Death Penalty Ineffective in Reducing Homicide Rates, Study Finds
The Death Penalty Information Center’s “What to Know” report concludes that decades of research have failed to produce credible evidence that the death penalty reduces homicide rates.
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Grant Researchers Access to Criminal Justice Data
Tennessee lawmakers have introduced a bill modeled on the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Researcher Access to Data Act, which would require criminal justice agencies to share data with qualified researchers to improve evidence-based public safety policy.
California cities just saw their lowest homicide rates in decades. It’s not clear why
California’s homicide rate has declined for the second year in a row, with cities such as Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Francisco seeing record-low homicide rates, though the reasons for the decline are complex and multifactorial.
Research Finds Judges’ Professional Backgrounds Linked to Higher Bail and Detention Decisions
Judges with law enforcement backgrounds are more likely to order pretrial detention and set higher cash bail amounts, resulting in harsher outcomes for defendants at their first court appearance, according to a new study analyzing nearly 70,000 New York City criminal court arraignments.