Criminal Justice / Public News Service

Leslie Ann Celebrezze, administrative judge of the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. (Courtesy: Gus Chan for the Marshall Project)<br />

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Judge Celebrezze removed from controversial Cuyahoga County divorce case

By Mark Puente for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Marshall Project-Public News Se…

Researchers at Loyola University in Chicago say almost 175,000 people are held in pretrial detention each year in Illinois. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Backers hope IL 'no cash bail' makes justice equitable, less expensive

A set of controversial reforms to Illinois' cash bail system went into effect this week, changing a decades-old system of holding people in jail …

In 2019, Black youths were 4.4 times as likely to be incarcerated in the juvenile-justice system<br />as were their white peers. (Jeffrey Zalesny/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Report Offers Ways to Reduce Jail, Prison Populations in NC

The U.S. prison population has grown nearly 500% since the start of mass incarceration 50 years ago and now, reform advocates are calling for its end …

Washington state is holding elections on November 7. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Washingtonians Out of Prison Can Participate in Voter Registration Day

It is national voter registration day and one population in Washington state has only recently had their right to vote restored: people who were incar…

Idaho saw a 22% increase in opioid overdoses between 2020 and 2021. (Kimberly Boyles/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 18, 2023

Bills in Congress Would Extend Medicaid to Incarcerated

Organizations in Idaho are calling on the state's congressional delegation to support access to health coverage and substance-use treatment for the in…

A recent report found incarcerated individuals were sleeping on steel bunkers without a mattress at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville. (Photo courtesy Disability Rights Mississippi)

New Bill Advocates for Incarcerated People with Disabilities

A new bill in Congress would ensure assistance and resources for people with disabilities who are in jail or prison. It could have a major effect in …

In 2019, Black youths were 4.4 times as likely to be incarcerated in the juvenile-justice system<br />as were their white peers. (Christian Colista/Adobe Stock)

Report Explores Ways to End Mass Incarceration in AL

After 50 years of mass incarceration, the U.S. prison population has grown nearly 500% and now advocates are calling for its end in Alabama and …

Former President Donald Trump's federal criminal case wouldn't be the first to have TV cameras present. The trials of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and alleged 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui both were televised. (Adobe Stock)

CT Activist Petitions for Televising Federal Trump Case

A Connecticut activist is petitioning to have Donald Trump's federal trial televised. The change.org petition has garnered more than 17,000 …

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median salary for a police officer was $67,290, more than one-third higher than the national median for all occupations. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ballooning Costs for Police Overtime Pay in Charleston, WV

The City of Charleston continues to funnel massive amounts of funding toward law enforcement. According to a new report, since 2020, Charleston's …

Phishing scams, in which message senders or callers pretend to be from a legitimate entity, have been the most prevalent crime in recent years. (MargJohnsonVA/Adobe Stock)

NW Credit Unions Push Back on Text Message Scammers

Oregon and Washington credit unions are working together to tackle text message scammers. Credit unions in the region have seen a sharp increase in …

Scammers Pose as NW Credit Unions in Fraudulent Text Messages

Washington and Oregon credit unions are working together to tackle text-message scammers. Credit unions in the region say they're seeing a sharp …

The City of San Bernardino recently agreed to a settlement requiring that the city update its plans to build more affordable housing and scrap its Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program. (Matt Gush)

Two CA Cities Repeal Crime-Free Multi-Housing Programs

In the past week, two California cities - Riverside and San Bernardino - have repealed most of their "Crime-Free Multi-Housing" programs, which were …

Albuquerque had one of the highest homicide rates in the nation in 2021, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association. (Artem/Adobe Stock)

Amid Legal Challenges, NM Governor Enacts Gun Restrictions

One day after New Mexico Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham announced a ban on the public carry of guns in and around Albuquerque, a pro-gun group is suing…

Those demanding reforms within Minnesota's correctional facilities say incarcerated individuals in Stillwater have lacked access to such basics as showers and recreation time. (Adobe Stock)

MN Faces Calls to Investigate Prison Conditions

Prison reform advocates in Minnesota continue to speak out following a lockdown at the correctional facility in Stillwater. People incarcerated …

Intimate-partner violence includes violence, abuse and controlling behavior committed by a partner or former partner. It can result in long-lasting adverse mental-health outcomes, and is a leading cause of homelessness and housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Housing First Model Helps Domestic-Violence Survivors

Victims of domestic violence who are able to access housing -- at their own pace, and with support for as long as the survivor needs help -- …

The Coffee Creek Correctional Facility is located in Wilsonville, Oregon, south of Portland. (Twelvizm/Wikimedia Commons)

Panel Meets on Unsafe Condition at OR Women's Prison

A report on conditions in Oregon's only women's prison has prompted Gov. Tina Kotek to assemble an advisory panel which will meet for the first time …

