Doug Livingston, Author at The Land

All stick, no carrot: Ohio’s Reagan Tokes Law acts as a ‘one-way ratchet’ for prison time

By Doug Livingston & The Marshall Project ● Government ● April 17, 2025

Intended to curb prison violence with promises of early release, the law is turning out as unbalanced as critics feared, with sentences extended at every turn.

How Ohio’s Reagan Tokes Law keeps people in prison longer

By Doug Livingston & The Marshall Project ● Government ● April 10, 2025

It came as a response by lawmakers to a horrific crime. Now, thousands of people imprisoned since 2019 risk more time behind bars for breaking rules.

Volunteer pretrial support aims to reduce jail population

By Doug Livingston & The Marshall Project ● Government ● February 28, 2025

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Cleveland is out to prove that, with personalized support, fewer people with felony charges would miss court and end up in jail.

What People Behind Bars in Ohio Really Think About the ‘Prosecutor vs. Felon’ Election

By The Marshall Project, Rachel Dissell & Doug Livingston ● Civic Engagement ● October 24, 2024

The Marshall Project asked nearly 3,000 people living in prison and jail for their thoughts on the race between Harris and Trump and his 34 felonies.

Not ‘Mini-Adult Court’: Lawyers Lacking Qualifications Defended 1,200 Cuyahoga County Kids

By Doug Livingston & Rachel Dissell ● Government ● September 12, 2024

Juvenile Court judges will now track qualifications, but insist the state system creates barriers keeping experienced attorneys from defending kids.

A diptych photo shows Judge Jennifer O'Malley, left, a White woman, and Judge Thomas F. O'Malley, right, a White man, in judge's robes and seated in a courtroom.

For a Handful of Lawyers in Cuyahoga County, Juvenile Cases Are Big Business

By Doug Livingston & Rachel Dissell ● Government ● March 23, 2024

Judges steered two-thirds of cases involving kids accused of crimes to just 10 lawyers in one year, according to a Marshall Project – Cleveland analysis.

Illustration of a courtroom scene. Standing before a judge, with their backs to the viewer, are a man in a suit and a juvenile in an orange jumpsuit.

How Cuyahoga County picks attorneys to represent children

By Rachel Dissell, Doug Livingston & Stephanie Casanova ● Government ● January 11, 2024

Children accused of crimes have the right to an attorney in Ohio, just like adults. In Cuyahoga County, six juvenile court judges make the decision to appoint a public defender or private attorney, using a variety of criteria.

Doug Livingston

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