Criminal Justice
173 Articles
All Criminal Justice Stories

Indiana's New Abortion Law: An Ethical, Medical, or Legal Concern?
Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a new bill that “[p]rohibits a person from performing an abortion if the person knows that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion solely because of: (1) the race, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex of the fetus; or (2) a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of the fetus having Down syndrome … Continue reading "Indiana’s New Abortion Law: An Ethical, Medical, or Legal Concern?"

The Nuances of the Death Penalty
The complexities of the United States' justice system are no secret to civilians. But when a civilian asks for the death penalty to be taken off the table, does the prosecutor have the right to ask for it anyway? Should legal expertise trump what the injured client wants?

Convicted Officials and State Pensions
In the state of New York, former public officials who have been convicted of misconduct in office can still apply for their pensions. This is due to part of the state constitution in which a public official cannot be removed from the pension system once they are a part of it. As detailed in an … Continue reading "Convicted Officials and State Pensions"
A Right to Review
The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that minors convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment have a right to argue that they be released from prison. This 2012 decision was ruled to apply retroactively, as it was considered a significant change to the law. The court ruled 6 to 3 on applying the law retroactively; … Continue reading "A Right to Review"

Can You Wear Medals You Didn't Earn?
A California court ruled in favor of a ex-Marine who was wearing military medals that he did not earn. The ex-marine, Elven Joe Swisher, has the right to wear the medals, the court says, even if they were not earned during his service. This on the basis that denying him the right to wear the medals … Continue reading "Can You Wear Medals You Didn’t Earn?"

Should Minors Stay in Adult Prisons?
In many states, minors charged with certain crimes can be tried as adults. Although some of the minors who enter the system are convicted of serious crimes, many are charged with non-violent offenses. The argument for trying minors as adults is that it ensures public safety – however, research shows the opposite. In Jessica Lahey’s article … Continue reading "Should Minors Stay in Adult Prisons?"