Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law
@wilsoncsj.bsky.social
390 followers 64 following 27 posts
A Duke Law interdisciplinary center working to advance criminal justice and equity through law and science
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wilsoncsj.bsky.social
Cashless bail has been in the news lately, but how does it work and what impact has it had on crime and detention rates? Check out this interview with Sandra Guerra Thompson, Deputy Monitor with @brandonlgarrett.bsky.app in the ODonnell v. Harris County Consent Decree. www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
Trump criticizes cashless bail. What is it and, what's the debate about it?
On Monday, President Trump criticized Democrats who support cashless bail as being too soft on crime.
www.wbur.org
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
Check out the above linked explainer from the New York Times on how bail works in the U.S. It cites our recent report that finds that ending cash bail for misdemeanors in Harris County, TX, is associated with improved public safety. wcsj.law.duke.edu/news/ending-...
Ending Cash Bail for Most Misdemeanors Is Associated with Improved Public Safety – Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law
wcsj.law.duke.edu
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
This week, President Trump signed an executive order directing the AG to submit a list of jurisdictions with cashless bail policies & instructs the Administration to identify Federal funds provided to cashless bail jurisdictions that may be suspended or terminated.
www.nytimes.com/article/cash...
What to Know About How Bail Works in the U.S.
President Trump on Monday signed an executive order calling for tougher rules on bail. Conservatives argue that policies limiting the practice have contributed to increased lawlessness, but the data…
www.nytimes.com
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
"What we found is providing those due process protections actually help them and reduce crime. Fewer people in jail and less crime -- both good things happened. It was not zero sum at all." Check out @brandonlgarrett.bsky.social chatting with @profmmurray.bsky.social on @strictscrutiny.bsky.social!
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
📊 Out Now! Wilson Center launches new driver’s license suspension dashboard. This new tool allows researchers, policy makers, and community members to dive deep into court dept and driver's license suspensions across North Carolina. Learn more at wcsj.law.duke.edu/news/wilson-...
Wilson Center Launches New Public Dashboard
Illuminating Court Debt and Driver’s License Suspensions Across North Carolina
wcsj.law.duke.edu
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
The Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law has received a generous gift from Duke University alumnus David McAtee (A.B. ‘91) to establish the McAtee JustScience Lab, a visionary initiative at the Center. Learn more at wcsj.law.duke.edu/news/gift-fr...
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
"By...granting clemency, governors would recognize & value the potential for redemption in the American prison system...Each grant of clemency could motivate other prisoners to take responsibility for their actions & to make redoubled efforts to grow & become better." www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/o...
Opinion | Governors, Use Your Clemency Powers
President Trump is abusing his clemency power, but most American governors are underutilizing their powers of commutation and pardon.
www.nytimes.com
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
In our latest report: misdemeanor cash bail elimination associated with improved public safety. We examined how changes since the implementation of new bail policies as a result of the ODonnell v. Harris County Settlement have affected the community. Learn more: wcsj.law.duke.edu/news/ending-...
Ending Cash Bail for Most Misdemeanors Is Associated with Improved Public Safety
wcsj.law.duke.edu
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
Out this week! A special edition of Law and Human Behavior’s on Justice, Legitimacy, and Technology. This edition was guest co-edited by our Faculty Director @brandonlgarrett.bsy.social along with David DeMatteo and Christopher King.

Check out the issue: psycnet.apa.org/PsycARTICLES...
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
Why does forensics reform matter? Professor Maneka Sinha, Professor of Law at @umaryland.edu Law School where she leads the Forensic Defense Clinic walks us through it.

Learn more and access the full toolkit at forensicsreform.com.
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
Have you checked out our Forensics Reform Toolkit? @[email protected] talks us through how to use it. Learn more and access the full toolkit at forensicsreform.com.
Reposted by Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law
andrewqmr.bsky.social
My latest for @theappeal.org:

James Carver spent 36 years in prison after he was convicted of setting one of the deadliest fires in #Massachusetts history. But after reviewing new scientific evidence, a judge set him free.

“They took my life away for nothing,” Carver said.
“They took my life away for nothing.”
James Carver spent 36 years in prison for allegedly setting one of the deadliest fires in Massachusetts history.
theappeal.org
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
"[Habeas corpus] has played a crucial role in many emergencies and wars during our history. And courts have consistently emphasized that habeas provides its strongest protections when the executive seeks to detain people without a trial." - @brandonlgarrett.bsky.social. time.com/7284743/what...
What Is Habeas Corpus and How Is It Under Threat?
Stephen Miller said the Trump Administration is “actively looking at” the option of suspending habeas corpus.
time.com
Reposted by Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
"These are [prosecutors'] errors, after all...No one says, ‘Oh, wow, they’re really going the extra mile at Boeing when they’re trying to figure out why planes crashed.’ No, this is actually their job.” [email protected] today in @injusticewatch.org on prosecutor accountability.
injusticewatch.org
Cook County’s conviction integrity unit has been celebrated for exonerating more people than any comparable unit nationwide. But an Injustice Watch investigation found 21 people who were denied relief by the group before flawed evidence later led to their exonerations.
Cook County’s conviction integrity unit repeatedly denied freedom to prisoners who were later cleared
Still in prison after 18 years despite the flimsy evidence of his guilt, Kevin Jackson tore open the letter from the Cook County conviction integrity unit
buff.ly
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
"When an an AI system links a person's face to a still from surveillance video, recommends whether to detain a person in jail, or responds with 'situational awareness' to a national security threat, what assurance is there that this system can be trusted?" - @brandonlgarrett.bsky.social
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
"This new law would expand mandatory detention to people simply arrested for or charged with such crimes, regardless of whether they actually committed them...[raising]serious due process issues." [email protected], Kate Evans, & Elana Fogel today in The Hill: thehill.com/opinion/cong...
Protect your constitutional rights: Don’t fall for the Laken Riley Act’s security theater
The due process clauses of the Constitution are written in general terms: they apply to all people, in the land of the free.
thehill.com
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
"Common ground on due process matters now more than ever, to mend political polarization, to cool simmering distrust of government, and to safeguard our constitutional rights." — Faculty Director @brandonlgarrett.bsky.social. Learn more about his upcoming book at the link!
wilsoncsj.bsky.social
New article out now from Bolts by Phillip Vance Smith II, and featuring an interview from our Executive Director Yvette Garcia Missri. North Carolina has expanded medical release by statute, but are incarcerated people able to access this provision?
boltsmag.org
Bolts @boltsmag.org · Jan 9
“One doctor said I got two-to-four years left to live. Another give me three-to-five. They don’t really know. But one thing’s for sure: If I don’t get out, cancer’ll kill me in prison.” boltsmag.org/north-c...
Terminally Ill People Languish in North Carolina Prisons, Even After Reforms
State lawmakers expanded the law for people seeking medical release from prison, but eligibility remains limited.
boltsmag.org