From prison reform to ending the death penalty, the results are mixed so far. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
Donate
Brennan Center for Justice
 
Samuel Corum/Getty
President Biden came into office with a long to-do list on criminal justice reform, with promises to address mass incarceration and the harms that come with it. The administration has made some progress, but much work remains, as detailed in our experts’ new assessment.
The record is mixed on prisons, immigration detention, and clemency. Recently announced changes to Justice Department charging policy are a positive step, but there has been little progress on the pledge to end the death penalty. Although congressional action is needed as well, there are many areas where the executive branch can move on its own to make our system fairer.
By examining how election-related falsehoods propagate on social media, the Brennan Center identified key patterns and crafted strategies for guarding against misinformation. Our analysis reveals striking patterns in the spread of misinformation that election officials, civic groups, social media companies, and the media can use to more effectively combat election lies.
News organizations are grappling with how to treat candidates who deny the validity of elections. Brennan Center fellow and longtime political journalist Walter Shapiro outlines standards the media should follow when covering election deniers running for office. He makes the case that consistently telling the truth about election deniers is the best way to inform voters.
On the same day last week, the South Carolina Supreme Court struck down its state’s abortion ban while the Idaho Supreme Court did the opposite. An analysis of the two opinions reveals strikingly different approaches to the use of history in constitutional interpretation.

 
BRENNAN CENTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
From bolstering public campaign finance systems to a binding Supreme Court ethics code, the Brennan Center will focus on numerous pro-democracy reforms this year. Learn more on Instagram >>
 

 
Virtual Events
 
Secret War: Unauthorized Combat and Legal Loopholes
Wednesday, January 18, 3–4 p.m. ET
Since 9/11, the United States has secretly engaged in armed conflict across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia for the sake of combating terrorism. Little-known laws have enabled hostilities in the name of “security cooperation” — authorizing the Pentagon to create and use paramilitaries without notifying key decision-makers in Congress and permitting presidents to counter not just terrorist groups but also states, such as China, Iran, and Russia. Through these laws, a handful of government officials, working with minimal oversight and no notice to the public, could stumble the United States into a major conflict. Expert panelists will take on the question of how Congress should address this danger. RSVP today.
 
This event has been approved for one New York State CLE credit in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credit is both transitional and nontransitional; it is appropriate for both experienced and newly admitted attorneys.

 
 
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
120 Broadway, Suite 1750 New York, NY 10271
646-292-8310
Want to change how you receive these emails or unsubscribe? Click here to update your preferences.
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Website