Criminal Justice / Public News Service

One in four girls and one in 13 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Yupachingping/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, February 2, 2023

PA Senate Bill Proposes Changes to State Constitution

A bill in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would amend the state Constitution to allow more adult victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue their abus…

A new analysis by the The Marshall Project-Cleveland and Eye on Ohio finds Cleveland police officers don't always follow department guidelines or training when interacting with children in crisis. (Tara Anand for The Marshall Project)<br />

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Videos Show Disparities in Cleveland Police Response to Kids in Crisis

By Cid Standifer for Eye on Ohio.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection Collaboration reporting for the Ohio Center for Investig…

Monday, January 30, 2023

CA 'Just Safe' Campaign Aims to Redefine Public Safety

Social justice advocates have just launched a new public education campaign. It's called "Just Safe," and it's aimed at changing the conversation …

Facial-recognition technology companies, which originally partnered with law enforcement, are now working with schools and universities to increase safety and prevent shootings by denying campus access to people who have been banned, or to monitor activity inside school buildings. (Adobe Stock)

MA Bill Would Tighten Restrictions on Facial Recognition Technology

Lawmakers in the Commonwealth are considering legislation to ensure police use of facial-recognition technology also protects people's privacy and civ…

Supporters behind Wisconsin's ballot question on bail reform say there are too many people awaiting trial with lengthy criminal records, but opponents say passing the constitutional amendment would exacerbate inequities. (Adobe Stock)

WI Ballot Question Sparks Calls to End Cash Bail

In the coming months, Wisconsin residents will hear plenty of arguments before they vote on a constitutional amendment to change state policy on cash …

One recommendation made to improve the Virginia Parole Board is to have parole officers take a more active role in discharge procedures. (Adobe Stock)

New Report Reviews VA Parole Board Duties, Issues

The Virginia Parole Board has issued a report that outlines its past problems and the steps it could take to rebuild public trust. The work began in 2…

The State of Utah used some of its COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to build the internet infrastructure needed for the higher-ed program in its juvenile justice facilities. (Adobe Stock)

College Courses Show Benefits for Incarcerated Youth in UT

Utah is one of a few states where juveniles behind bars can earn college credit. Utah's Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth program lets young …

Iowa Takes Aim at Human Trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Iowa is working to address the problem by educating businesses about the potential signs and dangers…

If approved, the gunshot-detecting technology to assist Portland police would be set up in five city neighborhoods. (MISHELLA/Adobe Stock)

Police Gunshot Detector Continues to Roil Portland Community

Community members continue to voice concerns about gunshot-detecting technology being considered in Portland. At a recent Inter-Faith Peace and …

At the United Nations, the United States was one of several nations to vote against a recent global moratorium on using the death penalty. The vote had 125 nations in favor, 37 opposed and 22 abstaining. (Adobe Stock)

Death Penalty Opponents Seek End to Federal Executions

Virginia is the only Southern state to have abolished the death penalty, and there's a new push in the new year to end it nationally as well…

Legislators are expected to introduce bills in the upcoming session to ban pretextual stops and consent searches. (Dusanpetkovic1/Adobestock)

Data on CA Police Stops Confirms Continuing Racial Disparities

Black teenagers ages 15 to 17 are six times more likely to be searched by police compared with their white counterparts, according to a report from …

Brennan Center for Justice, pretrial detainees make up more than 70% of the U.S. jail population - about 536,000 people - and many are there only because they cannot afford bail. (Adobe Stock)">

Report: Nebraska Needs to Rethink Court Fines, Bail System

Some Nebraska judges are failing to follow state laws related to cash bail, court fees and court fines, according to a two-year study in Douglas and …

Backers of the Workers' Rights Amendment, approved by voters in 2022, say it will put an end to the existing gaps and exclusions in labor laws by guaranteeing union rights for all Illinois workers. (WH_pics/Adobe Stock)

New Year Brings Wide Variety of New Illinois State Laws

It's a new year, and more than 180 new laws are going into effect, which Illinoisans need to know about. The 2022 General Assembly passed bills …

Kelley Blue Book says Americans bought almost 41 million used vehicles last year. But Minnesota lawmakers say some used cars that look fine can come with significant damage under previous ownership that wasn't reflected in the title. (Adobe Stock)

MN Closes Loophole on Damage Transparency for Used Cars

A new Minnesota law took effect January 1 designed to reduce risks for people buying used vehicles. It comes as more Americans lean on the market for …

Some student loan scammers will use a website that mimics the U.S. Department of Education or the borrower's loan servicer, and their correspondence may even have tidbits of the borrower's real information, such as the current payment amount. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Borrowers Inundated with Student-Loan Scams

Scammers targeting student-loan borrowers in Wisconsin and elsewhere are shifting into high gear - spurred by the uncertainty surrounding President Jo…

By diverting juveniles away from detention, Redeploy Illinois estimates it has saved the state $158 million, tax money that would have otherwise been spent on incarceration costs. (gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Redeploy Illinois: A Model for Juvenile Justice Reform

Redeploy Illinois is a community-based alternative to incarceration, which keeps kids in their home communities. For decades, most youthful …

