Law Enforcement
Cities are increasingly embracing violence interventions programs to control deadly violence
Initial research indicates the approach is working—saving lives and money. But supporters admit more analysis is needed.
A hollow victory in fight to bring transparency to cops’ use of facial recognition technology
Police used facial recognition software to go ‘window-shopping for a suspect,’ says a New Jersey man arrested after facial recognition software found his image matched the suspect in video footage of a robbery.
Louisiana's First Amendment 'buffer zone' wipes out police accountability
COMMENTARY | A state law, which took effect on Aug. 1, 2024, makes it a misdemeanor for anyone to be within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer who orders them back.
Michigan to hunt down sexual offenders who fled the state
The operation is a partnership with county prosecutors and the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and return fugitive sexual offenders with outstanding warrants to Michigan. It is the first partnership of its kind in the county—one Michigan hopes other states will replicate.
New Louisiana law serves as a warning to bystanders who film police: Stay away or face arrest
Louisiana is the fourth state to enact a so-called police buffer law, which allows officers to order people to keep their distance. Journalists say the law will make it harder to document when police use excessive force.
How cities are rethinking who responds to 911 calls
Big cities have largely embraced so-called alternative response teams that send trained health care professionals in the place of law enforcement to handle low-risk situations. Now, the approach is moving to smaller jurisdictions.
The public sector is (finally) filling more vacancies, report finds
State and local governments have found success with a number of hiring strategies, easing long standing workforce shortages that started with the pandemic.
Maryland is on track to process a nearly 50-year-old backlog of rape kits
A new law extends the state’s sexual assault evidence protections to cover DNA samples. But getting justice in hundreds of cold cases will require more than just testing, survivors say.
New report: School cops double student arrest rates and race, gender key factors
Government watchdog reveals students twice as likely to be arrested when officers are present and their race, gender and disability play pivotal role.
Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing
Violent crime in the U.S. saw a significant decrease in the first quarter of 2024, according to preliminary data from the FBI. But some may stille manipulate crime statistics for political gain, experts warn.
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These wrongly arrested black men say a California bill would let police misuse face recognition
Three men falsely arrested based on face recognition technology have joined the fight against a California bill that aims to place guardrails around police use of the technology. They say it will still allow abuses and misguided arrests.
Teens say distracted driving messages need to be catchier, more frequent and blunt
Young adults typically underestimate the risk of distracted driving, making it difficult for public safety officials to craft effective messaging.
White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows
Much of the increase in hate and extremism can be attributed to a 50% surge in white supremacy hate groups in 2023, the highest jump ever recorded by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Amid campus protests nationwide, DC’s response stands out
The capital city’s police department cleared an encampment at a local university following pressure from House Republicans to be more forceful. But the District’s reluctance to take action sooner underlies lessons officials learned decades ago about the perils of aggressive enforcement.
As cities ban them from public spaces, homeless people scatter in search of refuge
Attorneys say bans could become more common nationwide if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns lower-court rulings in Oregon and Idaho that protect homeless people from being ticketed, charged or arrested for sleeping on public property.
States are required to background check child care workers. Many are falling short.
Dozens of states are out of compliance with at least one component of a federal law’s requirements, a congressional report found. But the problems are so complicated, it’s unclear if anyone has a solution.
In reversal, more areas allow high-speed police chases
Supporters of policy rollbacks say police pursuits can reduce crime; some experts aren’t so sure.
Oregon rolls back decriminalization of drugs. But is it too soon?
At a time when drug overdoses plague the nation, Oregon will recriminalize hard drugs, walking back a first-in-the nation experiment that critics say the state botched.
One city's long and historic lawsuit against the gun industry appears to have met its end
After surviving 25 years of appeals, Gary, Indiana's efforts to hold firearm manufacturers responsible for illegal gun sales is likely over after the governor signed a bill aimed at extinguishing the suit.
‘Tough-on-crime’ policies are back in some places that had reimagined criminal justice
Several states are considering or have already enacted legislation undoing more progressive policies.
