Justice Blogs

People Op-Ed: Leading Prosecutor Remembers How Violence Against Women Act Saved Lives — and Urges Congress' Support Now

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Our government has a moral obligation to protect its citizens, and when it falls short of doing that, it must listen to those it let down to learn how to do better

Symposium on Missing or Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Yahoo! News Op-Ed: 20 years later, a transformed Justice Department is still fighting — and preventing — terrorism

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000

New York Post Op-Ed: Sorry: This criminal-justice ‘reform’ would be disaster for policing

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

George Floyd’s death prompted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to consider ways to reform policing. Some of their suggestions hold promise. But other radical ideas are wide of the mark and, if enacted, would pose a serious threat to public safety. Eliminating qualified immunity falls squarely in that category.

New York Times Op-Ed: The Federal Death Penalty Can Be Administered Fairly

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000

This month, for the first time in 17 years, the United States resumed carrying out death sentences for federal crimes. On July 14, Daniel Lewis Lee was executed for the 1996 murder of a family, including an 8-year-old girl, by suffocating and drowning them in the Illinois Bayou after robbing them to fund a white-supremacist organization. On July 16, Wesley Purkey was executed for the 1998 murder of a teenage girl, whom he kidnapped, raped, killed, dismembered and discarded in a septic pond. The next day, Dustin Honken was executed for five murders committed in 1993, including the execution-style shooting of two young girls, their mother, and two prospective witnesses against him in a federal prosecution for methamphetamine trafficking.

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER OP-ED: SAFE INJECTION SITES ENABLE DRUG USERS AND ENDANGER COMMUNITIES

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Introduction to the Department of Justice Journal of Federal Law and Practice

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Washington Post Op-Ed: ‘Social justice reform’ is no justice at all

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Phasing Out Our Use of Private Prisons

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 12:00:00 +0000

When most people think of the Justice Department, they are likely to imagine the most visible parts of our job – the law enforcement agents who investigate crimes or the lawyers who prosecute them. But the department’s core responsibilities go beyond investigation and prosecution. Unlike most states, the federal government puts its law enforcement agents, criminal prosecutors, and correctional officers all in a single department. We handle every step from the start of an investigation to the end of a prison sentence. Our work to house and rehabilitate individuals incarcerated in the Federal Bureau of Prisons is an important part of our responsibility and operations, accounting for 25 percent of the department’s budget every year.

Poverty Is Not A Crime

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 12:00:00 +0000

There is no principle underlying our criminal justice system more essential than that we must treat equally the wealthy and the poor. As former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy said in 1962, “If justice is priced in the market place, individual liberty will be curtailed and respect for law diminished.”

Addressing the Nation’s Heroin Crisis

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to join with Director Botticelli of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to convene the first meeting of the Attorney General’s Heroin Task Force. The meeting was the first step in bringing together federal agency experts from law enforcement, medicine, public health and educational fields to help develop a coordinated response to our nation’s heroin crisis.

Giving a Boost to Kids of Incarcerated Parents

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000

This week, the beloved children’s television show “Sesame Street” introduced a character named Alex. Like hundreds of thousands of American children, Alex has a parent behind bars, and like them, he faces considerable challenges to his happiness, welfare, and chances of future success.

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Reducing Gun Violence and Preventing Future Tragedies

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

The Fight to End to Human Trafficking Continues

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Committed to Our Mission while Supporting Small Businesses

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

One Year in Indian Country

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

A Record: Fraud Recoveries Top $5.6 Billion

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Celebrating American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Deputy Attorney General James Cole Participates in Missing Children’s Day Ceremony

Tue, 31 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000