Author Archive
Matt Ford
Matt Ford writes for and produces The Atlantic's Global channel.
Finance
The Problem With Electing Prosecutors
The Manhattan district attorney has come under fire for campaign donations he received—one from Harvey Weinstein's lawyer and others from a Trump family attorney.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
America's Uneven Crime Spike
Violence in a few major cities drove the national murder rate higher in 2016, according to new FBI statistics.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
Federal Court Blocks Trump's Crackdown on Sanctuary Cities
A judge in Illinois temporarily put the initiative on hold while legal proceedings continue.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
A Mental-Health Crisis in Alabama’s Prisons
In a 302-page opinion, a federal judge in Montgomery condemned the dire conditions faced by prisoners with mental illnesses.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Digital Government
Will the Supreme Court Take Up Cellphone Surveillance?
The U.S. Supreme Court could soon consider whether police can review a cellphone’s whereabouts without a warrant.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
Controversial Milwaukee County Sheriff Joins the Trump Administration
As indictments loom over Milwaukee County Jail after a high-profile death in custody, the county’s controversial sheriff, David Clarke, is moving into a role in the Department of Homeland Security.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
More Judicial Scrutiny for Police Use of Civil Forfeitures
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently reiterated his wariness of the controversial police tactic. And a new Justice Department report seems to support his concern.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
When Your Judge Isn't A Lawyer
In some states, justices of the peace don’t need a law degree to put defendants behind bars.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
What's Causing Chicago’s Homicide Spike?
President Trump is vowing to “send in the Feds,” but researchers aren’t convinced they understand the rise, or how to stop it.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
After Cosby, California Changes Its Rape Laws
Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill eliminating the state's statute of limitations for sex-related crimes on Wednesday.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
Schools Are Put on Federal Notice to Respect Transgender Rights
In a letter sent Friday, federal officials warn local districts not to discriminate against students using restrooms.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
The Problem With Funding Government Through Fines
A budget shortfall at the Nevada Supreme Court underlines a broader fiscal quandary
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
Guilty, Then Proven Innocent in North Carolina
With eight successful exonerations so far, the state's Innocence Inquiry Commission could be a national model for fighting wrongful convictions.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
A Paradoxical Reaction in Oklahoma
What if the greatest threat to the death penalty isn't its opponents, but its supporters?
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
A Neo-Confederate in Nevada's Capitol
A local newspaper uncovers racist and homophobic writings by a top state legislator.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
In Texas, the Death Penalty is Slowly Dying Out
The Lone Star State carried out its fewest executions since 1996 this year.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
Who Watches America's Executions?
A lawsuit seeks to force Oklahoma to record every death sentence it carries out and to allow witnesses present to observe.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic
Management
One Hour and 57 Minutes in Arizona
Joseph Wood's death Wednesday is the fourth botched execution in the United States this year.
- By Matt Ford, The Atlantic