Sentencing Law & Policy

I was pleased to learn via an email that The Sentencing Project has updated its report from last year (noted here) on second look sentencing developments. This new 44-page report is titled "The Second Look Movement: An Assessment of the... Douglas A. Berman Sentences Reconsidered State Sentencing Guidelines Who Sentences

The question in the title of this post is prompted by Prez Trump's latest social media posting, which asserts that "Speaker Mike Johnson, and Leader John Thune, are working with me, and other Republicans, on a Comprehensive Crime Bill." I... Douglas A. Berman Criminal justice in the Trump Administration Elections and sentencing issues in political debates Who Sentences

As reported in this CNN article, Prez Trump today was making a pitch for pursuit of the death penalty in response to ebery murder in Washington DC: President Donald Trump said that his administration will seek the death penalty in... Douglas A. Berman Criminal justice in the Trump Administration Death Penalty Reforms Who Sentences

I am very excited to be part of efforts to plan a big event here at The Ohio State University for September 8-9, 2026 titled "Originalism and Criminal Justice Symposium." Basic details about the event are available at this link,... Douglas A. Berman Procedure and Proof at Sentencing Sentences Reconsidered

A Second Circuit panel issued a notable opinion yesterday in United States v. Mercado, No. 25-206-cr (2d Cir. Aug. 26, 2025) (available here), regarding supervised release rules. Here is how the opinion starts: The government appeals from an amended order,... Douglas A. Berman Procedure and Proof at Sentencing Reentry and community supervision

A Second Circuit panel issued a notable opinion yesterday in United States v. Mercado, No. 25-206-cr (2d Cir. Aug. 26, 2025) (available here), regarding supervised release revocation procedure. Here is how the opinion starts: The government appeals from an amended... Douglas A. Berman Procedure and Proof at Sentencing Reentry and community supervision

The title of this post is the title of this short paper authored by Mark Osler now available via SSRN. Here is its abstract: The Trump and Biden administrations established new trends in the use of the pardon power. One... Douglas A. Berman Clemency and Pardons Criminal justice in the Obama Administration Criminal justice in the Trump Administration Offense Characteristics Sentences Reconsidered Who Sentences

The Prison Policy Initiative, which has some of the best data visuals on incarceration level and other criminal justice metrics, today released this new report titled "Youth Confinement: The Whole Pie 2025." Here are excerpts from the start of the... Douglas A. Berman Offender Characteristics Prisons and prisoners Race, Class, and Gender Scope of Imprisonment

Today I start another year of teaching at The Ohio State University MorItz College of Law, and I am very much looking forward to meeting a new cohort of 1Ls in my Criminal Law class this afternoon. Much has changed... Douglas A. Berman

A set of US Supreme Court cases to be argued in November — which are already being discussing at the Sentencing Matters Substack in recent posts here and here — seems likely to bring more attention to so-called "compassionate release"... Douglas A. Berman Procedure and Proof at Sentencing Sentences Reconsidered State Sentencing Guidelines Who Sentences

As reported in this BBC piece, headlined "Pub and travel bans proposed under sentencing rule changes," some notable reforms spurred by prison overcrowding are emerging across the pond. Here are the basics: People convicted of crimes in England and Wales... Douglas A. Berman Reentry and community supervision Scope of Imprisonment Sentencing around the world

In his first day back in the Oval Office, through this January 20 executive order, Prez Trump called the death penalty the "only proper punishment for the vilest crimes" and asserted that his "Administration will not tolerate efforts to stymie... Douglas A. Berman Criminal justice in the Biden Administration Criminal justice in the Trump Administration Death Penalty Reforms Procedure and Proof at Sentencing Who Sentences

As reported in this Fox News piece, "Lyle Menendez, one of the two brothers convicted in the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents in Beverly Hills, was denied parole by a California review board on Friday in his first appearance... Douglas A. Berman Celebrity sentencings Sentences Reconsidered Who Sentences

The title of this post is the title of this new essay now available via SSRN authored by Jessica Eaglin. Here is its abstract: In response to the tenth anniversary of the Ferguson uprisings, this Essay examines how the protests... Douglas A. Berman Procedure and Proof at Sentencing Race, Class, and Gender Technocorrections Who Sentences

The title of this post is tht title of this new paper authored by Lucas Brolin that I just came across via SSRN. Here is its abstract: Capital punishment presents an inherent tension between due process and retributive justice: When... Douglas A. Berman Death Penalty Reforms Procedure and Proof at Sentencing Purposes of Punishment and Sentencing

As reported in this CBS News piece, headlined "Lyle Menendez set for parole board hearing day after brother was denied," California parole practices are getting significant attention thanks to a couple of high-profile hearings. Here are some details: After the... Douglas A. Berman Celebrity sentencings Sentences Reconsidered Who Sentences

In this post from January 2025, I flagged a ruling by Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal holding that a state requirement for convicted sexual predators to have the words "SEXUAL PREDATOR" on their driver’s licenses violated their First Amendment... Douglas A. Berman Collateral consequences Sex Offender Sentencing

An Eleventh Circuit panel issued a notable Second Amendment ruling yesterday in Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, et al. v. Attorney General of the United States, et al., No. 22-13893 (11th Cir. Aug. 20, 2025) (available here). Though the case is... Douglas A. Berman Gun policy and sentencing Second Amendment issues

The title of this post is the title of this new paper available via SSRN authored by Ian Ayres and Fredrick Vars. Here is its abstract: In February of this year, we published a call for the government to relaunch... Douglas A. Berman Collateral consequences Second Amendment issues

In this post last week, I asked "Will Prez Trump's federal take-over of DC police lead to more federal charges and sentencings?". This new New York Times article, headlined "Pirro Orders Office to Maximize Criminal Charges on Street Arrests," certainly... Douglas A. Berman Criminal justice in the Trump Administration Who Sentences