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Policy Archive

Archives for August 2016

A federal report just confirmed it: for-profit prisons are more dangerous than public ones
Criminal Justice

A very damning investigation.

By German Lopez
Politics
South Carolina schools often criminalize black students. The ACLU is fighting back.South Carolina schools often criminalize black students. The ACLU is fighting back.
Politics

The organization is suing to end laws that enable the “school-to-prison pipeline.”

By German Lopez
A viral Christian blog post about accepting interracial marriage shows how deep racial bias runs
Religion

The author had to pray to accept her black son-in-law. It was bad.

By Jenée Desmond-Harris
Politics
The Daily Show asks: why do police body cameras keep failing when we most need them?The Daily Show asks: why do police body cameras keep failing when we most need them?
Politics

“The cameras got the whole thing except the actual shooting? It’s a little suspicious, right?”

By German Lopez
The difference between “Latino” and “Hispanic,” in one cartoon
Features

Many people don’t know when to say “Hispanic” and when to say “Latino.” So I drew a comic to explain the difference.

By Terry Blas
Politics
A black sergeant in Baltimore was told to “stay in your lane” when calling out misconductA black sergeant in Baltimore was told to “stay in your lane” when calling out misconduct
Politics

A Baltimore lieutenant used signs to intimidate a black sergeant who spoke on misconduct.

By Victoria M. Massie
Politics
Department of Justice: Baltimore cops “coerced sex in exchange for immunity from arrest”Department of Justice: Baltimore cops “coerced sex in exchange for immunity from arrest”
Politics

The report found that officers specifically targeted “members of a vulnerable population.”

By Victoria M. Massie
Justice Department: Baltimore police response to sexual assault is “grossly inadequate”
Criminal Justice

The Justice Department found that the Baltimore Police Department isn’t just racially biased; it also fails to properly investigate sexual assault cases.

By Emily Crockett
Politics
How police racism in Baltimore made it harder for cops to catch murderersHow police racism in Baltimore made it harder for cops to catch murderers
Politics

A lot of murders in America — and especially in Baltimore — still don’t get solved. And community trust is a big reason why.

By Dara Lind
Explainers
The federal government won’t change marijuana’s “schedule.” Here’s what that means.The federal government won’t change marijuana’s “schedule.” Here’s what that means.
Explainers

It’s a complicated, but important, guide for drug policy. Here’s what you need to know.

By German Lopez
Politics
Policing isn’t just broken in Ferguson or Baltimore. It’s broken in America.Policing isn’t just broken in Ferguson or Baltimore. It’s broken in America.
Politics

This is a systemic problem. Not a case-by-case one.

By German Lopez
Politics
Hillary Clinton doesn’t want to abolish the 2nd Amendment. Here’s what she DOES want to doHillary Clinton doesn’t want to abolish the 2nd Amendment. Here’s what she DOES want to do
Politics

Her rhetoric on guns has shifted a lot.

By Dylan Matthews
Technology
Some cities want to offer publicly owned internet access. A new ruling makes that harder.Some cities want to offer publicly owned internet access. A new ruling makes that harder.
Technology

Obama wants to let cities offer internet access. But a court struck down his proposal.

By Timothy B. Lee
Culture
Suicide Squad represents everything wrong with the DC movie universeSuicide Squad represents everything wrong with the DC movie universe
Culture

Problem number one: a lack of respect for their source material.

By Peter Suderman
Every step of Freddie Gray’s arrest reflects huge problems found by the Justice Department
Politics

The six Baltimore police officers involved in Freddie Gray’s case were acquitted. But the Justice Department’s investigation into the Baltimore Police Department raises a lot of questions.

By German Lopez