We focus on developing policies to shrink the justice system’s footprint, improve public health and safety, and promote equity and accountability.
People march for the third day since the release of the grand jury report on the death of Breonna Taylor on September 26, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Getty/Michael M. Santiago)
What We're Doing
Ending mass incarceration
Our work is centered around developing and supporting policies that will end unjust punishments and reduce the social and economic harms of mass incarceration, which have disproportionately devastated Black people and other communities of color.
21st century policing
We are working to advance measures that will increase police transparency and accountability, overhaul harmful police practices, and prioritize community-based solutions to public safety.
The war on drugs
We are working to drastically reduce the criminalization of drugs in America while restoring communities that have been most affected by harsh drug enforcement measures.
Second chances
We advocate for policy options that remove obstacles and barriers for people affected by the criminal justice system while simultaneously highlighting the leadership of affected people in the reform movement.
The Criminal Justice Reform team collaborates with a number of justice reform partners at the national, state, and local levels to help build a more progressive justice system.
3 Ways the Biden Administration Can Give Second Chances to Justice-Impacted College Students
The Biden administration should improve policies around admissions, financial aid, and housing to ensure that people with criminal records have fair opportunities to pursue a college education.
Preventing and Removing Barriers to Housing Security for People With Criminal Convictions
Policymakers must take long-overdue action to undo intentionally harmful housing policies that discriminate against people with criminal records and perpetuate racial discrimination.
Advancing Gender Equity for Justice-Impacted Women in the Aftermath of COVID-19
Justice reform measures can help ensure that women with a criminal record are given a fair chance at quality job opportunities, and these reforms are needed now more than ever in light of the pandemic’s devastating impact on women.
5 Discussions That Shaped the Justice Reform Movement in 2020
While more must be done to shrink the footprint of the U.S. criminal justice system, the national dialogue around reform during summer 2020 has inspired transformative ideas and tangible policies that can be built on moving forward.
Qualified Immunity and the Bivens Doctrines Explained
Americans’ civil liberties are in danger if Congress does not ensure that ordinary people can hold state and federal officials accountable for wrongdoing.
Violent Crime Rates Declined in 10 Jurisdictions Following Comprehensive Police Reform
Policymakers may have concerns that comprehensive police reform would increase violent crime, but evidence from 10 jurisdictions runs counter to such a relationship.
