Criminal Justice / Public News Service

The latest AARP study found nearly 90% of U.S. consumers age 18 and older agree that lawmakers need to do more to protect the public from fraud and scams. (Shintartanya/Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

AARP warns Pennsylvanians of spike in holiday fraud, scams

The holiday shopping season is already in full swing, and AARP Pennsylvania has some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identity …

Property crime and violence against young people are both up, recent federal data show, but other crime trends are not as clear-cut. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

New data: Violent crime is up and also down

By Weihua Li and Jamiles Lartey for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Marshall P…

In Alabama correctional facilities, prisoners are allowed a total of four books, to include a Bible or equivalent religious study book, an educational dictionary, a law book, and/or novel, at any one time. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama bookstore works to break barriers for people in prison

An Alabama bookstore is working to make sure people in prison have access to books. The Burdock Book Collective in Birmingham is on a mission to …

A 2022 Compassion & Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying, professionally, and 49% said they support it personally. (Adobe Stock)

Medical aid-in-dying bill sees stronger support in NY Legislature

Legislation to allow medical aid in dying bill has been introduced in New York State every year since 2015, and its backers say 2024 could be the …

Volunteers for Big House Books distributed 557 packages containing more than 1,671 books to Mississippi correctional facilities in September and October. (Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock)

Prison Book Program fosters literacy behind bars in Mississippi

A Mississippi-based organization is providing free books to incarcerated individuals to promote literacy and pave the way for prison reform. Prison …

In 2022, about 29% of the people in Florida's prison system were age 50 or older, which is one reason their advocates are urging state lawmakers to ensure prison housing units are climate-controlled. (geralt/Pixabay)

Heat crisis in FL prisons: Lawmakers urged to add air conditioning

Florida lawmakers are being asked to use the winter months to swiftly install air conditioning in prison housing units before the return of scorching …

Black Americans were 9.3 times as likely as whites to be homicide victims in 2020, American Indians were 4.3 times as likely, and Latino Americans were 1.9 times as likely, based on age-adjusted figures. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

Report cites disparities in crime and policing

The lifetime likelihood of imprisonment for Black men has changed significantly from one generation to the next, according to The Sentencing …

Sen. Holly Thompson, R-Scott City, sponsored legislation to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips, which used to be considered drug paraphernalia. (luchschenF/Adobe Stock)

Newly legal fentanyl testing strips help fight overdose deaths in MO

The rise in deaths involving synthetic opioids or fentanyl have overdose-prevention advocates looking for solutions across the nation. Gov. Mike …

The Governor's Job Fair Network of Mississippi will be in Clinton next Wednesday for a job fair at the Wood Activity and Therapeutic Center. (Prostock-studio/AdobeStock)

MS second-chance job fairs connect formerly incarcerated with employers

Finding a job after prison can be tough, but a program in Mississippi is helping formerly incarcerated people get back on their feet. The …

According to the Under Pressure report, 66% of people received money or food assistance from a faith-based charity or church that they would not have had to request if it were not for their court debt.(Adobe Stock)

Alabama's debt-driven license suspensions softened by new law

A new law in Alabama is helping thousands regain their driving privileges after license suspension for debt-related reasons. Senate Bill 154 allows …

Women in Ohio are sent to prison more often for drug offenses than their male counterparts, at times differing by more than 14% of the population. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Drug offenses draw higher incarceration rates for OH women

The number of women in Ohio prisons continues to trend downward but studies show women are still more likely to be imprisoned for drug offenses compar…

Aside from his constituents, the Nassau County Republican Party has asked Rep. George Santos to resign from office. This was initially based on a New York Times investigation revealing Santos had fabricated portions of his r�sum� to win election. (Adobe Stock)

NY Rep. George Santos survives expulsion vote. Now what?

