criminal justice

LAPD launched an internal investigation after a swarm of officers allegedly profiled and detained young men the day they were set to graduate from a second-chance program.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law limiting the use of so-called Perkins operations against young people. The undercover stings are under scrutiny at the California Supreme Court.

People convicted of serious sex offenses must serve at least 25 years in prison and cannot receive parole until age 65 under a new California. Previously, some could earn parole at 50.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law prohibiting marriage for people under 18. Liberal civil rights organizations fought previous efforts to ban the practice.

A new law will give incarcerated firefighters a leg up when applying to entry-level jobs with Cal Fire. ‘Hard-earned experience counts,” one advocate said.

The laws follow CalMatters investigations into failures in the state's public-defense system.

Perkins operations have helped resolve some of California's toughest cases. Despite recent scrutiny, they remain valuable and effective when done correctly.

A CalMatters investigation has found the state has some of the weakest DUI laws in the nation.

Counties pay out millions for lawsuits after jail deaths, but sheriffs run the jails. A bill awaits Newsom's signature that could alter that balance of power.

California's Prop. 36 gave certain people facing criminal charges an option to have their cases dropped if they complete drug treatment. Now, counties are on their own to figure out how to provide it.