SJC Exchange Library

This nine-part series from the R Street Institute provides a granular look at how Georgia, Michigan, and Virginia approach criminal justice across three critical phases—pre-arrest, pretrial, and post-conviction. Through state-by-state policy mapping, the authors identify structural pressure points, compare existing practices, and propose targeted reforms to boost fairness, efficiency, and public safety. Whether discussing alternatives to arrest, modernizing pretrial systems, or expanding second-chance opportunities, the series emphasizes how incremental policy adjustments can create outsized improvements in how justice is administered.