The state's Supreme Court Chief Justice convened a three-day conference on sentencing and corrections policy earlier this month. As in many other states, the time may be ripe for sentencing reform in Alabama.

In reducing the disparity in sentencing for crack versus powder cocaine, Congress has repealed a mandatory minimum sentence for the first time in decades. Research tells us what should happen next.

Sadly, the saga of Maurice Clemmons, who was released on parole from prison in Arkansas, released on bail in Washington, and is now accused of killing four Seattle-area police officers, is not an uncommon one. But with any luck, this time policymakers will react differently.

A mentor once told me "If you have 10 projects up and running and 5 are successful, you're doing a fantastic job." After thinking for a long time that our project in Illinois would be one of the "unsuccessful" ones, we were pleasantly surprised when things took a turn for the best this past spring and legislative reform came in a package of bills, including one creating a sentencing advisory council and another ushering in a series of crime reduction measures.