The Supreme Court overturned a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, removing a critical tool to combat racial discrimination in voting. See all of the Center's recent resources on the VRA and ideas on how to move forward after the Court's decision.
When big money holds so much power over Albany, members of the public turn away in disgust, and democracy loses its lifeblood. Only comprehensive campaign finance reform, with public financing at its core, can restore public trust in government.
The most dramatic consequence of Shelby County is that new election laws and regulations are being proposed or implemented that probably would not have seen the light of day.
The Sentencing Project released a stunning report on life-without-parole sentences and found that one out of every nine individuals in prison is serving a life sentence.
Reflecting a shift in attitudes towards the flawed mass incarceration system, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a recent hearing titled “Reevaluating the Effectiveness of Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentences.”
Wealthy interests have undue influence over Albany's policy choices, eroding public trust in government. Comprehensive campaign finance reform, with a small donor matching system like New York City's at its core, can help restore that trust.
The Brennan Center and good government groups sent a letter to the DOJ urging the Attorney General to release any reports by the Inspector General regarding the collection of Americans’ telephone records. The DOJ responded stating it would review whether to declassify previous reports.
Criminal justice isn't the only judicial area being affected by the sequester. Chief Judge Preska reveals the impacts on the bankruptcy court and consequently the business community.
The Brennan Center submitted testimony in support of the Federal Judgeship Act of 2013, legislation that would create much needed judgeships in the federal courts.
Two new financial proposals are now in play to curb the state's overcrowded prisons. One plan keeps the prison population static, the other reduces through smart rehabilitation incentives.
