“There are few elements in American society that are more determinative of what happens in criminal justice policy than what you all put on the air,” Carroll Bogert of the Marshall Project said.

“There's a ton of context in criminal justice which is getting lost, in my opinion, as a result of that need for urgency,” in TV news, said Walter Katz, vice president of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures with a 17-year tenure as a public defender.

Facial recognition technology and other AI is a threat to democracy, “Coded Bias” filmmaker Shalini Kantayya and Center for Democracy & Technology experts say.

The leak of the Supreme Court’s draft abortion ruling was unprecedented. Now, Supreme Court reporters think the beat is changing.

80% of the Supreme Court Bar are white males. For better coverage, journalists should interview other lawyers — and historians.

Police shooting stories usually feature a hero and a villain. An Insider series made the behavioral healthcare system the villain.

At the University of Chicago Crime Lab, researchers explore ways to keep at-risk kids out of crime – and partner with schools to put theory into practice.

U.S. is an outlier in how many women it imprisons. Many are abuse survivors languishing in a criminal justice system built for men.

While homicides spiked in the U.S. during the 2020 pandemic, they didn’t increase in other countries. Are guns, “de-policing” or is cynicism about policing to blame?

As the nation wrestles with ways to change its criminal justice system, reporters need to keep one eye on the streets and the other on the legislature. Tips for finding sources and data on the beat.

Some states are trying to curb the use of misdemeanor fines that hurt the poorest and fuel racial inequality. Is your state among them?

A researcher who has spent much of her career exploring the connection – or lack thereof – between immigration and crime calls for coverage that reflects the facts.

A leading criminologist examines six theories that could explain the abrupt change in U.S. crime during the pandemic – and knocks down several myths

Gangs in the U.S. have transformed from “play groups to problem groups.” But much of what we “know” about them is wrong – from their true numbers to how long members stick around. A sociologist explains.

A top advocate of police reform says U.S. needs a major rethinking of policing strategies to reduce violence and end racial disparities.

When New York City instituted changes to bail laws, the public pushed back strongly. What does it mean for similar efforts across the country?

The Supremes get the most attention, but the federal courts offer a chance to break news, avoid spin, build sources – plus much more.

Crime has become a top issue in local elections after a steep rise in violent crime in the past year. While property crime is down, homicides in big cities are up 30%. A panel of experts explains why — and what can be done about it.

Experts decry systemic racism in the treatment of opioid addiction. More Black patients have to line up to get methadone. White Americans are more likely to get buprenorphine prescribed from the privacy of a doctor’s office.

A person experiencing a heart attack is treated with respect by society. A person experiencing addiction generally isn’t. Do we need a culture shift?

In Quincy, Mass., police knock on doors of drug poisoning victims to help them get treatment – not to arrest them. The architect of the program explains why.

How will prison administrators and judges respond to First Step Act.

Former public defender describes reforms to a cash bail system that still dominates most courts.

Do the media over-emphasize mass shootings? And how should they be counted and tracked?

In a California courtroom, the judge, prosecutor and defense attorney work to keep offenders out of jail – and often cheer them in court.

Whether covering local cops or big investigations, the criminal justice beat is ripe for stories – and ever changing.

Minority communities have long distrusted police and their heavy-handed techniques. Can that distrust be eased?

A researcher describes how the nation’s massive misdemeanor system traps the innocent and makes America more unequal.

While advances such as facial recognition technology can help police do their jobs, they also create barriers for criminal defendants.

California leads the nation in providing schooling for those in prison or just out of it. Can it work in other states?

When it comes to criminal justice reform, what happens in California definitely might not stay in California.

Dr. Garen Wintemute saw violence up close in a hospital emergency department. He’s now working to combat it.

Learn how to use The Washington Post’s database that catalogs fatal shootings by law enforcement.

State law governs what is – and isn’t – considered a hate crime. Journalists need to know the law when reporting on hateful acts.