Washington Post — Prosecutors — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

The tough-on-crime law Democrats are overlooking

“The criticism of these provisions is entirely justified. But not enough attention has been paid to another 1980s-era tough-on-crime law that is still very much with us, causing substantial unnecessary incarceration, particularly of African Americans and Hispanics: the 1984 Sentencing Reform Act. Among its “reforms,” the law eliminated parole for federal offenders and created the U.S. Sentencing Commission that then promulgated the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. “

Washington Post

June 30, 2019

SentencingPhillip ReevesJune 30, 2019Washington Post, 1984 Sentencing Reform ActComment

Prosecutors’ role in causing — and solving — the problem of mass incarceration

“Emily Bazelon’s new book about the American judicial system reads like two books. Both are crucial to understanding the wretchedness of the American criminal legal process, and both offer something missing from most other books about mass incarceration: hope.“

Washington Post

April 19, 2019

ProsecutorsPhillip ReevesApril 19, 2019Washington Post, Emily BazelonComment

Guest Post: Reduce prison populations by reducing life sentences

“The principal driver of the graying prison population is the growing proportion of lifers, mostly in state prison systems. One in 7 U.S. prisoners is now serving life or a virtual life sentence, a total of more than 200,000 people. In 1984, there were only about 34,000 lifers.“

Washington Post

March 21, 2019

SentencingPhillip ReevesMarch 21, 2019Washington Post, Daniel Nagin, Life SentenceComment

In Maryland, justice should work backward and forward

“But as cases are being reviewed to assess the impact of officer misconduct, another injustice has come to light: a gap in Maryland state law that prevents prosecutors from seeking relief and addressing past wrongs. A bill in the Maryland legislature would close this gap by authorizing prosecutors to seek to vacate a conviction ‘in the interest of justice and fairness.’ In doing so, it is the latest example of our justice system’s long-standing recognition that prosecutors must be able to fulfill their obligation to seek justice, not merely convictions.“

Washington Post

March 20, 2019

False ConvictionsPhillip ReevesMarch 20, 2019Washington Post, MarylandComment

Even with murder rates falling, big-city detectives face daunting caseloads

“It had been less than 24 hours since homicide Lt. Michael Russell had been summoned to a killing, and now, on a hot Saturday morning in July, he was headed to yet another. One of his sergeants texted him with a message and a location: “Man, can’t get a breather,...“

Washington Post

September 13, 2018

Mass Incarceration, OvercriminalizationPhillip ReevesSeptember 13, 2018Washington PostComment

Report: Wrongful convictions have stolen at least 20,000 years from innocent defendants

“Among the states that do have compensation statutes, Gutman ranks Mississippi as the most generous, though in order to receive payment, exonerees there must also forgo their right to sue the state for civil damages. But blue states on average pay out about 50 percent more to exonerees than red states.“

Washington Post

September 10, 2018

False ConvictionsPhillip ReevesSeptember 11, 2018Washington PostComment

Witnesses ‘flipping’ does corrupt justice. But not because they’re ‘rats.’

"Pleading guilty and implicating a co-defendant can be the only practical choice when your lawyer lacks the time and resources to mount an effective defense. In fact, flipping on your cohorts can be the only way to avoid the de facto punishment of pretrial detention."

Washington Post

August 24, 2018

Sentencing, ProsecutorsAnthony BradleyAugust 27, 2018Washington Post, Michael Cohen, Snitches

Prosecutors

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