Topic: Criminal Justice Reform

A District Attorney diversion program is offering a second chance to those with no prior convictions and whose only crime was having an unlicensed gun. It aims to work around a state law that treats Philadelphians more harshly than other Pennsylvanians

Shuja Moore’s short film about the benefits — to all of us — of pardons for returning citizens screens Monday in West Philly

The A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Social Justice Champion spent 27 years in prison before a Supreme Court ruling set him free. Now, he teaches about criminal justice at Penn and heads the Abolitionist Law Center

Despite high-profile efforts of advocates like sports reporter Michael Barkann, the Point Breeze native has spent 26 years imprisoned for a murder witnesses say he didn’t commit. That hasn’t stopped the citizen activist from serving others

A formerly incarcerated abolitionist and Penn law lecturer responds to a Citizen article and explains opposition to the bipartisan probation reform bill headed for a vote in the state legislature

Since 2016, Philadelphia’s volunteer-based Safety and Justice Challenge Community Advisory Council has helped the City reduce its jail population and recidivism rates — while increasing equity. Here’s how they’ve done it

“Court doulas” from Partners for Justice have saved more than a million hours of incarceration — and millions of taxpayer dollars — nationwide. Now, they’re bringing their work to Philadelphia

In the U.S., defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. So, why are half a million Americans stuck in jail, awaiting their court date?

Spurred by the Meek Mill case, a bipartisan bill in Harrisburg would once again take on state probation reform. So why do progressive organizations like the ACLU prefer maintaining the status quo … to actually fixing the problem?

A bipartisan bill in the state senate would legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana. Here’s why PA should join NJ, DE, NY, and 20 other states that’ve done the same