Post-Arrest DNA, AI-Generated Police Reports & More

"[Governments] should not be allowed to collect and permanently store sensitive and unique biological or biometric data on citizens not guilty of a crime."

At what point does a person involved with the justice system lose the right to their own DNA? In 30 states and at the federal level, that point is post-arrest, not post-conviction. Today, the majority of states store sensitive genetic information from people that have not been convicted of a crime, and advocacy organizations worry this invites potential misuse by governments and opens up opportunities for hackers to gain access to this sensitive information. Read more in Reason.

"It was a better report than I could have ever written, and it was 100% accurate. It flowed better."

The Oklahoma City Police Department is one of a handful of departments that are using AI chatbots to draft incident reports, according to the Associated Press. The technology, while praised for its time saving abilities, is prone to inaccuracies and potential biases, which could impact criminal cases. As use of technology becomes more widespread, the debate will intensify over its impact on policing and the criminal justice system.

"Investing in enhanced educational and vocational training programs for incarcerated individuals and addressing the crumbling and unsafe environments in which they live is a wise investment in the future safety of all Georgians."

In an op-ed in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia State Senator Kim Jackson, argues the state's prisons are in crisis due to overcrowding, inadequate mental health care, and deteriorating environments. The conditions, she argues, have created dangerous environments for both incarcerated people and staff. She calls on the state to invest in comprehensive reforms, including improved mental health services and better living conditions for incarcerated individuals who often enter the system with existing issues that are only further exacerbated while incarcerated. 

"Carjackings fell nationally in 2023 after appearing to rise substantially from 2019 to 2022."

New data shows carjackings have sharply declined across major U.S. cities in 2024, reversing the trend seen from 2019 to 2022. Despite initial spikes due to expanded reporting, carjackings have dropped 24% this year across 29 surveyed cities, with notable reductions in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Chicago. 

"[At] the end of the day, when you have completed your sentence, when you are done, you should be able to participate in our society fully and completely."

A Nebraska law that would have restored the right to vote for more than 7,000 people with past criminal convictions was supposed to go into effect this past July. This week, The New York Times details why it hasn’t happened, and how the halting of the law has resulted in thousands left in legal limbo ahead of the November election.