Bail helps to keep the penal process moving more smoothly, but there are nearly 40 million Americans who can’t afford bail or even a bail bond.

An overview of the judicial process, what comes before sentencing, and key things to know each step of the way

History was made on the night of December 18, 2018 when the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan First Step Act.

Since 1986, The Sentencing Project has worked to address ineffectiveness and racial bias in sentencing policy.

More than 15 years after the bill's last renewal expired, Congress updated the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act with an unusual degree of consensus.

On December 18, by an unexpectedly large 87-12 margin, the Senate passed the “First Step” criminal justice reform bill, setting the stage for final action (House approval of the Senate’s changes and presidential signature). Two days later, the House of Representatives cleared the Senate-passed bill, which President Trump has pledged, by …

Affluenza, the inability to comprehend the consequences of one’s actions thanks to financial privilege and influence, has been with us for all of history.

For the first time, there is a real solution to a problem that has crippled America in so many ways. If the First Step Act becomes a reality, the problems are finally on their way to being solved.

A legislative session’s final days can be unpredictable, and the revised First Step Act still has some hardline opponents. But with more states, including some generally conservative ones, adopting their own sentencing reform bills, it looks increasingly likely Congress may do something similar for federal crimes in 2018.

Under the newly approved amendment, Florida residents who’ve been convicted of a felony can have their voting rights restored after they complete all terms of their sentence, including parole, probation, or restitution.