With dozens of bills filed to enhance criminal penalties, lawmakers should consider many key factors involving justice, deterrence, and prioritization of resources that are outlined in this checklist before deciding to increase criminal penalties.
Criminal Justice
When an abuser’s sentence ends, the victim’s life sentence begins
Nearly every woman carries the fear of becoming a victim of a violent crime. She may not always say it, but every time she walks to the office, takes her children on an errand run, or double-checks the lock on her front door at night, there is an underlying calculation of what she needs to do to keep herself safe....
September 19, 2026