Last March, Wyoming lawmakers passed a law that would ban abortions in most cases if the U.S. Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, which the high court did in June. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Supreme Court Sends Suit Over Abortion Ban Back to District

The Wyoming Supreme Court has decided it will not weigh in on a lawsuit that has temporarily halted a ban on abortions in the state. Citing a state …

On January 24th, AARP will lead advocacy day at North Dakota's state capitol, in hopes of getting more focus on issues such as prescription drug costs. (Adobe Stock)

ND Lawmakers Urged to Look at Drug Costs, Fraud Restitution

North Dakota lawmakers are scheduled to return to Bismarck early next month. They'll hear calls to help older residents, with the cost of …

Public opinion polls in 2022 showed support for capital punishment remained near historic lows, even amid rising perceptions of crime, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

In 2022, KY Became 2nd State to Pass Death-Penalty Mental-Illness Exemption

Kentucky became the second state in the nation this year to pass an exemption to the death penalty for people with a serious mental illness. Signed …

Often miscast as violent criminals, most repeat defendants commit nonviolent crimes borne out of untreated addiction and mental illness, a Marshall Project analysis shows. (Adobe Stock)

Who’s Really Cycling In and Out of Cleveland’s Courts?

By Wesley Lowery and Ilica Mahajan for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Marshall Pr…

Over the life of the program, Tennessee has trained more than 2,000 Certified Peer Support Specialists, according to the Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

TN Peer Recovery Specialist Program Reaches Milestone

Tennessee now has over 1,000 people across the state who are actively using their past experience with mental-health and substance-use challenges to h…

According to the Giffords Law Center, guns are the leading cause of death for Americans under age 18. (Adobe Stock)

A Decade after Sandy Hook, Assault-Weapons Ban Demands Continue

On the ten-year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a local organization is still working to see a national assault-weapons …

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource that equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams, and connects those targeted by scams with fraud helpline specialists who provide support and guidance on what to do next. (Adobe Stock)

Ways to Avoid Scammers During Holiday Shopping Season

A new AARP Fraud Watch Network report is putting a spotlight on how criminals are targeting holiday shoppers this year in hopes of separating them fr…

Nationwide, prison populations dropped dramatically from 2019 to 2020, mainly the result of emergency responses to the pandemic. They're now on the uptick again, according to a Prison Policy Initiative report. (Adobe Stock)

WV Program Mentors People Re-Entering Society After Prison

West Virginia's prison population has ballooned, and formerly incarcerated people face numerous obstacles when they are released. A Charleston-based …

As part of New York City's new plan to address mentally ill homeless people, a special hotline will be staffed with clinicians to aid first responders as to whether a person presents as mentally ill. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Worried About NYC’s New Plan for Mentally Ill Homeless People

New York City Mayor Eric Adams' new plan for aiding the mentally ill is facing backlash for its effectiveness. Adams' plan allows police officers…

Experts advise Nebraskans to review their credit card, banking and other accounts at least once a month. If you notice charges that could be fraudulent, file a dispute before protections expire, generally 60 days after your statement drops. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Avoiding Holiday Season Scams

Three out of four U.S. consumers have experienced or been targeted by at least one form of fraud that can be tied to the holidays, according to new …

If you or a loved one has been targeted by a scam or fraud, help is available via the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. Help is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time (Adobe Stock)

Lonely NH Elders More Vulnerable to Holiday Scams

Crime experts say the holidays offer scam artists another opportunity to prey upon people's giving nature, especially older adults living alone…

At least 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed in 2022, although actual numbers are likely much higher due to under-reporting. (Adobe Stock)

Communities Mourn Mass Shooting at LGBTQ Club in Colorado Springs

Communities across Colorado continue to mourn the deaths of at least five people, after a 22-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire inside an LGBTQ …

Community members work on a peace mural for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. Along with the Boston Public Health Commission, the group offers a Survivors Outreach Services program to deliver coordinated services to families affected by homicide. (Louis D. Brown Peace Institute)

Group Works to Build Peace Out of Despair in Boston

While community activists in some of Boston's south side neighborhoods have declared a state of emergency following a string of fatal shootings…

A Loyola University analysis of Illinois pretrial incarceration outcomes showed no effects on crime or rates of re-arrest, but did find a 3% rise in defendents' failure to appear in court. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Illinois Dems Seek to Tweak Cash-Bail Ban Before it Takes Effect

Illinois lawmakers, meeting in their annual "Veto Session" in Springfield, are taking a look at the controversial SAFE-T Act one last time before it …

The Ohio Supreme Court could lose its power to review factors used in setting bail if Issue 1 is passed by voters. (Adobe Stock)

Issue 1 Puts Public Safety, Bail Before Ohio Voters

Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment are putting public safety on Ohio's ballot this Election Day. Issue 1 came about after the Ohio …

Surveys show the majority of people booked into New Hampshire county and city jails are unemployed, have little or no income and less than a high school education. But advocates for formerly incarcerated people say increasing civic engagement helps reduce recidivism. (Adobe Stock)

Voting After Incarceration: A Tough Stigma to Overcome

It is estimated more than four million Americans are ineligible to vote in their states due to a felony conviction. In New Hampshire the ban on …

