The Point, an editorial page for the social web, telling the story of how policy, politics, and the legal system shape the lives of everyday people in America through a product focused on getting to … the point.
Mass Clemency Is a Necessary Response to Mass Incarceration Nikki Trautman Baszynski Jun 25, 2021 The Point Clemency is a powerful tool for correcting the injustices of the criminal legal system. Governors who have this power should use it to immediately send thousands of people home from prison to their… Read More
States Should Give Temporary Guaranteed Income to People Exiting Incarceration Nikki Trautman Baszynski Jun 15, 2021 The Point Barriers to employment, housing, and basic necessities make stability difficult, if not entirely out of reach, for individuals returning to their community after prison. States can improve public safety and increase postrelease success… Read More
Manhattan’s Next District Attorney Must Reject Extreme Sentencing Nikki Trautman Baszynski Jun 10, 2021 The Point Nearly a fifth of New York’s prison population is serving a life sentence—one of the highest rates in the country. Manhattan’s next district attorney can and should change that by rejecting extreme sentencing. … Read More
Stop Fearmongering About Progressive Prosecutors and Decarceral Policies Nikki Trautman Baszynski Jun 04, 2021 The Point Larry Krasner’s clear win in the Philadelphia District Attorney primary election should have been a wake-up call to journalists who spent weeks breathlessly painting the race as a referendum on progressive prosecutors and… Read More
Manhattan’s Next District Attorney Must End the Prosecution of Sex Work Nikki Trautman Baszynski May 26, 2021 The Point Arrest, prosecution, and incarceration have long been wielded against sex workers, with Black, brown, and LGBTQ sex workers disproportionately bearing the brunt of this abuse. Manhattan’s next district attorney must stop prosecuting offenses… Read More
Eviction Records Should Be Expunged Nikki Trautman Baszynski May 20, 2021 The Point The filing of an eviction—even without merit—can prevent someone from renting a future home, ruin a person’s credit, and even hurt employment and insurance prospects. It is time for government officials to put… Read More
Philadelphia’s Next District Attorney Must Continue to Reject the Failed War on Drugs Nikki Trautman Baszynski May 14, 2021 The Point Since District Attorney Larry Krasner took office, Philadelphia has seen a significant drop in drug prosecutions, focusing attention instead on treatment and evidence-based practices. Whoever wins the Democratic primary must continue down this… Read More
Connecticut Should Give Renters a Right to Counsel for Eviction Hearings Nikki Trautman Baszynski May 07, 2021 The Point One-third of Connecticut’s residents are renters, leaving them vulnerable to eviction and its devastating consequences. Lawmakers can help renters remain in their homes by passing the statewide renters’ right-to-counsel bill. Connecticut should ensure… Read More
Philadelphia’s District Attorney Must Continue the Work to End Mass Supervision Nikki Trautman Baszynski May 06, 2021 The Point On May 18, Philadelphia will choose a Democratic nominee for this year’s district attorney race. While incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner has taken steps to reduce Philadelphia’s probation and parole population, whoever wins… Read More
The Biden Administration Should Not Send Thousands of People Back to Prison Nikki Trautman Baszynski Apr 30, 2021 The Point Last year, thousands of incarcerated people were returned to their families and communities in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons. The Biden administration should reverse the last-minute Trump… Read More
States Should Abolish Juvenile Life Without Parole Nikki Trautman Baszynski Apr 26, 2021 The Point Some states still allow judges to sentence children and adolescents to die in prison. Maryland just became the 25th state to abolish juvenile life-without-parole sentences—the other 25 should follow suit. States should ban… Read More
Maryland Governor Should Sign Bill Giving Renters Access to Counsel During Evictions Nikki Trautman Baszynski Apr 16, 2021 The Point With the passage of HB18 on April 12, 2021, Maryland is positioned to become the first state to provide its renters with attorneys during eviction proceedings. Governor Larry Hogan should sign this bill… Read More
Prosecutors Should Stop Seeking the Death Penalty Nikki Trautman Baszynski Apr 15, 2021 The Point A growing number of Americans oppose the death penalty, but prosecutors—even some who call themselves “progressive”—continue to seek it. All prosecutors should stop pursuing and protecting capital convictions. Prosecutors should end capital punishment: … Read More
States Should Follow New York’s Lead on Restricting Solitary Confinement Nikki Trautman Baszynski Apr 13, 2021 The Point Prisons and jails routinely use prolonged solitary confinement—holding someone in a cell for more than 22 hours a day with no meaningful human contact. New York just passed the HALT Act to limit… Read More
States Should Abolish Technical Violations of Probation and Parole Nikki Trautman Baszynski Apr 09, 2021 The Point “Technical violations” of probation or parole are by definition minor—forgetting to update your address, showing up to a meeting late, or missing a curfew—but often get people locked up. State lawmakers should ban… Read More
