🔥 Trending The Marshall Project: Understanding Its Focus on Criminal Justice

The Marshall Project is a non-profit news organization dedicated to covering the U.S. criminal justice system ¹²⁹. Its primary mission is to create and sustain a sense of urgency about justice reform by producing high-quality, independent journalism ⁹.

How The Marshall Project Operates

The organization operates by publishing journalistic and opinion pieces on its own website ². Beyond its independent publications, The Marshall Project frequently collaborates with other news organizations and magazines to disseminate its investigations ²⁹. This collaborative approach allows its in-depth reporting to reach a wider audience and amplify its impact on public discourse regarding criminal justice issues ⁹.

Types of News Covered

The Marshall Project focuses exclusively on the U.S. criminal justice system, covering a wide array of topics within this domain. Its reporting often delves into:

• Investigations: The organization is known for its investigative journalism, uncovering systemic issues, injustices, and inefficiencies within the criminal justice system ². For instance, its first investigations were published in August 2014, both on its own website and in collaboration with outlets like The Washington Post ².
• Policy and Reform: The Marshall Project closely monitors and reports on policies, legislative changes, and reform efforts related to criminal justice ⁹.
• Experiences of Incarcerated Individuals: It provides insights into the lives and experiences of people within the prison system, as exemplified by its "Guide: How to Navigate Perimenopause and Menopause in Prison," published in July 2026 ¹.
• Local Impact: While it covers national issues, The Marshall Project also emphasizes local reporting. For example, in November 2021, it announced plans to launch a criminal justice news operation in Cleveland, supported by the Gund Foundation, to address the need for high-quality local investigative reporting ⁵⁹.
• Language and Terminology: The organization also addresses the impact of language in criminal justice reporting, as seen in "The Language Project" published in April 2021, which likely explores how terminology shapes public perception and policy ¹⁰.

The Marshall Project aims to fill a critical gap in journalism by providing dedicated, in-depth coverage of a complex and often overlooked area, working to inform the public and drive meaningful reform ⁹.