In San Francisco alone, advocates estimate that 25,000 people are eligible to have old convictions sealed. (Andrey Popov/Adobestock)

Criminal Record Expungement Clinics Benefit 1 Million+ in CA

One year ago, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 731, a law that allows more than a million Californians to clear many old felony convictions …

There are more than 13,000 people in Washington state prisons. (doc.wa.gov)

WA to Extend Medicaid to People Close to Release from Prisons, Jails

Washington will allow people nearing release from state prisons and jails to qualify for Medicaid health coverage. The expansion starts in July 2025…

The data shows that victims of youth crime rarely receive full financial restitution. The Edwards family holds photos of lost loved ones at a picnic for crime survivors in Los Angeles last weekend. (LaNaisha Edwards)

Hearing Friday on Bill to Halt Restitution Fines for Juvenile Crime

A bill will be heard in the State Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow that would stop requiring youths convicted of a crime to pay restitution…

Studies show elder abuse or neglect can lead to early death, cause harm to physical and psychological health, destroy social and family ties, and lead to devastating financial loss. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH Increases Elder Abuse Prevention Efforts as Older Population Grows

New Hampshire officials in charge of investigating elder abuse are ramping up staff and education efforts to better protect the state's growing elderl…

Numbering fewer than one in 50 U.S. adults, individuals with untreated severe mental illness may be involved in as many as half of all fatal police shootings, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center. (Adobe Stock)

Indy's Clinician-Led Community Response Team Steps Up

What began as a conversation between Indianapolis community leaders about public health and criminal-justice reform in 2021 has led to formation of a …

NC Family Demands Fair Treatment as Teen Brothers Face Adult Charges

A Gaston County family is demanding fair treatment as teenage twin brothers Paden and La'Dainian Fuller face attempted first-degree murder charges in …

The Economic Policy Institute's Family Budget Calculator estimates a two-parent, two-child household in some parts of Connecticut must earn between $87,140 and $113,511 to cover all costs relating to childcare, food, housing, taxes and transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT's Former Prison Population Needs Workforce Re-Entry Help

A new report found the state of Connecticut needs to do more for its recently released prison population. The Connecticut Voices for Children report …

The cost of incarcerating older people is especially high, and their risk of reincarceration is incredibly low, yet 12% of people in Mississippi prisons are over age 55. (Viperagp/Adobe Stock)

Report Examines 'Safety Beyond Sentencing' in MS, U.S.

Making jails and prisons safer and sentencing more equitable are the goals of a report marking 50 years of mass incarceration in the U.S. In …

The National Organization for Women notes abusers might exploit a person's disability to further exert power and control over their victim. Life after a sexual assault for a disabled person can be challenging since trauma-informed services addressing sexual abuse and a person's disability are limited. (Adobe Stock)

Preventing Sexual Assault Against NY'ers with Developmental Disabilities

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are voicing concerns about cases of sexual assault against people with developmental disabilities…

Construction unions say contractors who have tax liens against them should draw more scrutiny over concerns they are mistreating workers. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Leaders: WI Tax Fraud Case Warrants More Scrutiny Over Trades

Construction union leaders in the Midwest hope law enforcement and other entities take notice of the outcome of a tax evasion case involving a Wiscons…

Matt Fairchild was able to end his suffering in 2022 using California's End of Life Option Act.(Fairchild family)

Changes to CA's Medical Aid-in-Dying Law Spur 47% Jump in Use

A law shortening the waiting period for medical aid in dying has led to a 47% jump in prescriptions for the medication - according to a new report fro…

In 2022, there were more than 32,000 reports of impostor scams by New Yorkers. The second-largest scam involved online shopping, with 18,000 reports in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

More NYers Taken In by Different Scams

New Yorkers and people across the nation are being victimized by a plethora of scams. The Federal Trade Commission reported impostor scams cost New …

Illinois has an incarceration rate of 497 per 100,000 people, including prisons, jails, immigration detention and juvenile justice facilities. This means the state locks up a higher percentage of its people than almost any democracy on earth. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Funding Restored to Educate People in Prison

By Max Lubbers for Chalkbeat Chicago.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Service reporting for the Chalkbeat Chicago-Public News Service …

In an average year, 302 people die and 489 are wounded by guns in Iowa. Iowa has the 38th-highest<br />rate of gun violence in the U.S., according to Everytown for Gun Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Iowans Face Rising Gun Violence

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and almost 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

The average young person knows at least one other person who's been injured or killed by a gun, according to a survey by Everytown for Gun Safety and the Southern Poverty Law Center. (michelmond/Adobe Stock)

Report: Young Americans Feel Unsafe, Support Stricter Gun Laws

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and almost 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

According to the Sentencing Project, Between 2000 and 2020, the number of youths held in juvenile justice facilities fell from 109,000 to 25,000 - a 77% decline. (Adobe Stock)

Mounting Evidence Finds Youth Incarceration Ineffective

A wealth of research shows youth incarceration doesn't increase public safety or work for youth well-being, according to a recent report from the …

