Criminal Justice

Breaking the Silence: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Domestic Violence Courts

This brief explores the efficacy of domestic violence courts and how to optimize them for fair and comprehensive rulings. This brief will acknowledge the flaws within the court system and provide solutions to fix those issues and ensure justice for all.

Ending the "War on Drugs": Highlighting Effective Treatment for Substance Abuse in the Criminal Justice System

The policy brief provides an overview of the historical trajectory of drug policies in the United States, discussing the shift from punitive measures to evidence-based, rehabilitative approaches within the criminal justice system. It highlights the effectiveness of various solutions such as cognitive therapy, medical interventions, and sustained support in mitigating recidivism and addressing the broader complexities of substance abuse and mental health within the justice system.

Breaking Chains, Building Futures: Policy Solutions for a Rehabilitative Juvenile Justice System

This brief explores whether the juvenile justice system accomplishes its goals of effectively rehabilitating youth offenders, or if it instead creates paranoia and instigates repeat offenders. It will recommend programs, practices, and legislation that could minimize the system’s incriminating effect on young lawbreakers and focus on rehabilitation.

Democracy Beyond Bars: Bringing Political Prisoners to Light

The term “political prisoner” refers to a person detained, incarcerated, or facing legal consequences due to their political beliefs and activities. Over the years, the criminal justice system has inhabited many political prisoners for several reasons, mainly due to controversial movements and opinions. While free speech and the freedom to express oneself is a concrete law in the Constitution, there is still an increasing controversy around political prisoners and how they affect national security, individual rights, and government transparency.

Equal Justice for All? An Impartial Look at Gender Disparities within the Criminal Justice System

This brief aims to analyze gender disparities in the criminal justice system and propose legislation to enforce equality. We find that sexism in criminal justice is an expansive issue affecting all gender identities and that policy solutions should target reproductive health, mental health, and intersectional disparities between LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals.

Race and Justice: Analyzing Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

From law enforcement and prosecution to incarceration and sentencing, people of color in the United States are far more vulnerable to incrimination than others. The root cause of this remains the underlying racial and ethnic disparities in the dispensing of justice at its various stages. This brief examines the historical and sociopolitical factors that have contributed to these developments and suggests changes to make our justice system equal, unbiased and democratically just.

Navigating Justice: Challenges Faced by Women and Youth With Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System

The Return of Just Deserts: Analyzing Mass Incarceration

The brief explores the history of the War on Drugs, the effects of its policies, mass incarceration, policies attempted to fight mass incarceration, and policies that can be tried to end mass incarceration. Upon other recommendations, the brief recommends that mandatory minimums and three strike laws be repealed, and the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act be passed.

Opinion: Capital Punishment: A Capital Problem

This project is an opinion article that directly discusses the contentious debate over capital punishment and its presence in the United States justice system.