Political Report Newsletter The Appeal: Political Report’s newsletter, written by Daniel Nichanian, casts a light on the local politics of mass incarceration and criminal justice reform. It focuses on elections, policies and decisions to reveal the political choices sustaining mass incarceration, and on alternatives that call those choices into question. Sign up for the newsletter here. You can also find The Political Report, a vertical of The Appeal that contains articles and stories, interactive tools, and ongoing series with which to follow these issues, here.
Two Mayoral Elections May Shape Policing Next Week The Appeal: Political Report’s April 2 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
Efforts to Abolish the Death Penalty Triumph in the South for the First Time The Appeal: Political Report’s March 25 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
Debates Around Criminal Justice Reform Take Center Stage in a Slate of Red States The Appeal: Political Report’s March 11 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
Mandatory Minimum Reform Derails in Virginia but Legislature Tackles Other Bills The Appeal: Political Report’s March 4 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
Cash Bail, Death Penatly, Pot: A 12-hour Span Brings Reform Milestones The Appeal: Political Report’s February 25 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
Conflicts over Prosecution and Policing Ramp Up in California The Appeal: Political Report’s February 18 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
In New York, Local Elections Heat Up, Amid New Moves Against Criminalizing Sex Work The Appeal: Political Report’s February 11 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
Lawmakers Address the Size of Policing, the Death Penalty, Sex Work The Appeal: Political Report’s Feb. 4 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
2021 Brings Movement Against the Death Penalty and for Voting Rights in States The Appeal: Political Report’s January 28 newsletter. Daniel Nichanian
D.C. Adopts a “Second Look” Law, and More Local Races Loom on 2021 Horizon The Appeal: Political Report’s January 21 newsletter Daniel Nichanian
California Legislature Passes Series of Reforms, and Prosecutors Roll Out New Policies Also today: Cooperation with ICE is at stake in Louisiana's October elections. Daniel Nichanian
Federal Judge Rebukes the Willie Horton Strategy Also today: Michigan advocates push for expungement reform Daniel Nichanian
Illinois Banned a Prized ICE Program. Why Are So Few Blue States Doing the Same? Also today: How an attorney general candidate wants to reform criminal justice Daniel Nichanian
Joe Arpaio Is Running for Sheriff, Again Also today: A Q&A with Jim Hingeley, a longtime public defender who is running for prosecutor to fight “family separation” Daniel Nichanian
Reform Prosecutors Respond to U.S. Attorney General, Announce New Drug Policies Also today: Can Louisiana continue reducing its incarceration rate? Daniel Nichanian
Prosecutor Sends Staff to Prison, U.S. Attorney General Attacks Reform DAs Also today: Colorado organizers prepare for the 2020 legislative session Daniel Nichanian
Challengers Defeat Two Virginia Prosecutors, Hint at Reform Coalition Also today: Colorado's Democratic governor opposed banning ICE contracts Daniel Nichanian
Virginia’s Primaries Could Overhaul Prosecution, and Three States Reform Their Drug Laws Illinois is legalizing marijuana, while Colorado and Oklahoma confront drug possession. Daniel Nichanian
Big Week for Reform: States Abolish the Death Penalty, Expand Voting Rights Spotlight on Colorado, Nevada, and New Hampshire Daniel Nichanian
Pittsburgh’s Punitive DA Wins Primary. Reformer Ousts the Philly Sheriff. Also today: Montana, North Dakota, and Washington State adopt reforms. Daniel Nichanian
Pennsylvania Primaries Are a Week Away Also today: What is sheriffs' role toward the opioid crisis? Daniel Nichanian
Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders and Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap Discuss Prison Voting In voting rights special, we also bring you the latest on rights restoration reforms nationwide Daniel Nichanian
Illinois Reform Part of a Wave of Challenges to Age Cutoff of Youth Justice Also today: Criminal justice reform bills advance in Montana, Oklahoma, and elsewhere Daniel Nichanian
New York’s DA Elections Will Shape Prosecutorial Practices, and a Virginia Candidate Discusses His Platform Also today: Officials announce criminal justice reforms in Texas, Virginia, Utah Daniel Nichanian
New Jersey’s Sheriff’s Elections Take Shape, While a Key New York Race Goes Uncontested Also today: Key legislative developments from Virginia, South Dakota, and Iowa Daniel Nichanian
Durham Connects Transportation and Criminal Justice Reform, New York Tackles Discovery and Bail Also today: An interview with a candidate for DA in Pittsburgh Daniel Nichanian, Joshua Vaughn
DA Elections Take Shape in Pennsylvania, and Boston DA Announces New Reforms Also today: The Political Report revisits efforts to reform rights restoration in Mississippi Daniel Nichanian
A Nationwide Push for Expungement Reform, and New Marijuana Policies in the Twin Cities Also today: The Political Report launches a new series on the powers of sheriffs Daniel Nichanian
Delaware Attorney General Issues Reforms, and States Move to Halt the Death Penalty Also today: Jacksonville, Florida Prepares to vote for Sheriff Daniel Nichanian
Stage Is Set for 2019 Mississippi DA Elections, and a Hawaii Voting Rights Proposal Stalls Also today: an interview with Shani Curry Mitchell, candidate for Rochester District Attorney Daniel Nichanian
Vermont Reformers Target Life Imprisonment, and a North Carolina Sheriff Restricts Ties with ICE Also today: A review of legislative developments in Indiana, New York, and Utah Daniel Nichanian
States Consider Death Penalty Repeal, Virginia Candidate Explains How She Would Fight Mass Incarceration, and More Also today: Study measures impact of bail reform in Philadelphia Daniel Nichanian
North Carolina Sheriff Restricts Ties with ICE, but Colorado Sheriff Strengthens Them Also today: Houston prosecutor’s bid to hire more prosecutors falls short Daniel Nichanian
Prosecutors announce new pot policies, & Massachusetts organizers push to expand voting rights Daniel Nichanian
Jacksonville Sheriff Candidate Discusses Police Oversight, Northampton County DA Race Takes Shape, and More Daniel Nichanian
Advocates’ Case for Equity in Marijuana Legalization, a Conversation about Policing in Jacksonville, and More Daniel Nichanian
California Reforms Go into Effect, Anne Arundel’s ICE Contracts Come to an End, and more Daniel Nichanian
New Mexico Bill Would Eradicate Felony Disenfranchisement, Arkansas Activists Take on 287(g), and More Daniel Nichanian
Prosecutors and Sheriffs Elected in 2018 Take Office, and Plenty Will Be Elected in 2019, Too Daniel Nichanian
What Pennsylvania’s DA Association Stands for, Spotlight on Disenfranchisement in Nevada, and More Daniel Nichanian
North Carolina’s largest counties quit ICE program, what it means to run as a nonpolitical prosecutor, and more Daniel Nichanian
Punitive turn looms on Florida court, New Jersey limits ICE cooperation while postponing some decisions, and more Daniel Nichanian
How Medicaid expansion & criminal justice reform intersected, spotlight on disenfranchisement in Mississippi, and more Daniel Nichanian
Four states could legalize marijuana, and other initiatives on the ballot next month Daniel Nichanian
New California laws will help thousands have old convictions vacated, expunged, or reduced Daniel Nichanian
David Clarke’s chief deputy ousted in Milwaukee, two states debate marijuana, and more Daniel Nichanian
A transformative moment in St. Louis County, and Wisconsin elections around the corner Daniel Nichanian
The Ferguson protests are resonating in St. Louis County’s Aug. 7 elections, and more Daniel Nichanian
As the governor reforms sheriff payments, all eyes on the legislature and on elections in Etowah and Morgan counties Daniel Nichanian