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December 31, 2025
Prison Policy

The Menendez Brothers, Part 3: the Myth of the Model Inmate

December 30, 2025
Prison Policy

The Menendez Brothers, Part 2: How discipline plays an outsized role in CA parole decisions

December 30, 2025
Prison Policy

What the Menendez Brothers Parole hearings tell us about prison discipline, Part 1

December 29, 2025
#NoSafePlace

Is LA County’s women’s jail still an unsafe place for women to be? A new lawsuit says YES

December 28, 2025
#Oversight

LASD Oversight Part 3: LA County’s Inspector General has announced his retirement. But he has a lot more to tell us re: The struggle to provide genuine oversight for the nation’s largest sheriff’s department,

December 17, 2025
DCFS • District Attorney • Foster Care • LA County Board of Supervisors

Fixing Foster Care: Does DCFS Need Its Own Citizens’ Commission?…and More

June 12, 2013
2 Comments

When he started 15 months ago, most felt that DCFS Chief Philip Browning was exactly the right...

LAPD • LASD • Law Enforcement • Sheriff Lee Baca

Long Beach Chief Jim McDonnell Will NOT Run for Sheriff Against Lee Baca

June 11, 2013
17 Comments

We’d been hearing the rumors for weeks, that after a long exploratory period in which Long...

DCFS • Foster Care • Jail • Mental Illness • Prison • Sentencing • Supreme Court

LA Foster Kids Graduate, SCOTUS Rules on Sentencing Guidelines…and More

June 11, 2013
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FOSTER YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM’S GRADUATING CLASS OF 2013 LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina...

DCFS • Foster Care • Sentencing • Uncategorized • War on Drugs

A Murdered Palmdale Child & the Everyday Wounds of Thousands of LA Children….One Good DCFS Story….Drug Convictions & The “Wobbler Option”

June 10, 2013
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DCFS CHIEF BROWNING CLAIMS PRESSURE TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER IS PART OF THE “CULTURE”...

BREAKING L.A.

Shootings in Santa Monica & at Santa Monica College, 5 Dead, Multiple Crime Scenes

June 7, 2013
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Shootings occurred in Santa Monica at multiple locations, one at Santa Monica College reportedly...

Crime and Punishment • Criminal Justice • Prison • Prison Policy • Realignment • Reentry

New Survey Reports Views of California’s Crime Victims, With Surprising Results, Stirring Controversy

June 7, 2013
1 Comment

ONE IN FIVE CALIFORNIANS According to a new survey released on Thursday, 1 in 5 Californians has...

Immigration & Justice • Journalism • LAPD • Uncategorized

House Votes to Deport “Dreamers,” Tar Pits Cold Case…and More

June 7, 2013
1 Comment

(Video of Thursday’s House decision getting booed.) HOUSE PASSES AMENDMENT AGAINST DEFERRED...

DCFS • DNA • Foster Care • Juvenile Justice • Mental Health • Supreme Court

Issues with DCFS Stopping Family Services, Voluntary Isolation, and a SCOTUS DNA Swabbing Update

June 6, 2013
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(Scroll down to the second section for the corresponding story.) FOSTER CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS...

City Attorney • Elections • Marijuana Laws • Race • Race & Justice

Marijuana Arrests by Race…..Mike Feuer Picks All Star Transition Team… and the DWP’s Brian D’Arcy Sends His Love

June 5, 2013
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(click to enlarge) NEW REPORT SHOWS CRAZY RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ARRESTS FOR MARIJUANA...

LAPD • Law Enforcement

Dorner Report Leak Reveals Firing of Rogue ex-LAPD Officer Found “Justified”

June 4, 2013
3 Comments

The findings of the reexamination of the firing of former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner are not...

Civil Liberties • Civil Rights • Education • Human Rights • Juvenile Justice • Law Enforcement • Supreme Court • Youth at Risk • Zero Tolerance and School Discipline

SCOTUS Sez OK to DNA Swab at Arrest, Scalia Protests….Crime in Schools Down, Bullying Not….Juvie Justice Reform in Nebraska

June 4, 2013
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In a 5/4 decision on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement officers can take...

FBI • LASD • Sheriff Lee Baca

Deputy Says He Wore FBI Wire to Probe LASD Political $$ Raising Scheme

June 3, 2013
32 Comments

This weekend brought yet another account of reportedly questionable actions by higher-ups in the...

Death Penalty • Government • Journalism

Executions in CA Still on Pause, Virginia Gives Vote to Some After Prison…and More on DOJ/Media Spying

June 3, 2013
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APPELLATE COURT KEEPS CA EXECUTIONS ON HOLD The CA stay on executions will remain in place after a...

Children and Adolescents • Foster Care • Guns • Juvenile Justice • LGBTQ • School to Prison Pipeline

Bills About Guns…Kids & Solitary…Boy Scouts… and Foster Care …and More

May 31, 2013
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A bunch of notable bills advanced in the CA legislature this week. Below is a round-up of the ones...

Bears and Alligators • Education • Environment • Foster Care • Gangs • Health Care • Homeboy Industries • LA County Jail • LAUSD • Wolves

Who has the right to be educated in LA County Jail?…Homeboy Goes to Scotland…Gov’t Sued Over Not Protecting Endangered Species…and More

May 30, 2013
5 Comments

YOUNG, LEARNING DISABLED, AND LOCKED-UP—AND IN NEED OF EDUCATION Michael Garcia, who is about...

Arts • Death Penalty • LAPD • Prison

LAPD Before and After Federal Oversight, Shakespeare at San Quentin…and More

May 29, 2013
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LAPD AFTER 12 YEARS OF FED. OVERSIGHT Earlier this month, the LAPD completed its twelve years of...

CDCR • Crime and Punishment • Criminal Justice • Juvenile Justice • LA County Jail • LAPD • LASD • Law Enforcement • Prison • Prison Policy • Reentry

Why “The Hangover” Producer Goes to Prison…..Santa Clara’s Juvie Facility Gamble Pays Off….More on LA Archdiocese’s Secret Files

May 28, 2013
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One of California’s most committed, practical, gets-his-hands-dirty, knowledgable and...

Board of Supervisors • Immigration & Justice • Juvenile Justice • Social Justice • Solitary • Transportation

Solitary Kids, Leimart Park Stop (Finally!), Gangs and Immigration, and Gay Scouts

May 24, 2013
2 Comments

UPDATE ON REFORM BILL FOR KIDS IN SOLITARY A bill that would define and limit the use of solitary...

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