NPR Topics: Criminal Justice https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=g-s1-148089 Follow NPR’s coverage of the U.S. justice system. In-depth reporting on police accountability, ICE, prison reform, court rulings, sentencing laws and public safety. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 02:15:30 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Topics: Criminal Justice https://www.npr.org/sections/criminal-justice Supreme Court upholds pause on Trump's anti-trans prison policy The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration has to continue providing gender-affirming care to inmates in federal prisons as litigation on efforts to change the policy continues. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:46:27 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-5993878/supreme-court-trump-trans-prison-policy https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-5993878/supreme-court-trump-trans-prison-policy

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration has to continue providing gender-affirming care to inmates in federal prisons as litigation on efforts to change the policy continues.

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]]> Jaclyn Diaz Sentenced to death at 17, at 68, quilt artist receives solo museum exhibition A quilt artist who spent decades on death row now has his first solo exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:21:47 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6003634/sentenced-to-death-at-17-at-68-quilt-artist-receives-solo-museum-exhibition https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6003634/sentenced-to-death-at-17-at-68-quilt-artist-receives-solo-museum-exhibition Big Toe, (2024) and Enduring, (2025). They feature two individuals who are incarcerated. He hopes his work draws attention to their plight and humanity.'/>

A quilt artist who spent decades on death row now has his first solo exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

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]]> Sea Stachura 2025 policing trend: Fewer serious crimes, more minor arrests Arrests for more minor offenses, including vagrancy, rose in the U.S., even as violent crime rates dropped to historic lows, according to an analysis from criminal justice reform advocacy group FWD.us Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6003663/crime-data-down-low-level-offenses-increase https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6003663/crime-data-down-low-level-offenses-increase

Arrests for more minor offenses, including vagrancy, rose in the U.S., even as violent crime rates dropped to historic lows, according to an analysis from criminal justice reform advocacy group FWD.us

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]]> Jaclyn Diaz Mamdani orders a review of use-of-force policies that apply to New York city police The New York City mayor promised great accountability when police use force. The changes are largely in response to the shooting of a teenager in 2024. Mon, 12 Oct 2026 22:14:17 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/12/nx-s1-5998925/mamdani-orders-a-review-of-use-of-force-policies-that-apply-to-new-york-city-police https://www.npr.org/2026/10/12/nx-s1-5998925/mamdani-orders-a-review-of-use-of-force-policies-that-apply-to-new-york-city-police

The New York City mayor promised great accountability when police use force. The changes are largely in response to the shooting of a teenager in 2024.

(Image credit: Ryan Murphy)

]]> Michelle Aslam Christa Pike discharged from the hospital and back in prison Pike's attorneys say she is grateful for the care of first responders and her medical team. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 18:15:04 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/10/nx-s1-5997504/christa-pike-hospital-prison-after-botched-execution https://www.npr.org/2026/10/10/nx-s1-5997504/christa-pike-hospital-prison-after-botched-execution

Pike's attorneys say she is grateful for the care of first responders and her medical team.

(Image credit: Tennessee Department of Correction)

]]> Chandelis Duster Flock is catching flak. Experts say other police surveillance tools are more worrisome Real-time crime-center software is a sometimes overlooked but powerful tool allowing police to aggregate immense amounts of data, significantly expanding their surveillance reach. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/08/nx-s1-5981343/beyond-flock-police-ai-surveillance-tools https://www.npr.org/2026/10/08/nx-s1-5981343/beyond-flock-police-ai-surveillance-tools

Real-time crime-center software is a sometimes overlooked but powerful tool allowing police to aggregate immense amounts of data, significantly expanding their surveillance reach.

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]]> Meg Anderson Drugs in jars, bags of cash: Tennessee ignored warnings from Arizona's botched executions Christa Pike's botched execution in Tennessee was not the first to go wrong on Frank Strada's watch. Before he took charge of Tennessee's prisons, Strada oversaw three botched executions in Arizona. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:44:37 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/07/nx-s1-5991884/former-tennessee-prisons-chief-oversaw-botched-executions-arizona https://www.npr.org/2026/10/07/nx-s1-5991884/former-tennessee-prisons-chief-oversaw-botched-executions-arizona

Christa Pike's botched execution in Tennessee was not the first to go wrong on Frank Strada's watch. Before he took charge of Tennessee's prisons, Strada oversaw three botched executions in Arizona.

(Image credit: Courtney Pedroza for NPR)

]]> Chiara Eisner San Francisco's car crime has plunged. How much credit does Flock deserve? San Francisco leaders say AI-powered cameras helped drive a dramatic decline in car crime. We examine the evidence — and whether the city can keep its high-tech dragnet without sacrificing civil liberties. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:30:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/10/02/g-s1-146060/san-franciscos-car-crime-has-plunged-how-much-credit-does-flock-deserve https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/10/02/g-s1-146060/san-franciscos-car-crime-has-plunged-how-much-credit-does-flock-deserve

San Francisco leaders say AI-powered cameras helped drive a dramatic decline in car crime. We examine the evidence — and whether the city can keep its high-tech dragnet without sacrificing civil liberties.

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]]> Greg Rosalsky 'Rejected': How federal prisons stonewall grievances and deny care for years People who go to prison keep one important right — to file a grievance over their treatment: from abuse to denied medical care. But in the vast majority of cases, those efforts go nowhere, according to an analysis of federal data by The Marshall Project and NPR. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/06/17/nx-s1-5343603/prison-lawsuits-grievance-denial-investigation https://www.npr.org/2026/06/17/nx-s1-5343603/prison-lawsuits-grievance-denial-investigation

People who go to prison keep one important right — to file a grievance over their treatment: from abuse to denied medical care. But in the vast majority of cases, those efforts go nowhere, according to an analysis of federal data by The Marshall Project and NPR.

(Image credit: Michelle Mildenberg Lara for The Marshall Project)

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