In United States criminal courts, the right to a lawyer for the accused is guaranteed—but without adequate funding for public defenders, that promise falls short.

“You have the right to an attorney.” It’s a familiar line from countless TV procedurals. Miranda rights are derived, in part, from the Sixth Amendment, which guarantees the right to counsel. What’s far less familiar is how fragile the promise of public defenders can be in practice, especially for people who cannot afford their own attorney.People l ...

Second look laws are gaining momentum as advocates reframe them as a way to right past harms.

Second look laws offer a second chance to revisit long prison sentences that no longer serve public safety and recognize that people can change and evolve during their time in prison. Read on to learn how advocates in four states advanced second look sentencing reform by pairing evidence with values-driven narratives that helped overcome political ...