MLK 2023
The Moral Arc of the Universe Bends Toward Justice Dear Friends, On Monday, we celebrate the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s a legacy dedicated to peace and the pursuit of racial justice. One way to meaningfully honor Dr. King is through acts of service. For the folks who are local, […]
To Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Abolish the Death Penalty
This Monday, Americans will celebrate the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through acts of service. To truly honor him, we should call for an end to capital punishment. The Death Penalty is Racist In 1958, Dr. King led a protest in Alabama over the execution of a black 16-year-old child convicted […]
Holidays Wishes: 2023 Criminal Justice Wishlist
Dear Friends, For many of us, the holiday season means spending time with family and friends, wrapping presents, and eating way more than we should. But for the incarcerated and their loved ones, the holidays are a lonely and dispiriting time. My 2023 Wishlist: Criminal Justice with Dignity highlights my belief that people are far […]
2023 Wishlist: Criminal Justice with Dignity
My wishlist this year highlights my belief that people are far more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. I truly believe that people can do great harm and, also, that people can be transformed. I believe that our criminal legal system can hold people accountable and still recognize their humanity. Everything on this list […]
Crime Is on the Ballot – and Voters are Choosing Whether Prosecutors with Reform Agendas are the Ones Who Can Best Bring Law, Order and Justice
*Originally published in The Conversation 10/27/22. Different approaches to justice are on the ballot in November 2022 in some public prosecutor and Congressional elections around the country, revealing a deep divide about how differently Americans feel about crime and its consequences. Many Republican Congressional and prosecutor candidates are focusing their electoral messages on crime, accusing Democrats of […]
Progressive Prosecutors Make a Difference for the Innocent
*Originally published in Medium’s Age of Awareness 10/16/22. This November, voters around the country will engage in local elections with significant criminal justice impact. Nowhere is that more apparent than local prosecutor races. Progressive prosecutors offer fresh and innovative crime-control approaches to a criminal legal system that disparately — and often unnecessarily — impacts the […]
Crime is on the Ballot (The Conversation)
Dear Friends, Don’t worry. This isn’t another election-related email asking for last-minute donations. Instead, I’m sharing my latest piece, “Crime is on the ballot – and voters are choosing whether prosecutors with reform agendas are the ones who can best bring law, order and justice” published yesterday in The Conversation. In it, I take a […]
Adnan Syed and Progressive Prosecutors
Dear Friends, If you listened to the Serial podcast about the 1999 conviction of Adnan Syed for murder, you were probably left wondering how anyone could ever go to prison on such flimsy evidence. But despite significant public attention about the wrongfulness of his conviction, Syed remained behind bars until last week, when he was […]
Criminal Justice Reform Wishlist for 2022
Dear Friends, It’s time to take stock of the year behind us (buh-bye 2021!), and to make plans for the year to come. I know I’m wishing for an end to the pandemic and for the ability to spend in-person time with family, friends, and my students. I also am thinking about the innocent men […]
Criminal Justice Reform in 2022
It’s time for my annual end-of-the-year criminal justice reform wish list. This year I’m including specific action steps you can take, and I’m highlighting organizations that you might be interested in supporting. Together, we can promote a better vision of what justice could be in 2022. Here’s to 2022! May it be a year of […]