A vote to expel U.S. New York Rep. George Santos, R-Queens, from the House failed last week to reach the needed two-thirds majority. But his troubles …

More than third of the people held in jails in Kentucky are held for federal or state agencies, primarily the state prison system, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black Kentuckians continue to be incarcerated at high rates

A new study of incarceration trends shows Black people in the Commonwealth are jailed at a rate nearly three times higher than their white peers…

As of Oct. 11, Cleveland had 1,211 sworn officers, 954 of whom patrol the streets of the city, according to the Marshall Project-Cleveland. (Gus Chan for The Marshall Project)

Cleveland ups ante to draw more police recruits, ease understaffing

Cleveland officials have announced another set of pay raises for police officers. The exact amounts differ based on an officer's rank but some …

West Virginia has an incarceration rate of 731 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 664 per 100,000 people. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Report: Minorities a majority in WV prison population

A new study of incarceration trends shows Black people are jailed at a rate three times higher than their white peers in West Virginia, even though …

Maine has few foundational gun safety laws, including background checks for all gun sales, an Extreme Risk law, or waiting periods, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Maine lawmakers, gun safety groups call for assault weapons ban

Advocates in Maine for stronger gun safety laws are calling for a complete ban on assault weapons following last week's mass shooting in Lewiston…

NC leaders discuss alternatives to criminal-justice fees

The burden of criminal justice fees can be financially devastating for many individuals. From speeding tickets to court costs, those involved in the …

The United States has warned nearly 100 countries that Russian intelligence is ramping up efforts to destabilize democracies by raising doubts about elections integrity. (Argus/AdobeStock)

Democracy experts worry about chaos, violence ahead of 2024 elections

An election law expert says guilty pleas from Trump lawyers in Georgia's election interference case probably won't change the minds of voters who thin…

Scams via telephone produced the largest median per-person loss, at $1,400. Bank transfers accounted for $901 million dollars lost in the first half of 2023. (Adobe Stock)

How to spot a scam this holiday season

With the holiday shopping season on the horizon, consumer advocates and federal agencies are warning the public to be on the lookout for tell-tale …

Black individuals are incarcerated at 2.5 times the rate of white individuals in Mississippi. (thawornnurak/Adobe Stock)

Report: Racial disparities remain high in MS incarceration rates

Black people continue to be locked up at disproportionate rates in Mississippi, according to the latest data. The report from the Prison Policy …

For the past 20 years, the U.S, President and Congress have declared the month of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance online awareness. (Adobe Stock)

IA boosts cybersecurity precautions as elections, holidays near

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the State of Iowa is focusing on potential threats to the online integrity of upcoming elections. Given …

Alabama is one of only two states that does not hear directly from the person applying for parole in his or her parole hearings. (Tracy King/ Adobe Stock)

Alabama's low parole approval rate sparks calls for reform

Only one in ten of the people in prison who apply for parole receives it in Alabama, and a new report is prompting calls to reform the state's parole …

Most Republicans prefer a candidate who can preserve American culture (58%), while most Democrats and Independents prefer a candidate who can manage the economy, according to the survey. (Adobe Stock)

Survey on 'political violence,' future of US democracy

A federal judge recently dismissed a lawsuit challenging Nevada's Election Worker Protection Law. Senate Bill 406 created new safeguards to protect …

The latest Crime in Connecticut report showed investments for prevention and services for system-involved youth helped bring the crime rate down in 2022. More than $37 million went to prevention and intervention programs along with juvenile review boards. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Crime drops in Connecticut; more work needed

Good news for Connecticut residents: The state saw a 4% overall decrease in crime in 2022. The latest "Crime in Connecticut" annual report shows a 13…

The median pay for an information security analyst is $112,000 a year and usually requires a bachelor's degree. (Malambo C/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

CA faces huge shortfall in cybersecurity workforce

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News S…

Data show fewer than 10% of parole petitions are granted in Alabama. (Adobe Stock)

Report reveals racial disparity in Alabama prisons

A new study of incarceration trends revealed Black individuals in Alabama are imprisoned three times more than their white counterparts, and make up …

People who are detained awaiting trial are more likely to accept a less favorable plea deal, more likely to be sentenced to prison, and more likely to receive longer sentences, research from The Sentencing Project showed. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

Report: Minorities make up NC prison population majority

A new study of incarceration trends shows people who are Black or Native American make up more than half of North Carolina's prison population…