Cities Can Fund a Right to Counsel for Eviction Hearings—And They Should Nikki Trautman Baszynski Apr 07, 2021 The Point Legal representation during an eviction hearing significantly improves a person’s chances of remaining in their home. Among other ways, cities can use the funding from federal pandemic relief bills to ensure their residents… Read More
States Should Make Schools Police-Free Molly Greene Apr 05, 2021 The Point Millions of students go to schools with a constant police presence but no readily available counselors, nurses, psychologists, or social workers. States should remove police from schools and shift that funding to professionals… Read More
Local Officials Need to Invest in Violence Interruption Programs Molly Greene Apr 01, 2021 The Point Violence interruption programs rely on community outreach and engagement to stop violence before it starts. Local officials can make their neighborhoods safer by funding community-led violence interruption programs. Cities should fund violence interruption… Read More
States Should Abolish “Felony Murder” Laws Molly Greene Mar 30, 2021 The Point A person who didn’t commit murder shouldn’t be charged with it—but felony murder laws allow prosecutors to do just that. States should repeal these draconian and unjust laws. State legislatures should repeal their… Read More
Oakland’s Plan to Shift Calls Away from Police Should Go Even Further Molly Greene Mar 25, 2021 The Point Oakland plans to shift mental health crisis response from police to a new civilian unit within its fire department. This new pilot—MACRO—should be expanded to further minimize the role of armed police officers… Read More
Governor Cox Should Veto Utah’s Attempt to Roll Back Bail Reform Nikki Trautman Baszynski Mar 23, 2021 The Point Last year, the Utah legislature passed a bill to help decrease the number of people incarcerated simply because they are too poor to buy their freedom. This month, the legislature passed a bill… Read More
Prosecutors Need Conviction Integrity Units That Work Molly Greene Mar 19, 2021 The Point Over the past 32 years, more than 2,500 people have been exonerated—many of whom were convicted because of police or prosecutorial misconduct. Prosecutors have a responsibility to meaningfully review claims of innocence and… Read More
Biden Must Nominate U.S. Attorneys Who Will Implement Needed Criminal Justice Reforms Nikki Trautman Baszynski Mar 17, 2021 The Point President Biden’s decisions about who to nominate as federal prosecutors must reflect his campaign commitment to criminal justice reform—and the changed national focus on progressive prosecution. A broad group of organizations released a… Read More
States Should Not Deprive People in Prison of the Right to Vote Molly Greene Mar 16, 2021 The Point The right to vote is critical to our democracy. States must restore it to incarcerated citizens. States should repeal felony disenfranchisement laws: States must allow incarcerated individuals to vote. Maine and Vermont have… Read More
Give Renters a Right to Counsel for Eviction Hearings Nikki Trautman Baszynski Mar 12, 2021 The Point Cities can keep people housed, employed, and healthy by giving them lawyers to help guide them through eviction proceedings. Cities should establish and fund a right to counsel in eviction proceedings: Cities should… Read More
Houston Must Stop Neglecting Its Rising Jail Population Molly Greene Mar 10, 2021 The Point COVID-19 has spread rapidly through the Harris County Jail, increasing the risk of infection and fatality not just in the jail, but the surrounding community. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Harris County… Read More
Cities Should Repeal “Crime-Free” Housing Laws Molly Greene Mar 08, 2021 The Point Many cities have laws that require landlords to kick people out of their homes if the police are called too many times—even if the calls are the result of domestic violence or racial… Read More
Biden Should Cancel Student Debt Molly Greene Mar 04, 2021 The Point 43 million people face difficulties buying homes, starting businesses, completing their education, or supporting their families because of federal student loans that collectively amount to $1.57 trillion of debt. Biden can get rid… Read More
Safe Injection Sites Are Moving Forward—DOJ Should Get Out of the Way Molly Greene Mar 03, 2021 The Point Safe injection sites are a proven method for reducing overdose deaths, but the Department of Justice has been using a 1986 law that President Joe Biden championed in the Senate to prevent their… Read More
States Should Legalize Marijuana Molly Greene Mar 02, 2021 The Point New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed a bill making New Jersey the 14th state to legalize marijuana. Other states should follow suit. Marijuana shouldn’t be used to lock people up or hold… Read More
America Needs a Civilian Climate Corps Molly Greene Feb 26, 2021 The Point FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps created three million jobs and planted over three billion trees. Biden’s Climate Corps should be even bolder, as we face dire economic and climate crises. Biden’s Civilian Climate Corps… Read More