Stop AAPI Hate finds more than 11,000 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported from March 2020 to March 2022. (Adobe Stock)

NY 'SafeWalks' Program Keeps On Walking

A community effort meant to curb incidents of violence against Asian Americans in New York is undergoing some changes - but it will still be around…

Before the passage of AB 431, Silver State Voices said more than 90,000 Nevada adults were not allowed to vote in 2016. (Adobe Stock)

Voting Access Expanded for Nevadans Serving Time

Starting next year, a Nevada bill will require city and county jails to develop a streamlined process and procedures for inmates to register to vote …

Rising temperatures and heat waves are having severe effects on incarcerated people's physical and mental health. A Prison Policy Initiative report found suicides increased by 23% in the three days following days of extreme heat. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Extreme Heat Lethal to U.S. Prison Population

A recent report found extreme heat can be lethal for incarcerated people. Connecticut and other Northeastern states experienced a 21% increase in …

According to West Alabama Works, of the available jobs on the Building Hope Alabama portal, all are open to hiring anyone who has been charged or convicted of a crime. Compensation for the jobs ranges from $9 to $30 per hour. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

New AL Job Portal Helps Reduce Recidivism and Worker Shortage

Alabama releases about 13,000 people from jail or prison every year, and they're expected to reintegrate into communities by sustaining employment…

In 2020, the University of South Dakota became the latest academic institution to develop a graduate-level studies program, inspired by the Zero Abuse Project, that gives students a more realistic experience in responding to child maltreatment cases. (Adobe Stock)

SD Sees Progress in Boosting Training for Child-Abuse Case Workers

A South Dakota academic program that enhances training for those who respond to child abuse and neglect cases is gaining momentum. In the past …

A recent Council on Criminal Justice Report finds homicide has reached 2020 levels (24%) this year, after peaking at 40% in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA, US Crime Rates See Post-Pandemic Decline

A recent report finds crime across cities in Virginia and the nation is in sharp decline. The Council for Criminal Justice report tracked crime data …

An attempt to build a $500 million federal prison in Letcher County was defeated in 2019 because of strong local opposition. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed East KY Federal Prison Would Have Devastating Environmental Impacts

After Republican Congressman Hal Rogers inserted language into the latest House appropriations bill which would bypass environmental regulatory proces…

Officials say California college students are increasingly under attack by phishing attacks, where scammers try to fool a student into giving them money or their login information. (rawpixel/Adobe stock)

Study: College Students Increasingly Victimized by Phishing, Cyberscams

Studies show that college students are a target for phishing scams, and cybersecurity professionals say swindlers are increasingly targeting …

Teaching about boundaries is not just helpful for adults, but children as well. (artit/Adobe Stock)

ID Child Sex Abuse Cases Stress Urgency of Prevention Methods

An unfortunate spate of child sexual abuse cases in Idaho is putting prevention methods in the spotlight. A Kuna middle school teacher recently …

An earlier attempt to build a $500 million federal prison in Letcher County was defeated in 2019 because of strong local opposition. (Adobe Stock)

KY Rep. Pushes to Fast-Track Federal Prison Project, Despite Local Opposition

A more than $500 million proposed federal prison project, which would sit on a former coal mine site in Letcher County, is receiving a renewed push …

While the bill took effect July 1, licenses have yet to become available. (Adobe Stock)

Nevada Street Food Vendors Protected Under New Law

Nevada street food vendors will now be protected, as Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Senate Bill 92 into law - which allows vendors to obtain the necessary …

Sexual assault in the home is a leading cause of homelessness among women and girls, according to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. (Adobe Stock)

OH Program Provides Housing for Sexual Violence Survivors

Sexual assault survivors in Ohio can now access short-term emergency housing through a new program run by the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence…

The New York Times reports six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades. (Adobe Stock)

IL Works to Take Youth into Account in Life Sentences

It's only been a few months since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when …

About 173,000 women are incarcerated in local, state, youth, tribal, military or federal correctional facilities, nationwide, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Aims to Address Access to Feminine Hygiene Products in Ohio Prisons

By Faith Fistler / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. While Christina Ray was …

An analysis of eight U.S. cities found that between 21% and 38% of 911 calls are related to mental health, substance use, homelessness and other quality-of-life concerns, all matters advocates said could be better addressed by people other than police. (Adobe Stock)

MA Considers Unarmed Response Units for Mental Health 911 Calls

Community groups in Massachusetts are calling for an end to armed police response to mental health-related 911 calls. The majority of calls are for …

Between 1999 and 2019, more than 800,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States. (Milovan Zrnic/Adobe Stock)

NC Families, Advocates Demand Expansion of Good Samaritan Laws

As North Carolina faces an increasing number of overdose-related deaths, there are new calls urging the state to update and expand its Good Samaritan …

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