USSC Policy Priorities, Walz' Record & More

“There was just this national narrative that crime was going up; we should hold off on any reforms. In Minnesota, they were like, ‘We’re going to ignore the national narrative and pass good policy.’”

As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz takes center stage as the democratic nominee for Vice President, his record on criminal justice issues is coming into focus. The Marshall Project took a look at five areas where the Governor has made progress for the Land of 10,000 Lakes, including a law that made caps on probation retroactive in a state that had previously imposed some of the longest probationary periods in the nation.

"Prohibiting the consideration of acquitted conduct during sentencing is a win for due process protection, ensuring that people will not be punished for charges for which they have not been convicted." 

The United States Sentencing Commission voted unanimously in favor of adopting a wide range of policy updates Thursday afternoon, including a measure that will further prohibit the consideration of acquitted conduct at sentencing. The move comes after advocates and experts urged the commission earlier this year to restrict the consideration of acquitted conduct, improve data best practices, and improve supervised release policies.

“The fact that First Step Act releasees have a drastically lower rate...is something everyone should take notice of.”

Demonstrating its continued success, the First Step Act of 2018 has resulted in a recidivism rate of just 9.7% among its releasees, compared to the Bureau of Prisons' overall rate of 43%-45%. With over 44,671 individuals released, this landmark legislation has provided significant opportunities for rehabilitation and successful reintegration, demonstrating the powerful impact of bipartisan reform. Notably, the latest analysis shows individuals serving sentences of up to five years have a recidivism rate of only 7.1%, while those assessed as minimum risk show a remarkable rearrest rate of just 2.8%.

“It really helped us divert kids away from detention.”

A Marshall Project investigation revealed an alarming lack of oversight in Cuyahoga County’s youth care centers, where facilities operate without regular inspections or reporting. Despite receiving $5.5 million to reduce overcrowding, the detention center's daily population surged by 38% from 2020 to 2023, while private placements climbed from 0 to 103 in less than two years. As controversial social media posts by one owner exposed a disturbing approach to discipline, questions about accountability and the true impact of Ohio's juvenile justice reforms have intensified.

 "You're going to see so many more people who are of advanced age and people dealing with chronic illness that the state's prisons are going to resemble hospitals even more than they already do."

Louisiana's recent legislative changes, including eliminating parole and reducing early release opportunities for incarcerated people, are a significant shift in the state's criminal justice policies. While previous reforms saved the state millions of dollars and reduced its prison population, these new measures could potentially reverse that trend, leading to an increased prison population and budget. The rollbacks, which took effect this month, have been represented as a move by Governor Jeff Landry to address violent crime despite data showing a decrease in crime rates.