Courts

Criminal Justice

blog
Criminal Justice in the Pandemic Era and Beyond
The pandemic forced the entire criminal justice system to adapt and innovate in ways it never had before. How can the lessons of COVID-19 improve the future of criminal justice?
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Sep 7, 2021

Vaccination

commentary
The Compensation System for Potential Side Effects Is an Important Part of a COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign
Concern about potential COVID-19 vaccine side effects and their consequences may be contributing to Americans' reluctance to get vaccinated. Policymakers and the public should carefully consider what types and levels of compensation for any adverse effects of vaccination are truly fair and appropriate.
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Dec 18, 2020
Nicholas M. Pace, Lloyd Dixon, et al.
Civic Education

commentary
The RAND Institute for Civil Justice: 40th Anniversary Reflections
For 40 years, the RAND Institute for Civil Justice (ICJ) has supplied government and private decisionmakers and the public with the results of objective, empirically based, analytic research. In this era of the diminishing role of facts and analysis in public life, or Truth Decay, the mission and research of the ICJ have never been more important.
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Nov 6, 2019
Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich
Counterterrorism

commentary
Now's the Time to Act on Guantanamo
Most of the 41 terror suspects who remain confined at Guantanamo Bay are unlikely to be released from custody any time soon. But the possibility that new detainees may soon be sent to the facility argues for early action to accelerate the legal proceedings against those already being held.
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Apr 16, 2018
K. Jack Riley @K_Jack_Riley, Michelle Kezirian, et al.
Civic Education

commentary
Truth Decay and the Spirit of the Law
The widening gap between how the law is expected to be (and generally is) practiced, and certain events transpiring in America's political and policymaking realms, is of increasing concern.
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Mar 23, 2018
Dan Grunfeld
commentary
Terrorism on Trial: The Problem of Prosecuting International Jihadists
The International Criminal Court may be the most ideal institution to try accused terrorists. The court would take into account the legal status of terrorists, the nationalities of their victims, and the location of the crimes — while upholding the core values of Western democracies.
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Mar 9, 2018
Antonia Ward
commentary
The Immigration Debate: Building a Bridge Across the Deportation-Amnesty Divide
Discussions of U.S. immigration are dominated by arguments that pit “rule of law” proponents — focused on apprehension, detention, and deportation — against “humanitarian” supporters seeking a pardon or amnesty that will allow immigrants to stay in the country. Minor changes to the statute known as “Cancellation of Removal” could offer a compromise.
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Feb 28, 2018
Douglas C. Ligor @DougLigor
commentary
The Intersection of Algorithms and an Individual's Rights
Data collection, and our reliance on it, have evolved extremely rapidly. The resulting algorithms have proved invaluable for organizing, evaluating and utilizing information. How do individuals' rights come in to play, when data about their lives is compiled to create algorithms, and the resulting tools are applied to judge them?
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Sep 29, 2017
Dan Grunfeld
Drug Courts

commentary
Should California Drop Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession?
Californians have a lot to consider when it comes to decriminalizing possession. But now is the time for a rigorous discussion about removing criminal penalties for drug possession, rather than rushing to judgment in the heat of a future election season.
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Jul 20, 2017
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Robert J. MacCoun
commentary
Using Digital Data in Criminal Investigations: Where and How to Draw the Line?
Personal devices such as smartphones and wearables gather and store personal data. How much of this "digital footprint" should be available for criminal investigations?
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May 15, 2017
Brian A. Jackson
commentary
Discount Justice: Fiscal Austerity and State Courts
Budget cuts at the state court level can mean courthouse closures, hiring freezes and layoffs, leading to longer wait times for the public. Educating the public about the role and importance of the state courts is key to preventing more budget cuts in the future.
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Apr 18, 2017
Kathryn Kuznitsky
commentary
Does the Court System Know as Much About Electronically Stored Information as Your Teenager? It Should.
Electronically stored information from smart appliances, fitness trackers, and other devices is making its way into the U.S. court system. Judges and lawyers need to better understand this evidence so they can challenge it or rule on its admissibility in court.
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Feb 21, 2017
Duren Banks, Brian A. Jackson
Data Analysis

commentary
No Company Should Be Able to Keep You from Checking Your Government's Math
Data and computer models are becoming more and more important for making policy decisions on everything from prison sentences to tax bills. But citizens should be able to “check the math” on decisions that affect them.
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Jan 18, 2017
Brian A. Jackson
Military Courts

commentary
What Should Trump Do About Gitmo?
The new administration has options to deal with the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay. It could maintain the status quo, make improvements to speed the trials, close the facility and relocate the remaining inmates, or accept new detainees.
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Jan 11, 2017
K. Jack Riley @K_Jack_Riley
commentary
Drug Dependence: Treatment Over Incarceration
Drug dependence imposes significant costs to society and traditional criminal justice responses like imprisonment do not reduce crime. More quality research on alternative sanctions could help police, prosecutors, and judges expand their options while helping users get treatment.
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Oct 3, 2016
Matthew Davies, Emma Disley, et al.
Cybercrime

commentary
The Future of Cyber Investigations at the FBI Is Unclear
Evidence presented by the FBI in the case of U.S. v. Jay Michaud was excluded because the agency was unwilling to reveal the software exploit used to collect it. If the FBI exposes its capabilities, other criminals can patch their computers, but concealing its techniques risks the ability to prosecute cyber criminals.
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Aug 24, 2016
Sasha Romanosky, Cortney Weinbaum @cortney_dc

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A New Approach to U.S. Security Policy in the Middle East

Wait Times for Veterans Scheduling Health Care Appointments

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Elon Musk May Have a Point About Bots on Twitter

Addressing Homelessness Among Individuals Incarcerated in Los Angeles County

The Policy Currents Podcast

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Courts

Criminal Justice in the Pandemic Era and Beyond

The Compensation System for Potential Side Effects Is an Important Part of a COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign

The RAND Institute for Civil Justice: 40th Anniversary Reflections

Now's the Time to Act on Guantanamo

Truth Decay and the Spirit of the Law

Terrorism on Trial: The Problem of Prosecuting International Jihadists

The Immigration Debate: Building a Bridge Across the Deportation-Amnesty Divide

The Intersection of Algorithms and an Individual's Rights

Should California Drop Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession?

Using Digital Data in Criminal Investigations: Where and How to Draw the Line?

Discount Justice: Fiscal Austerity and State Courts

Does the Court System Know as Much About Electronically Stored Information as Your Teenager? It Should.

No Company Should Be Able to Keep You from Checking Your Government's Math

What Should Trump Do About Gitmo?

Drug Dependence: Treatment Over Incarceration

The Future of Cyber Investigations at the FBI Is Unclear

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