Browsing: Criminal Justice

Pastor Jerome Smith got a second chance and made sure countless others received one too

Eighty-seven percent of people who would qualify for an expungement under proposed legislation have never committed anything more serious than a misdemeanor, according to new data from the Badger Institute.

A majority of Wisconsin voters believe the state’s criminal justice system needs significant improvements, expungement law needs reform; voters overwhelmingly agree the criminal justice system should ensure people are less likely to commit another crime & help people become productive, law-abiding citizens.

Incarceration is rare for pot-only convictions; coupled with municipal policies, Wisconsin has effectively decriminalized marijuana

For those with a single, low-level, non-violent offense on their record, receiving an expungement would give them the chance to fully move past their mistake, opening employment and housing opportunities.

Incarceration is rare for pot-only convictions; coupled with municipal policies, Wisconsin has, in effect, decriminalized marijuana.

Coalition releases recommendations to guide Wisconsin policymakers

The Wisconsin Criminal Justice Coalition, led by the Badger Institute, offers policy ideas for combating recidivism, fostering opportunity, saving taxpayer money and maintaining public safety in its second edition of Criminal Justice Reform Recommendations.

New policy brief focuses on seven key reforms

If Wisconsin policymakers want to reform the state’s criminal justice system in a way that achieves better outcomes for taxpayers, communities and offenders, they will need detailed, accurate and robust data.

By Patrick Hughes and Julie Grace Police use of force has sparked an intense debate across America, including in our…

What happened in Kenosha is an anomaly, defying the critics’ charge that police violence is systemic

Strategies for improving community-police relations

State needs better crime data to get an accurate picture of who’s incarcerated here and why

Badger Institute urges legislators to mandate better statewide data

Wisconsin needs criminal justice data collection and reporting legislation

What we know thus far

Policymakers will need to look to reforms to address overcrowding issues

Move would stress support and health care systems throughout the state

Badger Institute analysis shows the rate is much lower, and complicated crime reporting makes comparisons difficult