Marc A. Levin is the Chief Policy Counsel at the Council on Criminal Justice and Senior Advisor to Right on Crime.
James T. Woods Act would take necessary steps One night nearly a year ago, Marilyn Davidson’s worst nightmare as a mother came true at the dinner table. Like most other parents, Marilyn had taught her son about the dangers he might encounter as he grew up, including drugs, alcohol, strangers and unsafe situations. Still, there was one...
At what age should juvenile offenders be tried and treated as adults in North Carolina? What constitutes a juvenile’s actions so irredeemable that they bypass the juvenile system and go straight into adult corrections? As times change and public safety evolves, it is important to reflect on the principles that guide our justice system. One...
When criminal records follow people forever, families struggle, employers lose workers, and communities lose productive citizens. Federal law offers almost no path to redemption, even though second chances strengthen public safety and the economy. Key Points The federal expungement system is effectively nonexistent. Permanent criminal records for non-violent federal offenses undermine work opportunities, family stability,...