In early December, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris dropped out of the presidential race after months of attacks from the left for her “tough on crime” record as attorney general. A decade ago, the idea that this could be a political loser – not an asset – was unthinkable for both parties.

University of Southern California law professor Jody Armour explains why criminal justice has become a central campaign issue, and how a growing crop of district attorneys are being elected precisely because they want to dismantle the government’s traditional approach to crime and punishment.

Armour had reasons – both personal and professional – to doubt that a government prosecutor could ever be a compassionate advocate for redemption and rehabilitation. Now, that’s starting to change.

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Kamala Harris’ campaign fizzled as her past as a prosecutor haunted her candidacy. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

How being ‘tough on crime’ became a political liability

Jody D. Armour, University of Southern California

More and more district attorney candidates are running on reversing the government's traditional approach to crime and punishment. And they’re winning.

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  • From Vietnam to Afghanistan, all US governments lie

    Gordon Adams, American University School of International Service

    US officials have consistently lied over decades about progress in the Afghanistan war. The lies are no surprise, writes a foreign affairs scholar – but they have profound consequences.

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