States continue to lead on criminal justice reform

In the 2018 midterms, voters across America decided on several measures that shape how millions of Americans interact with the criminal justice system.

Floridians restored voting rights to more than a million people convicted of felonies who have successfully served their time, Oregon voters decided to remain the nation’s only “sanctuary state,” Louisianians eliminated felony convictions by non-unanimous juries, and voters in Washington strengthened police accountability guidelines.

While Congress weighs passing the first major criminal justice bill in nearly eight years, the midterms offer a reminder that states continue to lead in this arena, and reform has bipartisan support.

– Nicole Lewis, Reporter, The Marshall Project