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Article Subject: World
Is prosecution counter-productive? New US research says it can be
There is a strong belief that criminal sanctions reduce crime. But a new study from… Read more
The tide is turning – at last there’s progress on criminal justice in the USA
In the UK our prison population doubled in twenty years and became the highest in… Read more
Jail or bail? We can learn from the USA
People who follow this blog know that I am slightly obsessed by the difference between… Read more
No other Western adversarial system denies defendants legal representation
Our criminal justice system is fiercesomely complicated – so complex that the Law Commission has… Read more
Our justice system – the finest in the world?
In this best of possible worlds, everything is for the best This panglossian view of… Read more
can we learn from the way French judges supervise offenders?
So much is different in the French criminal justice system from the English, starting with… Read more
Lord Neuberger advocates that justice should be “the best we can do”
The President of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger gave a very human speech the other… Read more
How open can a judge be? Meet Judge Cristi Danilet of Romania
I never thought I’d meet a judge like Cristi Danilet. At an excellent seminar today… Read more
I’m truly impressed by Ireland’s reform of penal policy
I wouldn’t have known about Ireland’s fantastic new penal policy without twitter – @lukecareypact tweeted… Read more
Ann Aiken: a truly different federal judge
On my travels so far, people have distinguished the Federal Justice System from the State… Read more
Not all US judges are gung-ho about problem solving
I met the retired DA (elected public prosecutor) of Portland and enjoyed his take on… Read more
Measure 11- power to the people?
I’m all for giving power to the people, but only if the people are very… Read more
Judging the performance of judges – a US approach
There is no doubt in my mind that electing judges is a bad idea. Most… Read more
How to get the bus to stop right outside the court
Michigan has way more court-rooms per head of population than England. Every town of any… Read more
Therapeutic jurisprudence in action – the Baltimore drug court
In the short time I’ve been in USA I have seen some amazing judges. Or… Read more
Fines – a transatlantic problem
The imposition of fines is at the cornerstone of both US and English justice. Fines… Read more
The veterans’ court graduation – an emotional experience
I have never seen so many offenders say thank-you in a court as I did… Read more
Setting up the Detroit homeless court- a truly collaborative effort
The effort involved in getting the Street Outreach court in Detroit off the ground was… Read more
Elections for the judiciary in USA – a barrier to penal reform?
In many states of the USA, judges are elected by the people. And in some… Read more
A glimpse into the juvenile court in Washington DC
Most children under 18 are seen by the juvenile court in DC. All court proceedings… Read more
A mental health court in DC – adversarial or inquisitorial?
To my shame, I have never visited a mental health court in England. But I… Read more
US judges – involved or aloof?
This morning in Washington DC I observed a very busy drugs court. The judge, Gregory… Read more
“Man is born free, but is everywhere in chains”
The symbolism of chains is very strong – for me it evokes slavery and a… Read more
How single-minded should those campaigning against the death penalty be?
Sometimes campaigners can stab each other in the back unwittingly. In England and Wales, there… Read more
Are US judges interested in penal reform?
Marc Mauer of the Sentencing Project offered a sobering statistic. If the prison population of the… Read more
US judges – more innovative than English judges but still lacking organisational power
It’s depressing but also uplifting to hear about the US system of criminal justice. I’m… Read more
Treating child defandants as adults – a US phenomenon
I have arrived in the land of the free only to be depressed about children… Read more
Crime and Guilt: punishment the German Way
I read one of the best books ever on criminal justice on holiday. A friend… Read more