Despite a narrative that progress on criminal justice reform has slowed—or even died—the movement proved resilient in state houses across the country. In 2026, legislatures in 45 states with active sessions, plus Washington, DC, passed 425 criminal justice reform laws, in red, blue, and purple states alike. Reform held its ground through a national turn toward “tough-on-crime” politics rather than giving way to it, and there are signs the tide is beginning to turn in favor of progress.
https://www.vera.org/state-level-criminal-justice-progress-in-2026