The rule of lenity, requires ambiguous criminal laws be interpreted in favor of the defendants subjected to them. It is a centuries-old protection, but overcriminalization has eroded the rule, thus making its formal codification necessary.
Criminal Justice
Protect victims beyond their molesters’ prison sentences
Kayleigh Kozak was 12 when she was molested by her teacher. Although the harm done to her as a child can never be undone, her story has become a catalyst for a broader conversation about how the justice system protects victims after an offender has been convicted and sentenced. Kayleigh’s experience highlights a painful gap that...
May 14, 2026