Criminal Justice

Protesters hold banners in support of Julian Assange at Belmarsh Prison on May 12, 2022, in London, England.

A Visit to Belmarsh Prison, Where Julian Assange Awaits His Final Appeal Against Extradition to the US A Visit to Belmarsh Prison, Where Julian Assange Awaits His Final Appeal Against Extradition to the US

The Wikileaks founder says he fears his own imprisonment, US government surveillance, and restrictions on the group’s funding have effectively scared off potential whistleblowers....

Jan 2, 2024 / Charles Glass

A person holds drug paraphernalia near the Washington Center building on SW Washington St. in downtown Portland, Ore., on April 4, 2023.

We Need to Modify—Not Trash—Oregon’s Trailblazing Drug Decriminalization Law We Need to Modify—Not Trash—Oregon’s Trailblazing Drug Decriminalization Law

Measure 110 made Oregon the first in country to decriminalize all drugs. The law was poorly implemented and should be changed, not discarded.

Dec 22, 2023 / Column / Sasha Abramsky

Rudy Giuliani, the former personal lawyer for Donald Trump, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman US District Courthouse on December 15, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

The Real Tragedy of Rudy Giuliani The Real Tragedy of Rudy Giuliani

The disgraced former mayor was a racist authoritarian—even back when he was being celebrated by the mainstream media.

Dec 18, 2023 / Jeet Heer

Holly Maguigan stands at a podium smiling, giving a speech.

When Women Fought Back: Holly Maguigan’s Legacy in the Law When Women Fought Back: Holly Maguigan’s Legacy in the Law

Her work forced the law to embrace a feminist conception of danger, threat, and defending yourself and your family.

Dec 14, 2023 / Katherine Franke

Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams, 2021, laughing

Blink and You Missed It: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Was Accused of Sexual Assault—and Nothing Happened Blink and You Missed It: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Was Accused of Sexual Assault—and Nothing Happened

Why the big yawn by the media over this particular allegation against New York’s scandal-surrounded mayor might actually be a sign of mature judgment.

Dec 14, 2023 / Ross Barkan

mural depicting the Australian activist Julian Assange, by street artist Trisha Palma, in the Scampia neighborhood of Naples.

Biden Is Overseeing the Silent Death of the First Amendment Biden Is Overseeing the Silent Death of the First Amendment

By continuing the persecution of Julian Assange, the US government is signaling how little it cares about press freedom.

Dec 8, 2023 / Yanis Varoufakis, Lina Attalah, and John Kiriakou

Protesters hold a banner reading

The Architect of the Adult Survivors Act Talks About Bringing Justice and What’s Next The Architect of the Adult Survivors Act Talks About Bringing Justice and What’s Next

The Adult Survivors Act opened a one-year window for people who suffered sexual abuse to bring civil suits against their abusers—and nearly 3,000 people did so.

Nov 30, 2023 / Joan Walsh

lavette mayes posing outside of her home

How We Ended Cash Bail in Illinois How We Ended Cash Bail in Illinois

Lessons from a successful struggle.

Nov 15, 2023 / Will Tanzman

Unmarried to the Mob

Unmarried to the Mob Unmarried to the Mob

After the ex-wife of a Trump Organization insider talked to prosecutors, she lost her children and her home. But she’s still fighting.

Nov 13, 2023 / Feature / Joan Walsh

A blurred motion shot in a hospital corridor.

How Do You Put a Price on the Loss of Autonomy From Forced Sterilization? How Do You Put a Price on the Loss of Autonomy From Forced Sterilization?

California has created a compensation fund for victims of state-sponsored, non-consensual sterilization, which happened in prisons for decades. But as the deadline looms, many who ...

Nov 9, 2023 / Amy Littlefield

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