In Wisconsin, polling places are open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Adobe Stock)

WI Voters Urged to Know Their Rights for Election Day

Heightened political tensions have hovered over this election season. For Wisconsinites headed to the polls tomorrow, voters' rights groups say …

In Tennessee, your ability to restore your voting rights after being convicted of a felony depends on the type of crime and the date of the conviction. (Burlingham/AdobeStock)<br />

Report: More than 470,000 Tennesseans Can’t Vote Due to Felony Convictions

In Tennessee, almost a half-million people won't be able to vote in the midterm elections because of a past felony conviction. According to research …

The Sentencing Project report reveals more than 3,000 Latinos who are American citizens are disenfranchised from voting in Arkansas due to a felony conviction. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: More than 81,000 Arkansans Can't Vote Due to Felony Convictions

Early voting is underway in Arkansas, but thousands of people here will not be able to vote in the midterms due to a past felony conviction. …

Colorado's income taxes fund two-thirds of the state's General Fund, the vast majority of which pays for public K-12 and higher education, health care, human services and the state's corrections system. (Adobe Stock)

Tax Cut on Ballot Would Cost Coloradans Earning Less Than $91,000

Proponents of an initiative on the November ballot to lower the state income tax rate by less than 1% say the measure will allow Coloradans to keep mo…

One in 10 children in Kentucky has experienced the trauma and hardship of having his or her mom or dad locked up, according to Kentucky Youth Advocates. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY County Jails Can Help Keep Kids Connected to Incarcerated Parents

Some county jails in the Commonwealth are creating or expanding parent-child visitation policies, but experts argued more work needs to be done to …

Black people are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, including in those states that have legalized marijuana use. (Adobe Stock)

Push to Pardon KY Residents Convicted of Marijuana Possession

Criminal justice reform advocates in the Commonwealth are asking Gov. Andy Beshear to decriminalize marijuana possession. The request follows …

North Dakota voters have rejected past efforts to legalize marijuana, but state lawmakers have taken steps to reduce the burden of minor offenses. (Adobe Stock)

North Dakota Has Complex Legal Dynamic Surrounding Marijuana Convictions

Marijuana policy is back at the forefront in North Dakota and on the national level. It has sparked questions about barriers created by low-level …

Portland has seen an uptick in gun violence since the start of the pandemic in 2020. (JustSuper/Adobe Stock)

Portland's Gun-Violence List Comes with Hazards, Critics Say

A new proposal to reduce gun violence in Portland would create a list of people likely to cause violence, but the plan has skeptics. Known as the …

There were 129 exonerations nationwide in 2020, according to research from the University of Michigan Law School. (Adobe Stock)

Pressure Mounts to Compensate NC Man Wrongfully Imprisoned

Advocates for a man wrongfully imprisoned for decades due to misconduct by a Durham Police detective and released in 2016, want the city to honor a …

Before getting a criminal annulment, people can review a checklist provided by the state of New Hampshire to ensure they're eligible. Otherwise, they could be stuck waiting for a few years before being able to apply again. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

NH Legal Clinic to Aid in Criminal-Record Annulment

Most criminal offenses can be annulled except for violent crimes and those involving obstruction of government administration. An upcoming legal …

According to a 2021 report, defendants in about half of all criminal cases in Pennsylvania had counsel provided by a public defender. (Adobe Stock)

New Bill Would Fund PA's Ailing Public Defender System

A new bill in Pennsylvania would provide money for public defenders, who say they're struggling to take on the cases of people charged with crimes …

The Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative is partnering with community groups to interrupt cycles of gun violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IL Leaders to Issue Call to Action Over Youth Gun Violence, Mental Health

State and local leaders are joining community groups for a call to action this weekend to draw attention to efforts to support at-risk youth in Illino…

Some marijuana convictions, which keep people from getting a better job, joining the military, going back to school or getting a student loan, can be erased right now. (Adobe Stock)

Legal Clinic: How to Put a Pot Conviction Behind You

A special legal clinic is being held on September 24 in Buffalo about expunging certain marijuana convictions. The clinic, a collaboration between …

Gov. Tom Wolf said of a tougher gift ban, "That new standard of accountability remains an important step to restore faith in government and has worked successfully for more than seven years." (Mandritoiu/Adobe Stock)">

Group Turns Up Heat on PA Lawmakers to Pass Gift Ban

Pennsylvania law allows an elected official to accept a gift - including cash - as long as it's disclosed in annual reports. But that raises some …

Admissions to secure juvenile detention facilities dropped 51% in Pennsylvania between 2016 and 2020, but the median length of stay has nearly doubled. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

Lack of PA Juvenile Detention Space Reaches Critical Stage

One goal of youth and family support services is to keep kids out of juvenile detention, but for those who are accused of serious crimes, …

Juvenile detentions dropped dramatically nationwide during the early part of the pandemic, but numbers have bounced back up, especially for African American youth. (Sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

IL Juvenile Justice Groups Press to Raise Age for Pre-trial Detention

Currently, children as young as 10 are held behind bars while awaiting trial in Illinois, and now, juvenile justice reform groups are calling for the …

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