Financial assessments in the justice system can create an unjust cycle of debt for those who can’t pay.

Law enforcement’s use of DNA evidence and consumer genealogy records to find perpetrators of violent crimes has led to breakthroughs in dormant investigations, giving hope to victims’ families and raising privacy concerns.

To help people who might benefit more from treatment than jail time, lawmakers are getting rid of low-level offenses and reducing sentences for some crimes.

The Care Campus, a Rapid City, S.D., facility that houses several social service operations in one location, is connecting people with mental health treatment and reducing jail intakes for misdemeanor offenses.

Recent laws safeguarding the personal information of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers, and providing for additional physical security, can be a model for election officials who face violent threats.

With jails and prisons often housing more people with behavioral health needs than state-run psychiatric facilities, lawmakers and other stakeholders across the country are exploring ways to connect those who need treatment with community-based...