When Tennessee sentenced Christa Pike to death on March 30th, 1996, for a crime she committed as an eighteen-year-old, she became the youngest woman to receive a death sentence in the modern era. As the judge sentenced her to die, Christa—her face still sprinkled with adolescent acne—sobbed uncontrollably and called out for her mother. If the State carries out her execution, it will be the first time Tennessee has executed a woman since 1819.
— Read on dpw.lawschool.cornell.edu/advocacy/christa-pike/
Tag: Criminal Justice Reform
A guide to racism in the criminal justice system
A repository of studies, surveys, and reports on the disparate ways white, Black, and Latino people are treated by police, prosecutors, courts, and prisons
— Read on radleybalko.substack.com/p/a-guide-to-racism-in-the-criminal
After 50 Years, The Death Penalty Is Far More Broken Than We Knew | The Marshall Project
The racial disparities, the arbitrary outcomes, the endless waiting and the risk of executing the innocent persist.
— Read on www.themarshallproject.org/2026/06/22/death-penalty-50th-gregg-georgia-executions
With Alvin Bragg’s re-election under a Mayor Mamdani, ‘justice’ in NYC is about to get worse
While Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has gotten the lion’s share of the media attention these last several weeks, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg quietly sailed through his reelection bid, securing more than 70% of the vote.
— Read on nypost.com/2025/11/05/opinion/with-alvin-braggs-re-election-under-a-mayor-mamdani-justice-in-nyc-is-about-to-get-worse/
Minimal Impact Analyzing State Sentencing Reforms and Racial Disparities in Selected State Prison Populations
Introduction
Over the past 20 years, most American states have adopted a wide range of changes to their criminal sentencing statutes. The goals of the reforms varied. Some targeted certain offenses for greater or lesser penalties. Others aimed to cut correctional costs, expand alternatives to incarceration, and reduce recidivism. Few laws were enacted explicitly to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. Still, many policymakers hoped they would do just that, and the starkly disproportionate incarceration of Black people has been a central component of the national conversation about criminal justice reform.
— Read on reports.counciloncj.org/racial-disparities/multi-state-report
What Will Trump’s Executive Order on Policing Actually Do? | The Marshall Project
Here’s a look at some of the items in Monday’s executive order, along with context and analysis about the viability and practical implications of each measure.
Legal help for accused officers
Expanded training and more pay for officers
Tougher penalties for crimes against officers
More investment in security and capacity of prisons
A review of police reform agreements
More military-grade equipment and resources for local law enforcement
More money to collect crime data
Prosecution of local and state officials
Homeland Security agents as enforcers
— Read on www.themarshallproject.org/2025/04/29/trump-police-executive-order
Trump 2.0 and opportunities for criminal justice reform
Keesha Middlemass discusses the need for criminal justice reform after Trump’s election win following his felony conviction.
— Read on www.brookings.edu/articles/trump-2-0-and-opportunities-for-criminal-justice-reform/
It’s time to protect New Yorkers — and amend discovery laws
Recent polling shows that public safety is the top concern for Gotham voters in New York City’s mayoral race. The solution needs to start with amending discovery laws.
— Read on nypost.com/2025/03/30/opinion/its-time-to-protect-new-yorkers-and-amend-discovery-laws/
How New York, Louisiana, Others Rewind Reform on Bail, Juvenile Justice, More | The Marshall Project
But some states are still considering some proposals to reduce excessive sentencing or expand parole.
— Read on www.themarshallproject.org/2025/03/29/new-york-louisiana-crime-new-mexico
Policing in America – Harvard Law School Lecture Series
Several videos in this series.
“[E]ffective law enforcement requires the support of the community. Such support will not be present when a substantial segment of the community feels threatened by the police and regards the police as an occupying force.”
The Kerner Commission Report, 1968.
— Read on policinginamerica.law.harvard.edu/
