"CalGang gives police increased authority to approach and harass people for virtually no reason at...
Nearing His Legislative Deadline, Governor Newsom Signs 2 Dozen Crucial Criminal and Juvenile Justice Bills
On Tuesday evening, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he had taken his signing pen to...
LAUSD Plans to Expand List of Offenses Eligible for Diversion to Reduce Racially Disparate School Arrests
The district's goal is to reduce student arrests on school grounds by as much as 80 percent.
400,000 Old Warrants & 1.7 Million Citations to Be Wiped Clean Through LA’s New Multi-Agency Initiative
On Wednesday, October 2, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, Los Angeles County District Attorney...
Remembering Joan Petersilia, the Brilliant, Award-Winning Criminologist Who Advised Governors, Inspired Students, & Helped Change the Future of California
Editor’s Note: I first met criminologist Joan Petersilia in 2003, after I read her book...
Why the LA County Supes Responded to Sheriff’s “Ballooning” Budget Deficit by Freezing LASD Spending and Hiring
The LA County Supes are holding Sheriff Alex Villanueva accountable for a $63.4 million budget...
Op-Ed: When Is a Shooting “Necessary”? Legal Questions Remain After the Passage of CA Bill to Restrict Deadly Police Uses-of-Force
California is known for its progressive policies. However, in the area of civil rights, California...
Supervisors Vote Unanimously to Trigger a Civilian Oversight Commission With Teeth for the Nation’s Largest Probation Department
On Tuesday, October 1, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously—and...
Victims Say They Feel Betrayed By Judge’s Sentence of 2 Years in Fire Camp for Former LASD Deputy Who Sexually Assaulted 6 Women in LA Jail
There is no consenting. It’s like saying a child is choosing to be molested, even though they...
Key Criminal Justice Bills Await Their Fate on Governor Gavin Newsom’s Desk
California Governor Gavin Newsom has just under two weeks left to sign a tall stack of...
Now that Noah Quatro’s Parents Have Been Charged For Their 4-Year-Old Son’s Murder Are We Any Closer to Knowing Why No One Intervened to Prevent the Little Boy’s Death?
UPDATED: On September 30, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that...
After 19-Year-Old Andrew Martinez’s Death, LA County Supes Vote to Bolster Support for LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care
On Tuesday, in response to the suicide of a 19-year-old transgender foster youth on September 4...
New Lawsuit Spotlights LA County’s Uniquely Dangerous Deputy Gangs
Last week eight Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, represented by attorney Vincent...
Dispatch From San Quentin: Anticipation
Editor’s Note: As most readers know, WitnessLA has been publishing a series of essays written...
At the Current Rate, Cutting the U.S. Prison Population by 50 Percent Would Take 72 Years, Report Says
From 1972, the nation’s prison population exploded, growing 700 percent until it peaked in...
Motion Calls for Investigation, Plus Boosted Support Systems After LGBTQ+ Foster Youth’s Suicide
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider a motion that would...
LA County Probation Chief Terri McDonald Unexpectedly Announces January Retirement
In a surprise letter to the LA County Board of Supervisors, Probation Chief Terri McDonald informed...
DJJ Watch: Governor Newsom to Replace Head of State’s Youth Justice System Chuck Supple. So Who Will Follow?
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would be replacing the top person at California...