Reports
Criminal Case Tracker Reports examine broader trends and developments emerging from the cases tracked through the project. They bring together findings across cases to provide a wider view of changes in federal criminal enforcement.
Case Tracker: Observations on Year One
NACDL's Criminal Case Tracker first-year report covers January 2025 through January 2026, documenting two significant trends in federal prosecutions. These include unusual opacity in grand jury "no true bill" reporting — historically a rare outcome — and a striking rate of jury acquittals in cases involving charges of assaulting or interfering with immigration enforcement agents.
Deep Dives
Case Tracker Deep Dives provide focused, in-depth analysis of significant cases and emerging issues identified through the project. Some examine a single prosecution in greater detail, while others look across multiple cases to explore recurring legal issues, charging theories, prosecutorial practices, or broader patterns.
Deep Dive: United States v. Hurtado-Cariaco
An immigration arrest escalated into charges of attempted murder and terrorism, built on agent testimony alleging a chokehold and gang ties. Bystander video contradicted the government's account on nearly every point. The case ended in a guilty plea to the original, least serious charge, with the judge calling the original allegations "complete negligence."
