipeline designed to mock the powerless under the guise of “odd” news stories.
Adam H. Johnson Jan 16, 2020
The Appeal Podcast: Substandard Healthcare in American Prisons
With Taylor Elizabeth Eldridge, a Type Investigations Ida B. Wells Fellow and Appeal contributor.
How the Media Can Stigmatize Parents and Separate Families
Stories that uncritically blame child welfare agencies for the deaths of children at the hands of their parents can contribute to increases in child removals—with devastating consequences for families.
Elizabeth Brico Jan 15, 2020
The Media’s Misguided Backlash Against Criminal Justice Reforms in D.C. and New York
Many liberals support reform in theory. But when unpopular decisions need to be made, it’s back to the 1990s “Tough on Crime” playbook.
Adam H. Johnson Jan 09, 2020
Illinois pardons are a reminder of the scale of marijuana arrests, past and present
Vaidya Gullapalli Jan 03, 2020
Inspired By Her Own Experiences, Baltimore Woman Publishes Magazine Giving Voice To The Incarcerated
Tia Hamilton’s State v. Us focuses closely on the criminal legal system, especially as it applies to people of color, who are statistically overrepresented in the carceral system.
Elizabeth Brico Jan 02, 2020
Misplaced Outrage Over Kentucky Governor’s Pardons Harms Criminal Justice Reform
Sensational headlines may score short-term partisan points, but long term they contribute to a toxic culture of Willie Hortonism.
The Damage Done By Foster Care Systems
Vaidya Gullapalli Dec 18, 2019
How to Rethink Drug Dealing and Punishment
Criminalizing those who sell drugs by enacting more punitive laws may lead to more dangerous drug use and will disproportionately affect communities of color, a new report suggests.
Zachary A. Siegel Dec 17, 2019
Sexual Assault Survivors Who Want Restorative Justice Have Limited Options
Alternative approaches to rehabilitation and healing still face resistance, even though the criminal legal system’s reliance on punishment has done little to move the needle on addressing sexual violence.
Tyler Kingkade Dec 10, 2019
Prosecutors Can Right Past Wrongs—If Only The System Lets Them
More prosecutors are trying to root out wrongful convictions and restore trust in the legal system. They’re meeting opposition on all sides.
Trump Makes The Most Important Anti-Hunger Program Harder To Access For People Leaving Prison
Vaidya Gullapalli Dec 05, 2019
People Of Color Receive The Harshest Punishments, And The Disparities Are Growing
Vaidya Gullapalli Dec 04, 2019
The Crisis Of Murdered And Missing Indigenous Women And Why Tribes Need The Power To Address It
Vaidya Gullapalli Dec 02, 2019
Community Policing Is Not the Answer
Investing billions of government dollars into programs that embed police in Black communities will not reduce police violence, nor repair years of injustice.
There’s A Pattern Of Police Unions Attacking People Who Call For Criminal Justice Reform, Especially When They Are Black
A Philadelphia police union’s recent attack on Players Coalition co-founder Malcolm Jenkins matches rhetorical tactics that officers’ groups are using in the face of outspoken support for criminal justice reforms.
Why Are Prosecutors Still Seeking to Execute People Who Have Innocence Claims and Untested DNA?
In these last two months of 2019, one man has been executed and two others are facing execution despite claims that they can show they don’t belong on death row.
Michael Bloomberg Should Apologize For More Than Stop-and-Frisk, Critics Say
The billionaire and former New York City mayor defended the NYPD’s surveillance of Muslim Americans and mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun possession, among other policies.
Aaron Morrison Nov 21, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: States Turn To Nitrogen Gas For Executions, Despite Serious Concerns
With Appeal staff reporter Lauren Gill
Adam H. Johnson Nov 14, 2019
Harmless Error: Explained
Gabe Newland Nov 11, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: When Criminal Justice Reform Preserves The Status Quo
With Civil Rights Corps founder Alec Karakatsanis
Adam H. Johnson Nov 07, 2019
The U.S. Has No “Right To Be Forgotten.” But One News Outlet Has Been Weighing The Costs Of The Internet’s Long Memory.
