This fact sheet describes how compensation for exonerees has evolved in the past several decades, including through successful litigation efforts and through the enactment of compensation legislation in thirty-nine states, Washington D.C., and by the federal government. It includes a table describing each of the state and federal statutes. Read the fact sheet.
Focus Area: Fairness in Criminal Outcomes
Bail Reform in Harris County: What Have We Learned?
On November 21, 2019, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Lee Rosenthal approved the Consent Decree in ODonnell v. Harris County. The new rules laid out in this consent decree require prompt release on unsecured bonds for the vast majority of people arrested for misdemeanor offenses. The Monitor and Deputy Monitor, Brandon Garrett and Sandra Guerra […]
Monitoring Pretrial Reform In Harris County: Seventh Report Of The Court-Appointed Monitor
Wilson Center Faculty Director Brandon Garrett serves as independent monitor for the landmark federal bail reform settlement in Harris County, TX. This seventh report by the monitor team describes the first four years of work evaluating the implementation of the misdemeanor bail reforms in Harris County, Texas. (2024) By Brandon L. Garrett, Sandra Guerra Thompson, […]
Evaluation of Durham’s ShotSpotter Installation: Results of a 12-month Pilot Project
The ShotSpotter pilot was deployed from December 15, 2022 – December 14, 2023 in a three-square-mile area of Durham that have historically had comparatively high rates of gun violence. This examines the performance of ShotSpotter in the pilot area and is authored by Philip Cook, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Economics, Duke University, and Adam […]
ShotSpotter in Durham, NC: A Community Sentiment Evaluation
In July 2023, the Wilson Center conducted nine focus groups and two individual interviews, with a total of 30 participants who live in the ShotSpotter pilot area in Durham, North Carolina. Participants were asked to discuss their perceptions of safety, gun violence, policing in their neighborhoods, ShotSpotter technology, and changes in policing or violence since […]
When the Dollars Don’t Add Up to Sense
This policy brief discusses how and why North Carolina must rethink its approach to criminal fines and fees. By Lindsay Bass-Patel and Angie Weis Gammell. By Lindsay Bass-Patel and Angie Weis Gammell. Read the brief
Finding Home: Removing Barriers to Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
The rate of homelessness among formerly incarcerated individuals is ten times higher than that of the general population. Thus, addressing the housing needs of this population is crucial for improving housing access and stability overall. This policy brief outlines the relationship between housing and the criminal legal system and sets forth recommendations to improve housing […]
Open Prosecution
This article opens the “black box” of prosecutorial discretion by tasking prosecutors with documenting detailed case-level information concerning plea bargaining. The article describes how the data-collection methodology was designed, piloted, and implemented, as well as the insights that have been generated and the wider implications for the judicial process across the country. By: Brandon L. […]