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Criminal Justice

Accountability in Crime and Law

476 stories published since 2008

Her Stepfather Admitted to Sexually Abusing Her. That Wasn’t Enough to Keep Her Safe.

Over a Dozen Black and Latino Men Accused a Cop of Humiliating, Invasive Strip Searches. The NYPD Kept Promoting Him.

As Trump Calls for Law and Order, Can Chicago’s Top Prosecutor Beat the Charge That She’s Soft on Crime?

What Can Mayors Do When the Police Stop Doing Their Jobs?

He Faced a Criminal Charge for Not Self-Isolating When He Had COVID-19 Symptoms. Prosecutors Just Dropped the Case.

The NYPD Is Withholding Evidence From Investigations Into Police Abuse

Illinois Has Promised to “Infuse Love” in Its Juvenile Justice System, but What Will Actually Change?

The Complaint Files NYPD Unions Don’t Want You to See

Grace, Black Teen Jailed for Not Doing Her Online Coursework, Is Released

New York Grand Jury Indicts Two Former Leaders of Mexico’s Drug War for Cartel Connections

Portland Protesters No Longer Being Banned From Attending Protests to Win Release From Jail

Prosecutors Say They Support Releasing Girl Who Was Detained for Not Doing Her Schoolwork

What Has Happened to Police Filmed Hurting Protesters? So Far, Very Little.

We Tracked What Happens to Police After They Use Force on Protesters

She Asked to Be Saved From Him. Now She’s Dead.

Your Questions About the New York City Police Complaint Data, Answered

We’re Publishing Thousands of Police Discipline Records That New York Kept Secret for Decades

The NYPD Files: Search Thousands of Civilian Complaints Against New York City Police Officers

Judge Won’t Free Michigan Teenager Sent to Juvenile Detention After Not Doing Online Schoolwork

Thousands Demand That Michigan #FreeGrace After the Teenager Was Incarcerated for Not Doing Her Schoolwork

The NYPD Isn’t Giving Critical Bodycam Footage to Officials Investigating Alleged Abuse

The Nation’s First Reparations Package to Survivors of Police Torture Included a Public Memorial. Survivors Are Still Waiting.

Since We Reported on Flawed Roadside Drug Tests, Five More Convictions Have Been Overturned

For Decades, She Blamed Herself for the Abuse. Writing Her Story Was an Act of Survival. Publishing It Was an Act of Rebellion.

I’ve Reported on How Chicago’s Ticketing System Has Hurt Black Residents. Now, the Conversation About Reform Is Changing.

Has the NYPD Stopped a Teen You Know? Are You a Young Person With a Story to Share? We’d Like to Hear From You.

Her Addiction Landed Her in a Prison Segregation Wing. The Man She Says Abused Her Lives Free.

“Alguien tiene que ayudarme”

The Prison Was Built to Hold 1,500 Inmates. It Had Over 2,000 Coronavirus Cases.

Her Attacker Was Stopped in the Act and Arrested, but This Assault Was Only the Beginning of Her Trauma

“Somebody’s Gotta Help Me”

“They Were the Authority and I Didn’t Argue With Authority”

The Teacher Who Returned to the Small Village Where She was Abused is Not Staying Silent

Trapped at Sea, Alone With Her Assailant, He Told Her “You’re Mine for the Week”

I Cover Cops as an Investigative Reporter. Here Are Five Ways You Can Start Holding Your Department Accountable.

Unheard

Bill Barr Promised to Release Prisoners Threatened by Coronavirus — Even as the Feds Secretly Made It Harder for Them to Get Out

An Elementary School Repeatedly Dismissed Allegations Against Its Principal. Then, an FBI Agent Pretended to Be a 13-Year-Old Girl.

COVID-19 Cases at One Texas Immigration Detention Center Soared in a Matter of Days. Now, Town Leaders Want Answers.

Early Data Shows Black People Are Being Disproportionally Arrested for Social Distancing Violations

Walmart Hid That It Was Under Criminal Investigation for Its Opioid Sales, Lawyers Say

33 Years After Dubious Evidence Helped Convict Him, Joe Bryan Has Been Released on Parole

An Employee at an Illinois School We Reported On Has Been Charged With Battering a 7-Year-Old Boy

He Was Ordered to Self-Isolate. He Didn’t. Now He’s Facing Criminal Charges.

Walmart Was Almost Charged Criminally Over Opioids. Trump Appointees Killed the Indictment.

Convicted Based on Lies

A Key FBI Photo Analysis Method Has Serious Flaws, Study Says

The FBI Is Investigating Massive Embezzlement of Border Patrol Union Funds

California Takes a First Step Toward Improving Its Failing County Jails

Utah Representative Proposes Bill to Stop Payday Lenders From Taking Bail Money from Borrowers