Vaidya Gullapalli Nov 06, 2019
Tuesday’s Election Boosts Voting Rights for People With Past Convictions
A claimed victory in Kentucky and wins in Virginia mean hundreds of thousands of people could have their right to vote restored.
Beto O’Rourke’s Criminal Justice Plan Reflects Pressure On Democrats To Tackle Mass Incarceration
Vaidya Gullapalli Nov 01, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: When Police Officers Double as Prosecutors
With Appeal contributors Julia Rock and Harry August
Adam H. Johnson Oct 31, 2019
Tiffany Cabán Joins Working Families Party To Recruit Progressive Prosecutors, Sheriffs
Cabán, the career public defender who lost a primary bid for district attorney in Queens County, New York, will help the political party build nationwide support in criminal justice elections.
Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg Releases Criminal Justice Reform Plan
The South Bend, Indiana, mayor says his plan—which includes cutting the incarcerated population by half—will "rebalance" a system that is "unfair and racist in many ways."
Aaron Morrison Oct 26, 2019
Using Nitrogen Gas For Executions Is Untested and Poorly Understood. Three States Plan to Do It Anyway.
Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama have all authorized the practice in capital punishment. So what happens now?
Lauren Gill Oct 25, 2019
Millions of Children Lose Their Parents To Incarceration. That Doesn’t Have To Happen.
Prosecutors can help implement policies that are better for families and communities.
The Appeal Podcast: A Lack of Basic Rights for Incarcerated Workers
With journalist Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard
A Federal Death Sentence Ignores The Opposition Of ‘The Navajo People Who Value Life’
Vaidya Gullapalli Oct 18, 2019
Formerly Incarcerated People Will Host A Presidential Town Hall This Month
Vaidya Gullapalli Oct 08, 2019
Two Major Victories For A Public Health Approach To The Overdose Crisis
Vaidya Gullapalli Oct 07, 2019
U.S. Prisoners on Death Row Endure Permanent Solitary Confinement Before Execution
With Appeal staff reporter Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg
Adam H. Johnson Oct 03, 2019
‘Medical Bonds’ Save Money For Jails. Their Use Shows How Often We Jail People Who Need Care
Vaidya Gullapalli Oct 02, 2019
What Kamala Harris’s Take on Policing Gets Wrong
Rather than encouraging more faith in the police, true reform requires dismantling the system that empowers them.
Courts Are Intervening to Dismantle Unjust Cash Bail Systems Across the U.S.
A series of victories for advocates reflects a shift in the ‘popular narrative’ around bail.
Kira Lerner Sep 26, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: The War on Drugs Continues In Family Court
With Miriam Mack and Elizabeth Tuttle Newman of The Bronx Defenders
In Third Debate, Democratic Presidential Candidates Condemn Mass Incarceration Without Naming Its Main Driver
Candidates offered reforms for people accused of low-level, nonviolent offenses, but more than half of U.S. prisoners have committed a violent crime.
Aaron Morrison Sep 13, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: The Rise of Registries
With Appeal contributor Guy Hamilton-Smith and Elizabeth Letourneau of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Adam H. Johnson Sep 12, 2019
To End the School-to-Prison Pipeline, Invest in Resources for Students
Vaidya Gullapalli Sep 09, 2019
When Americans Are Silent Spectators
Vaidya Gullapalli Aug 26, 2019
Sanders And Warren Just Released the Most Decarceral Criminal Justice Platforms Ever
The 2020 presidential candidates recently unveiled national criminal justice agendas that reimagine public safety and punishment.
Aaron Morrison Aug 23, 2019
Epstein’s Death Reveals ‘Culture of Indifference’ in Jails
The same culture exists across the country, experts say—with devastating effects.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Aug 12, 2019
For New York’s Police Union, Any Accountability For Eric Garner’s Death Is Too Much
Vaidya Gullapalli Aug 05, 2019
Mayors Running for President Take Heat on Police Brutality and Racial Profiling During Debates
Current and former mayors were questioned about how they managed their police departments.
Aaron Morrison Aug 01, 2019
Drug Treatment Is Reaching More Prisons and Jails
Recent legal victories have spurred counties and states to provide medication-assisted treatment to prisoners struggling with substance use.
