In the months since Karmelo Anthony’s conviction in the murder of Austin Metcalf, his parents have spoken out against the verdict, details have emerged that weren’t presented in his first trial, and a judge has denied his legal team’s request for a new trial. The Texas case grabbed national attention, while a controversial Texas law […]
sentencing
Posted inCriminal Justice, Juvenile Justice
They Got Life in Prison at 17. Now They’re Helping Others Avoid That Fate.
As a teenager, John Pace dreamed of playing football or becoming a police officer. But growing up in Philadelphia, he found himself drawn to older people in the neighborhood — especially those with negative habits who always seemed to have the freshest clothes and the most respect. In 1985, Pace learned exactly how some of […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Kamala Harris’ ‘Top Cop’ Legacy Is Complicated
Five years ago, when Kamala Harris was running for president, she labeled herself the “top cop” and “progressive prosecutor” that was “tough on crime.” With that came backlash from some criminal justice reform advocates and even those in law enforcement. In 2024, it’s unclear where she stands ideologically as vice president. Yet in her first […]
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
Acquitted of Murder Decades Ago, Virginia Man Serving Life Fights for His Freedom
This story originally published in 2024, but has been updated to reflect former President Joe Biden’s final clemency action in the days before he left the White House. The “Waverly Two” are among those set to be released this week. Terence Jerome Richardson and Ferrone Claibone were in the midst of an evidentiary hearing to […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Incarceration
This Law Gives Prosecutors Authority to Reduce Mass Incarceration
Three weeks after Thanh Tran’s 18th birthday, he rang a drug dealer’s doorbell. In an instant, Tran was caught up in a gang-related attempted murder and attempted robbery case that could have landed him in a California state prison for 75 years to life. Prosecutors presented Tran with a plea bargain of 17 years in […]
