Nigel Duara

Justice

California new laws for 2024: Longer prison sentences for fentanyl trafficking

Fentanyl is driving California’s deadly overdose crisis. A new law taking effect Jan. 1 targets dealers by increasing criminal penalties for trafficking the drug.

By Nigel Duara • December 29, 2023

Justice

California new laws for 2024: Tougher penalties for child trafficking

A conviction for child trafficking will be classified as a “serious felony” in California, making it punishable as a strike under the state’s three-strikes law.

By Nigel Duara • December 29, 2023

Justice

Year in review: California closes prisons and transforms others

As the state shutters prisons, Gov. Newsom wants to turn San Quentin into a model for rehabilitation. Attorney General Rob Bonta is trying to catch up on police shooting investigations.

By Nigel Duara • December 20, 2023

Justice

CHP officers get biggest raise in 20 years as hiring challenges drive up California police pay

By law, California Highway Patrol officers receive raises based on what five other large law enforcement agencies pay police. Several California cities recently gave police substantial wage increases, leading to the biggest raise in 20 years for the CHP.

By Nigel Duara • November 15, 2023

CalMatters en Español

Corte dictamina que las grabaciones de las cámaras corporales de la Policía en California no pueden reemplazar el testimonio de los testigos

Read this story in English. Cuando una mujer se negó a testificar contra un hombre acusado de agredirla, un juez del condado de Los Ángeles utilizó las acusaciones que hizo la noche del incidente que fueron grabadas por la cámara corporal de un oficial de Policía. Esta semana, la Corte Suprema de California dictaminó por unanimidad que […]

By Nigel Duara • August 17, 2023

Justice

California police body camera footage can’t take the place of witness testimony, court rules

More California police departments are deploying body cameras. A new court ruling restricts how prosecutors can use footage of witness accounts at trial.

By Nigel Duara • August 17, 2023

Justice

Record numbers of people have died in California jails. Now lawmakers could crack down

Locally elected sheriffs manage California jails and are responsible for the safety of the inmates they hold. Record deaths in San Diego’s jail are shaping a plan for new statewide oversight.

By Nigel Duara • August 9, 2023

Health

California’s opioid deaths increased by 121% in 3 years. What’s driving the crisis?

Thousands of Californians died from opioid overdoses in 2021. In response, many communities are making it easier to obtain life-saving overdose reversal drugs while some families are calling for tougher criminal penalties for fentanyl dealers.

By Ana B. Ibarra, Erica Yee and Nigel Duara • July 25, 2023

Justice

California Democrats resisted a child trafficking bill — until they couldn’t

California lawmakers tried nine times to stiffen penalties for trafficking of a minor. The latest effort appeared to die — until a social media campaign forced Democrats to reconsider.

By Nigel Duara and Anabel Sosa • July 14, 2023

CalMatters en Español

Los demócratas de California se resistieron a un proyecto de ley sobre tráfico de menores hasta que ya no pudieron

Read this story in English. Fue una audiencia superficial más dentro de un comité en un día regular en la Legislatura. La medida en cuestión el martes no era novedosa, solo otra en una larga lista de intentos de reclasificar un delito menor como un delito grave. Como la mayoría de los intentos anteriores, tuvo […]

By Nigel Duara and Anabel Sosa • July 14, 2023

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