AB 690, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, aims to ban flat-fee contracts for indigent defense and establish statewide standards for counties that contract out public defense services, in order to provide fair compensation, manageable caseloads, and adequate representation to those who cannot afford legal counsel.
Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez is deflecting concerns about homelessness by blaming lack of coordination between agencies, while the root cause of the problem is poverty and lack of affordable housing, which can be addressed by taxing vacancy and property hoarding, and building affordable housing.
Carlos Reales Dominguez is on trial for two counts of murder, with witnesses testifying about the attacks and forensic evidence presented in court.
Angelique Paige, a mother who lost her son to gun violence, discusses the disconnect between school policies and student safety, prevention as the only path forward, and the impact of Trump’s 2025 agenda on public education and support systems.
The Steinberg Institute has announced Amber Williams, CEO of Janus of Santa Cruz, as their first Champion for Mental Health Awareness Month, in recognition of her work in developing community-based alternatives to incarceration for individuals struggling with substance use disorders.
New York City’s criminal legal system is facing renewed tensions over public safety, enforcement practices, and racial disparities, with recent declines in crime rates and incarceration followed by an uptick in enforcement and incarceration, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to address the issue.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1205 into law, restricting voter’s ability to place policy measures on the ballot and effectively ending the citizen-led ballot measure process.
Florida Legislature has passed four bills expanding the state’s death penalty, some of which are unconstitutional, and all are now awaiting Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature.
The defendant was arrested in September 2023, released in March 2024, and re-arrested in September 2024 for violating his probation, and was denied a 16-month sentence by Judge Kathryn Solórzano due to his failure to comply with probation conditions.
California needs to shift its mindset from treating housing as a luxury good to essential infrastructure, and build policies that are equitable, inclusive, and capable of meeting the needs of a diverse workforce to address the housing crisis.
The Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans based on a fabricated threat of Venezuelan government involvement in the Tren de Aragua criminal organization has been exposed by a declassified intelligence memo, raising concerns about the misuse of executive power and the erosion of democratic guardrails.
California criminal justice advocates are warning that the state’s closed prisons are vulnerable to federal takeover, as Trump’s Alcatraz proposal has sparked a conversation about the state’s infrastructure and the need for permanent closure and redirection of funds into housing, education, and healthcare.
A new national survey reveals that over half of American renters believe they may never be able to afford a home, with significant differences in perception based on gender, age, and geography, and policymakers are being urged to address rising rents, tax burdens, and housing shortages with greater urgency.
Most Americans want leaders to invest in crime prevention through mental health care, addiction treatment, and economic opportunities, rather than punitive policies, and the Trump administration’s cuts to these programs are unpopular.
Carlos Dominguez is on trial for two counts of murder, with testimony from eight witnesses including law enforcement personnel, a paramedic, a forensic systems analyst, and a man experiencing homelessness who was friends with one of the victims.
Marie Harrison, a pioneering environmental activist, fought against environmental racism in Bayview/Hunters Point, San Francisco, and her legacy continues through her daughter Arieann Harrison.
The ACLU has filed a class action complaint with the Army National Guard Bureau Equal Opportunity Office on behalf of an Illinois National Guard civilian employee, challenging a Trump administration policy that bars transgender federal employees from using facilities aligned with their gender identity.
The courts play a vital role in ensuring fairness and justice, as evidenced by the recent Fischer v. United States Supreme Court decision, which limited the federal government’s use of obstruction statutes, and the role of the judiciary in reexamining flawed trials and evidence to prevent wrongful convictions.
Richard Gerald Jordan, Mississippi’s longest-serving death row inmate, has been scheduled for execution on June 25, 2025, after nearly five decades of litigation and failed appeals.
Deputy Trevor Kirk was convicted of excessive force after throwing a woman to the ground and pepper-spraying her, but he will now plead guilty to a misdemeanor and serve no more than one year in prison, sparking the resignation of multiple federal prosecutors.