MOVING THE BAR: MY LIFE AS A RADICAL LAWYER by Michael Ratner OR Books, New York/London 2021, 358...
CA Lawmakers and LA’s District Attorney Announce Bill to Eliminate “Third Strike” Sentence Enhancements for Crimes Committed by Minors
On Friday, April 9, California Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), Los Angeles County...
President Biden plus a list of prosecutors & veteran cops push for #SecondChances
On March 31, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation designating April 2021, as Second...
For Some Native Americans, Traditional Beliefs Hold Key to Ending Domestic Violence
“Tradition and culture are really at the core of who we are. It’s how we heal.”
Repurposing a Shut-Down Probation Camp to Help Transition-Age Youth Thrive
In October 2018, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to repurpose a Lancaster...
The Complicated Path to Men’s Central Jail Closure Outlined in Workgroup’s New Report
A new 146-page report digs into what Los Angeles County must do, and what it will cost, to get...
Sacramento Youth Facility Moves Toward a Culture of Healing Instead of Punishment
When a young person enters the de-escalation room in the county's youth detention facility, he or...
New study finds that prosecuting non-violent misdemeanors significantly raises the odds for rearrest
Misdemeanor charges make up over 80 percent of the criminal cases processed across the nation. More...
Waiting for justice: Defendants locked up for years awaiting trials, sentencing
For thousands of Californians, the notion of “presumed innocent” has been turned on its head...
Policing Bills Await Decisions in the Legislature’s Public Safety Committees
“Current law provides an opportunity for one officer to make a false statement in a police report...
A Deeper Look at the Landmark Ruling on Cash Bail by the Cal Supremes
Late last week, a ruling came down from the California Supreme Court that will permanently...
Police and civilians disagree on when body camera footage should be made public
Many police chiefs and regular American civilians agree that officers’ body camera footage should...
LA County Leaders Agree to Expand Community Care for People Declared Unfit to Stand Trial
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to expand reentry programs...
Progressive Justice Reformer Rob Bonta named as California’s new Attorney General
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that Democratic Assemblyman Rob Bonta is the person he has...
Op-Ed: Finally, an Opportunity to Humanize, Not Criminalize, LA’s Students
While cutting school police funding is an important first step toward reducing harm, the...
Bracketed by the News of 2 Mass Shootings, a Coalition Representing CA Crime Victims Has Released a 10-Point “Victims’ Agenda”
Our experience," said Patti Giggans, "is that survivors want justice. But that doesn't mean they...
The Dilemma of WitnessLA’s Comments Section: Finding a Better Way to Connect
From its birth on March 12, 2007, for the next 14 years, WitnessLA has featured a comment section...
Parole Trends in the Time of COVID-19: Fewer Hearings, Fewer Approvals
Only five out of 13 states actually increased the number of people granted parole during the first...