The criminal justice system in the United States is known to be complex. Due to its weaknesses, this system often becomes a topic that is talked about by many. Some issues that are related to this include inequality, racial bias, and overcrowded prisons. In the midst of the chaos, there are some organizations that appear as a hope. These organizations are dedicated to shedding light on the issues within the criminal justice system and trying their best to make a change.
One such an organization is called the Marshall Project. What is the Marshall Project and what exactly does it do? For those who are not familiar with the Marshall Project and are wondering about what it does, just read the following information.
An Overview about the Marshall Project
The Marshall Project is the name of a nonprofit news organization. It was named after the legendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. This organization was founded in 2014. It aims to shed light on the American criminal justice system and is committed to addressing the systemic issues within the criminal justice system and informing the public about the challenges faced by those who come into contact with it.
The work done by the Marshall Project involves investigative journalism, storytelling, and research. When producing its work, the team often teams up with a network of journalists, news outlets, and experts. The aspects of the criminal justice that they report vary, such as:
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- Mass incarceration
- Racial disparities
- Prison conditions
- Criminal justice reform
- Legal issues
- Impactful stories
History of the Marshall Project
The idea of the Marshall Project came in November 2013 from a former hedge-fund manager named Neil Barsky. The man thought it might be a good chance to use the idea when he was writing an op-ed in The New York Times. That’s why he included a brief description of the project and the website URL in his byline. The following year, Bill Keller who had been executive editor at The New York Times was reported to work for the Marshall Project.
On the official website of the Marshall Projects, there are some journalistic and opinion pieces published by the team. In order to conduct public investigations, they usually work with new organizations and magazines. In August and October 2014, they published their first two investigations on their official website, in The Washington Post, and in Slate.
In November 2014, the Marshall Project officially launched. Bill Keller, the man who used to be New York Times executor editor, was its first editor-in-chief. As he retired five years later, his position was filled by Susan Chira.
Projects of the Marshall Project
According to the official website of the Marshall Project, its projects include:
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- Inside Story
- News Inside
- Life Inside
- Mauled
- The Language Project
- The Record
- The System
Awards and Honors Received by the Marshall Project
Due to its excellence, the Marshall Project has received some awards and honors, such as:
- 2016: Won the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory with ProPublica for “An Unbelievable Story of Rape”.
- 2016: Won the George Polk Award for “An Unbelievable Story of Rape”.
- 2017: Won the National Magazine Award for general excellence in the category of Literature, Science and Politics
- 2017: Named as a collaborator with ProPublica when This American Life won a Peabody Award for “Anatomy of Doubt”.
- 2017: Its documentary series called “We Are Witnesses” was nominated for the 39th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
- 2018: Won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for “Overall Excellence” for a small digital newsroom.
- 2018: Won the award for General Excellence in Online Journalism from Online News Association.
- 2019: Its installment of the “We Are Witnesses” series was nominated for the 41st Annual News & Documentary Emmy Award for “Outstanding New Approaches”.
- 2021: Won a Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting for reporting on conditions in the Mississippi penal system.
- 2021: Won the Pulitzer Prize with AL.com, IndyStar, and the Invisible Institute in National Reporting for a yearlong investigation into injuries caused by police dog bites.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the Marshall Project plays an important role in promoting transparency, accountability, and reform within the American criminal justice system. It empowers many with knowledge and creates a platform for everyone who is affected by the system to share their stories. The organization has contributed to ongoing efforts to create a better criminal justice system in the United States.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
