Oakland mayor appoints first female police chief, Anne Kirkpatrick.
Study Finds Racial Gap in Positive Outcomes Following Juvenile Incarceration
A study by Northwestern University researchers takes a close look at the outcomes of teenagers who...
First Ever Sobering Center in Skid Row to Divert Intoxicated Homeless From Jail and the Hospital
Los Angeles County officials opened LA County's first-ever sobering center in Skid Row.
“No Such Thing as a Child Prostitute” Bill Becomes State Law
On January 1, a new state law aimed at decriminalizing children who are victims of sex trafficking...
Should LA Sheriff’s Deputies be Criminally Charged or Fired for Failure to Act in Torture Death of 8-Year-old Gabriel Fernandez?
WHAT ABOUT THE DEPUTIES? The torture death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez in May of 2013...
WLA Dark This Week, But Back in Full Force on January 3
WitnessLA is dark this week unless there’s news we simply cannot avoid. Then we will be back...
Hung Jury in Baca Trial – “Unable to reach a Verdict,” Deadlocked at 11 /1 for Acquittal
BACA JURY HANGS At approximate 2:15, Judge Percy Anderson announced that the foreperson of the jury...
THE TRIAL OF LEE BACA – The Jury Deliberates
NOTES & QUESTIONS The jury in the trial of former Los Angeles County sheriff Lee Baca entered...
Witness LA Has Moved (Obviously) But We’re Still Unpacking (While We’re at Court)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Hi everyone, Welcome to WitnessLA’s new home. We feel like we’ve moved from a...
Lee Baca Trial: The Prosecution Rests With Fed Judge’s Account of Furious Sheriff, and the Defense Calls a Speedy List of Character Witnesses
THE TRIAL OF LEE BACA: The Prosecution Rests With a Window Into Baca’s Anger, and the Defense...
US Dept. of Justice Launches Investigation into OC Prosecutorial Misconduct Scandal
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a civil pattern-or-practice investigation...
New Initiative to Reduce Gender-Based Disparities in LA County
WOMEN AND GIRLS FACE UNIQUE DISADVANTAGES IN LA COUNTY’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND FOSTER CARE...
The Trial of Lee Baca – Day 3: A Colleague’s Warning & a Convicted Deputy Shows the High Cost of Following Orders
LEE BACA, DAY THREE: “WE’RE THE SUSPECTS” There were several big moments in the...
$3.6 Million for the Family of a Murdered Santa Clara Jail Inmate
Santa Clara County has agreed to pay a $3.6 million settlement to the family of 31-year-old Michael...
Updates on the Lee Baca Trial Coming This Weekend – UPDATED
UPDATE: Dearest WitnessLA readers, Please forgive the slow pace of my Baca trial updates. I have...
Are Cops Liable When They “Provoke” Violent Encounters? SCOTUS May Soon Decide.
The US Supreme Court has decided to hear a case centering around liability for an officer-involved...
LA County DCFS Director Announces Retirement
Philip Browning, head of the LA County Department of Children and Family Services, announced in a...
LA County Supes Pass Homelessness, Immigration Motions
SUPES DECLARE HOMELESSNESS AN EMERGENCY, APPROVE A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO RAISE SALES TAX On Tuesday...