JB Nicholas Jul 31, 2019
Prison Systems Can Respect the Religious Rights of Muslims. State Government Should Ensure They Do.
Vaidya Gullapalli Jul 29, 2019
When Cops Lie, Should Prosecutors Rely Upon Their Testimony At Trial?
In California, Texas and Florida, advocates sent letters to district attorneys, demanding that they refuse to work with officers with histories of misconduct.
States Are Blocking Courtroom Recording. But Reform Requires Transparency.
Sarah Lustbader Jul 23, 2019
Spotlight: Cory Booker’s New Sentencing Reform Bill Is About Redemption
Vaidya Gullapalli Jul 19, 2019
Media Frame: 5 Common Tactics Used to Discredit Reform D.A.s
The backlash is underway against a recent wave of prosecutors who champion criminal justice reform. Here are some methods of attack.
The Power of Peremptory Strikes
As public servants, prosecutors should be willing to put their cases before anyone in the communities they serve.
Vida B. Johnson Jul 18, 2019
Media Frame: Fentanyl Panic Is Worsening the Overdose Crisis
Sensational and false news reports about the drug are pushing lawmakers to enact harmful policies.
Media Frame: A ‘War on Cops’ Narrative Without Evidence
ABC News claims anti-police violence is on the rise but offers no data.
Spotlight: The Citizenship Question, the Supreme Court, and Who Deserves a Do-Over
Sarah Lustbader Jun 28, 2019
Spotlight: The Supreme Court on Curtis Flowers—Right for the Wrong Reasons
Sarah Lustbader Jun 27, 2019
Spotlight: Presidential Candidates—Pay Attention to Poverty and All of Its Drivers
Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 26, 2019
Media Frame: Time to Ban Ride-Along Police TV
Reality shows like ‘The First 48,’ ‘Live PD,’ and ‘Cops’ are interfering in legal cases, exploiting people of color, and threatening lives.
Adam H. Johnson Jun 24, 2019
Spotlight: When Police Spread Racism and Hate Online, It Says Something About How They Work
Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 19, 2019
Spotlight: Departing Alabama Sheriffs Deplete Funds and (Usually) Face No Consequences
Sarah Lustbader Jun 18, 2019
Spotlight: Supporting Solitary for Manafort Means Supporting It for Everyone
Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 05, 2019
Spotlight: Neighborhood Crime Apps Stoke Fears, Reinforce Racist Stereotypes, And Don’t Prevent Crime
Sarah Lustbader Jun 04, 2019
Spotlight: In A Study of Cops’ Facebook Accounts, 1 in 5 Had Posted Racist, Violent Content
Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 03, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: Policing Public Health
With Leo Beletsky, Appeal contributor and Associate Professor of Law and Health Sciences at Northeastern University.
Adam H. Johnson Apr 25, 2019
The Push to End ‘Punishment Fever’ Against People With HIV
Advocates say laws that land people with HIV on the sex offender registry are outdated and dangerous.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Apr 11, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: The Risks of Risk Assessment
With Hannah Sassaman and Matt Henry
Adam H. Johnson Apr 04, 2019
I Worked As a Bail Bond Agent. Here’s What I Learned.
Low-income women are fueling bail industry profits—and getting harmed in the process.
A Mother Grapples With an Adoption that Led to Deaths
Tammy Scheurich, who lost three biological children in the Hart family crash last year, tells her story for the first time.
Roxanna Asgarian Feb 26, 2019
Prison Tech Company Is Questioned for Retaining ‘Voice Prints’ of People Presumed Innocent
Defense attorneys say they were unaware of the practice and are unclear on how they can expunge the data of nonconvicted clients.
Corizon, The Prison Healthcare Giant, Stumbles Again
The company recently lost its contract with Arizona after allegations of serious—and sometimes fatal—medical neglect that have echoes across the country.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Feb 08, 2019
Prisons Across the U.S. Are Quietly Building Databases of Incarcerated People’s Voice Prints
The technology also allows authorities to mine call databases and cross-reference the voices of individuals prisoners have spoken with.
