Criminal Justice
N.J. bill restricting use of solitary confinement heads to Murphy’s desk
New Jersey lawmakers approved a bill Thursday that would dramatically limit which inmates can be kept in solitary confinement and for how long.
7 years ago
Marsy’s Law passes in Pa., now heads to voter referendum
In a unanimous vote, the state Senate has passed Marsy's Law — a constitutional amendment that would enshrine rights for crime victims in the state constitution.
7 years ago
Failure of prosecutions in fatal Del. prison riot leads lawyers to question state’s strategy
Delaware charged 18 inmates for a prison riot that left a guard dead. But most cases failed or were dropped, leaving prosecutors with ‘egg on their faces.’
7 years ago
Listen 2:52Uncovering abuse in Pa.’s Amish, Mennonite communities
A recent investigation has revealed numerous cases of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania's Amish and Mennonite communities. Why has the abuse gone unchecked for so long?
Air Date: June 20, 2019
Listen 13:0072 Philadelphia police officers placed on desk duty over offensive social media posts
Police officials in Philadelphia are describing the action as the largest removal of officers from the street in recent memory.
7 years ago
Technical parole violations cost Pa. about $100 million a year, report finds
A new report estimates that Pennsylvania is spending about $100 million a year to house inmates for technical parole violations, such as missing curfew or failing a drug test.
7 years ago
After Senate passage, Pa. justice reinvestment bills face House skepticism
The measures are part of the second phase of Pennsylvania's Justice Reinvestment Initiative — or JRI.
7 years ago
A look at the issue of mentally ill inmates in jails
Jails face increasing pressures as they house large numbers of mentally ill and addicted inmates. But the policies that contributed to this problem are decades in the making.
7 years ago
Several states are banning the practice of incarcerating pregnant women alone
With female incarceration rates rising in the United States, prisons and jails across the country are contending with new challenges, including caring for pregnant women.
7 years ago
Father’s Day bailout: 10 Philly dads get to spend the holiday with their kids
A criminal justice nonprofit put up thousands of dollars so fathers awaiting trial behind bars could spend the holiday with their families.
7 years ago
After three mass shootings in a year, Trenton searching for solutions to gun violence
The recent bloodshed, including five homicides in May, has only deepened the resignation some residents feel toward gun violence in their city.
7 years ago
Court orders Backpage.com to give up LLC formations in Delaware
The former sex-trafficking website Backpage.com is losing its LLC formations in Delaware six months after the state Attorney General filed a complaint.
7 years ago
Expunging your marijuana conviction in N.J. could get easier
The New Jersey Legislature has approved an expungement bill for marijuana.
7 years ago
Democrats debate impeachment and ramp up oversight
We discuss the Mueller report hearings, the House vote to hold Don McGahn and AG Barr in contempt of Congress, and the pros and cons of beginning impeachment inquiries.
Air Date: June 11, 2019 10:00 am
Listen 49:15Philly PD social media policy: Here’s every rule officers’ Facebook posts may have violated
The department’s directive hasn’t been updated since Blackberrys were a thing.
7 years ago