The House Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol concluded former President Donald Trump did not honor his constitutional obligation to

Statewide efforts grow to keep Trump off 2024 ballot

While Maine election officials determine if former President Donald Trump will appear on next year's presidential ballot, legal challenges nationwide …

At the federal level, hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of the victim's perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. (Argus/Adobe Stock)

Kansas City reassures residents after MO spike in religion-based hate crimes

Some Missourians fear an increase in hate crimes in the wake of a six-year-old's murder in Illinois this week - an incident authorities say was motiva…

The California state prison system has a budget of more than $14 billion this year. (Karenfoleyphoto/Adobestock)

Prop 47-funded programs to reduce recidivism find success

New data show that a Los Angeles County program to help people reintegrate into society after incarceration is significantly reducing crime - a progra…

Connecticut had the third-highest number of Black people incarcerated across the country, behind New Jersey and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black adults make up majority of CT prison population

A recent report found Black people make up the majority of Connecticut's prison population. The Prison Policy Initiative brief reported Black people …

According to Federal Trade Commission data, in the first six months of 2023, $4.4 billion were lost across more than 1.1 million consumer fraud reports. (Adobe Stock)

Tips offered for avoiding scams this holiday season

As the winter holiday season approaches, consumer advocates and federal agencies are warning the public to be on the lookout for tell-tale signs of a …

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports one in three women in the United States has experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. (Adobe Stock)

IN domestic violence rates remain at troubling levels

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The most recent study from the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence cites a 181% …

Since 2005, Supreme Court rulings have accepted adolescent brain science and banned the use of capital punishment for juveniles, limited life-without-parole sentences to homicide offenses, banned the use of mandatory life without parole and applied the decision retroactively. (Adobe Stock)

NC advocates push for end to juvenile life sentences

More than half of U.S. states have already banned life sentences without the possibility of parole for juveniles. North Carolina isn't one of them - …

Bellingham is the largest city in Whatcom County, which borders Canada. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

Opponents push back on initiative to build jail in NW WA

A new jail would be built in northwest Washington if a measure on the November ballot passes. Opponents say it isn't a good solution to issues facing …

Idaho law enforcement received nearly 6,000 reported incidents of intimate partner violence in 2022. (nito/Adobe Stock)

Domestic violence awareness month: struggles for pregnant, indigenous people

October is domestic violence awareness month. The issue remains prevalent across the nation and in Idaho. Nearly one in three women experience …

This year Illinois lawmakers passed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when they were arrested. (Adobe Stock)

More work needed on juvenile justice reform

Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …

Nebraska law defines restrictive housing as

ACLU: NE prison progress on 'restrictive housing' not enough

The latest report on the Nebraska Correctional System shows a decrease in the use of restrictive housing. The Office of Inspector General of …

This week, Mississippi received an $8.3 million grant to promote better reentry outcomes by expanding people's access to employment when they're released from prison. (Nina/peopleimages/Adobe Stock)

Firsthand experience informs MS 'Rethinking Reentry' conference

In Mississippi, people face many barriers to restarting their lives after prison. Today's Rethinking Reentry Conference focuses on helping them …

House Bill 4945 and House Bill 4946, sponsored by state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, were voted out of the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee last week. (Adobe Stock)

MI lawmakers debate tougher gun laws for domestic violence convictions

Michigan state lawmakers are moving closer to restricting gun ownership for more people who have been convicted of domestic violence. The House …

A decade ago, the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation began to privatize prison food, signing a three-year, $145 million contract with Aramark with the reported goal of reducing prison operating costs. (Adobe Stock)

WV prison food: Rotten or poor quality, lawsuits, lack of oversight

West Virginia's contracts with Aramark Correctional Services have come under scrutiny after a lawsuit brought by incarcerated residents, alleging …

$Nizer Lukerson, a delivery driver, stands outside Cleveland Heights City Hall after appearing in municipal court for driving under suspension. Lukerson owes $1,000 in fines to remove a number of suspensions issued in local courts for minor infractions. (GUS CHAN FOR THE MARSHALL PROJECT)<br />$

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