New Study Finds Body Cameras Aren’t Objective Witnesses
People who view body cam footage of an incident are less likely to attribute blame to a police officer than those who see the same incident through the lens of a dashboard camera.
Nicole Wetsman Jan 29, 2019
‘The Sixth Amendment Doesn’t Shut Down When the Government Does’
Federal defenders say the shutdown is hurting poor people stuck in jail.
Kira Lerner Jan 24, 2019
Justice in America: Public Defenders on the Front Lines
Josie and Clint talk with Jon Rapping, the founder and president of Gideon’s Promise.
Announcing Season 2 of ‘Justice in America’
Join Josie Duffy Rice and Clint Smith for the most important discussions on criminal justice.
Editors Jan 15, 2019
The Appeal Podcast: The Power of Sheriffs
With Appeal contributor Jessica Pishko.
Adam H. Johnson Jan 10, 2019
The Power of Sheriffs: Explained
Jessica Pishko Jan 04, 2019
Caging Kids Is An American Tradition
Trump didn’t start it, but we can end it.
Ethan Brown Jan 03, 2019
The Appeal’s Favorite Stories of 2018
Our staff picks 12 stories worth reading (or rereading) before the new year.
Dec 27, 2018
The Appeal Podcast: Black Lives Matter and Racism in the Criminal System
With Angela J. Davis, Appeal contributor and professor of law at American University's Washington College of Law.
Adam H. Johnson Dec 06, 2018
California Governor Jerry Brown is Fighting Trump With Pardons. Will Other Governors Follow Suit?
The departing governor has chosen to pardon immigrants whose past criminal offenses put them in danger of deportation.
Melissa Gira Grant Nov 29, 2018
The Appeal Podcast: The Pseudoscience behind Forensic Science
With Jessica Brand, Legal Director at The Justice Collaborative and Appeal contributor.
The Appeal Podcast: Real Reform vs. Faux Reform
With Appeal senior staff reporter, and co-host of the Justice in America podcast, Josie Duffy Rice.
Adam H. Johnson Nov 15, 2018
How Tuesday’s Sheriff Elections Dealt a Blow to ICE
Local allies of the Trump administration fought challengers over immigration policy.
Daniel Nichanian Nov 08, 2018
The Appeal Podcast: Criminalizing Trans Lives
With Appeal writer Aviva Stahl and trans rights activist Ceyenne Doroshow.
Billionaire Pushes Marsy’s Law To Victory in Six States, Despite Concerns That It Threatens Defendants’ Rights
Victims’ rights campaign spent more than $70 million nationwide, with more than half of that spent in Florida.
Melissa Gira Grant Nov 07, 2018
Your Essential Criminal Justice Guide to Election Night
From sheriffs to bail to marijuana, and more—here’s what you need to know.
Daniel Nichanian Nov 05, 2018
The Appeal Podcast: Prison Strikes Are the Front Line Against Mass Incarceration
With Appeal staff reporter Raven Rakia.
Adam H. Johnson Oct 25, 2018
The Appeal Podcast: The Cruelty of Felony Murder Laws
With Appeal contributor Katie Rose Quandt.
Adam H. Johnson Oct 04, 2018
The Appeal Podcast: Why Police Accountability is as Elusive as Ever
With Appeal staff reporter George Joseph.
Adam H. Johnson Sep 27, 2018
Justice in America Episode 10: A Conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates
Josie and Clint talk with the author and journalist about race, politics, and mass incarceration.
The Incalculable Costs of Mass Incarceration
Prisons carry enormous, perhaps impossible to measure social costs—but when assessing the system fiscally, reformers should focus on staffing salaries instead of the number of incarcerated people.
John Pfaff Sep 20, 2018
Justice in America Episode 9: How Democrats and Republicans Created Mass Incarceration
Josie and Clint talk with Elizabeth Hinton, Associate Professor of History and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University.
Safe Injection Sites Are On the Way. But Will Prosecutions Follow?
As the federal government vows to pursue ‘swift and aggressive action’ against the sites, experts weigh in on what’s likely to happen next.
Maura Ewing Sep 13, 2018