Prosecutors Must Add Sentencing Review Units to Their Offices Molly Greene Feb 25, 2021 The Point Thousands of people are locked inside prisons serving sentences that would never be imposed today. Prosecutors can help right the wrongs of our past by establishing sentencing review units to review and correct… Read More
Biden Must Revitalize the Bureau of Justice Statistics Nikki Trautman Baszynski Feb 23, 2021 The Point In the Trump administration, criminal justice data was hidden, manipulated, and politicized. If President Biden wants to enact meaningful criminal justice reform, he must fix—and fully fund—the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The Bureau… Read More
State Lawmakers Can Help Create Real Community Safety Molly Greene Feb 22, 2021 The Point States should pass legislation and direct their budgets to programs and services that create real community safety instead of asking law enforcement to respond to problems that armed officers are ill-equipped to solve. … Read More
St. Louis’s Next Mayor Must Expand Use of Non-Police Responders Nikki Trautman Baszynski Feb 19, 2021 The Point A key part of public safety is making sure the right people respond to the right needs. St. Louis’s next mayor can ensure that trained civilian responders, instead of armed police officers, respond… Read More
Stop Using Police for Traffic Stops Anna Kurien Feb 16, 2021 The Point The goal of traffic enforcement is safety. To keep residents safe, cities should shift enforcement to a civilian agency and increase automated enforcement. There are better ways to promote road safety: Cities should… Read More
It’s Time to Put Money in People’s Pockets Molly Greene Feb 12, 2021 The Point Giving people money so that they can meet their basic needs—food, shelter, clothing—is an old idea that is gaining new momentum. Cities should implement guaranteed income programs. Local officials have the power to… Read More
Give Kids Aging Out of the Foster Care System Money To Survive Molly Greene Feb 11, 2021 The Point One of America’s most populous counties is piloting an income guarantee to young adults who age out of the foster care system, providing much-needed support for vulnerable youth transitioning into adulthood. Other cities… Read More
Biden Must Immediately Commute Death Row Nikki Trautman Baszynski Feb 10, 2021 The Point Biden wants to end the death penalty. His first and most important step must be commuting the sentence of every person on federal death row. Biden can take immediate action to end the… Read More
The Senate Should Answer Biden’s Call for Public Interest Judicial Nominees Molly Greene Feb 08, 2021 The Point President Biden is looking to nominate public defenders, civil rights attorneys, and legal aid lawyers to the federal judiciary to offset the current corporate- and prosecutor-heavy bench. Senators should help him do so.… Read More
State Lawmakers Must Pass Bail Reform Now Lindsey Carlson McLendon Feb 04, 2021 The Point Cash bail punishes the poor, keeps jails overcrowded, and destabilizes people and communities. Illinois just passed a bill to end it; other states should follow suit. Illinois has created a blueprint for other… Read More
Cities Should Push For Zero-Fare Transit Sarah Silins Feb 03, 2021 The Point Public transportation is a critical lifeline—it’s how people get to their jobs, doctors, food, and education. Cities should work to make it accessible and available to everyone, and the federal government must support… Read More
California Must Hold Prosecutors’ Group Accountable Emily Wonder Feb 02, 2021 The Point In the wake of The San Francisco Chronicle’s revelation that the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) has misspent $2.88 million in restricted funds, State Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager has called for investigations and hearings… Read More
Rising Jail Populations Require Quick Responses Nikki Trautman Baszynski Feb 01, 2021 The Point Jails across the country are nearing or exceeding pre-pandemic incarceration levels. Government officials—especially judges, sheriffs, and prosecutors—must work quickly to release people inside jails and divert those who are still being booked into… Read More
Irresponsible Journalism Fuels Mass Incarceration Matt Ferner Jan 29, 2021 The Point Irresponsible journalism, including at some of the most respected news outlets in the country, has fueled mass incarceration. It’s time to call out these journalists—the ones who routinely fearmonger, mislead, and act as… Read More
Judges Can Help Stop The Eviction Crisis Jevhon Rivers Jan 28, 2021 The Point: As many as 40 million people in America are at risk of losing their homes. Judges can play a critical role in stopping the ongoing eviction crisis. Judges have the power to keep… Read More
$2000 Checks—This Month And Every Month Seanniece Bamiro Jan 27, 2021 The Point: President Biden and the new Democrat-controlled Congress must provide real relief by sending every person in America a monthly $2,000 survival check until the pandemic ends. One more check is not enough: Instead… Read More
Biden Can Help End The Federal Incarceration Crisis With The Stroke Of A Pen Nikki Trautman Baszynski Jan 26, 2021 The Point: There are thousands of people locked inside federal prisons who don’t need to be there. Through clemency, a singular power and responsibility that the Constitution entrusts to the president, President Biden can return… Read More
