On Tuesday, September 12, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to set aside $88...
This L.A. Democrat is a ‘New Testament kind of guy’ — and one of California’s most powerful voices on criminal justice
By Alexei Koseff, CalMatters The man — tall and gaunt, slightly bedraggled, carrying a plastic...
Deconstructing the conviction of Mark Ridley-Thomas: Part 6 – Preparing to appeal to the 9th
On Monday, September 11, Mark Ridley-Thomas's attorneys filed what is called a Notice of Appeal...
More than 80 criminal justice leaders urge GA Court to protect prosecutorial independence in GA—and across the U.S.— by declaring SB 92 unconstitutional.
Even at the time of its passage, many believed that one of the law's unstated purposes was to act...
CA bill would shift restitution from juveniles to State
If approved, payments would be made by state's Victim Compensation Board.
Deconstructing the conviction of Mark Ridley-Thomas: Part 5 – Alleged Quid Pro Quo Contracts & MRT’s Prison Sentence
Waiting for sentencing The sentencing of Ridley-Thomas was originally set to take place on...
Opinion: I have a form of PTSD that’s rarely talked about
My time spent in unsafe neighborhoods and unsafe prisons has taught me a secret: Most people in...
LA’s dangerous and abuse-ridden Men’s Central Jail sees three more deaths in a single week
WitnessLA gets calls from people inside of Los Angeles County’s jail system on a semi-regular...
Deconstructing the Conviction of Mark Ridley-Thomas – Part 4: The Trial Penalty
On Monday, August 21, Mark Ridley-Thomas and his team of defense attorneys will come before U.S...
Deconstructing the Conviction of Mark Ridley-Thomas – Part 3: government prosecutors want a 6-year prison sentence
The U.S. Government believes that Mark Ridley-Thomas, the former state senator, former assemblyman...
Mental Health Care Is Critical for Survivors of Violence. Access Is Another Story
Like veterans of wars, domestic violence survivors have often been subjected to prolonged periods...
40 years ago, the US began sending large numbers of kids to prison without hope of release. A former prosecutor looks at how things have changed
A South Carolina judge heard arguments in late May 2023 to reconsider the sentence for Jesse...
Friday night, any & all available youth probation staff members were called to report to LA County’s Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall because of a “large disturbance”
On Friday, July 28, LA County Probation officials put out a call for “all sworn staff” who were...
How San Luis Obispo Parents are Helping Prevent Relationship Violence Before It Starts
As an educator on healthy relationships, consent is at the heart of what Christina Kaviani teaches.
Punishing Families Part 2: L.A. County Data Reveals Child Removal Hotspots
LA County's DCFS investigates and removes kids from families in lower income neighborhoods at...
Deconstructing the Conviction of Mark Ridley-Thomas: Part 2
Two weeks ago, at 9:58 a.m. on Monday, June 26, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer entered her 7th...
Op-ed: How LA County’s zero-bail rules can help others like me
by Angel Lopez, The Appeal This piece was published in coordination with Zealous, an...
A new lawsuit filed by veterinarian Dr. Yolanda Cassidy once again shines a spotlight on the death of LASD K-9 Spike
The death of the LASD K-9, whose name was Spike, is a story that refuses to go away.