criminal justice

A wide view of a teacher holding up four fingers in the air as they stand in front of students seated on a pink carpet inside a classroom.

Commentary

California schools can stop truancy without arresting parents.

California parents of chronically absent students could be arrested, charged with a misdemeanor, fined up to $2,000 and face a year in jail. A new law will end the practice.

By Jon England • November 25, 2025

The feet of an unidentified person as they used their right foot to step in the middle of an orang jump rope while standing in a courtyard.

Justice

Newsom closed 4 prisons and trimmed payroll. Corrections spending is still over budget

California's $17.5 billion prison system is over budget, contributing to a projected state deficit. Some groups want him to close more prisons.

By

Cayla Mihalovich

• November 21, 2025

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, identifiable by a patch on their uniform, stands near an open van door, observing a group of people approaching. The scene is outdoors in a rural area with dry, rugged terrain and sparse vegetation. The individuals walking towards the van carry personal belongings and appear to be guided or escorted by the officer.

Commentary

New ICE leadership brings more violence, little accountability and zero oversight

If Border Patrol leaders take over ICE, it's likely both agencies will continue avoiding repercussions for violence and deaths in custody.

By

Pedro Rios

• November 18, 2025

A crowd of people stands and talks in a historic government building hallway, framed by ornate light fixtures and arched architectural details. Individuals in business attire gather near a wooden railing, with warm lighting illuminating the corridor.

Commentary

Dana Williamson’s indictment reveals a hidden world of political operatives

Newsom's former chief of staff is accused of misusing campaign money, lying to get a COVID loan and calling personal purchases, like designer goods and a luxurious vacation, business expenses.

By

Dan Walters

• November 18, 2025

The back of a sheriff officer is viewed through a doorway while they observe a cell block inside a correctional facility.

Justice

LA jails scale back opioid addiction treatment as fatal overdoses continue

Hundreds of people are on a waitlist for opioid addiction treatment in Los Angeles County jails as the state presses the system to reduce overdoses and in-custody deaths

By

Cayla Mihalovich

• November 14, 2025

A person in a red vest bends down to place flowers at a memorial site in a wooded area. The memorial includes bouquets, a wreath on a wooden post, and a small wooden sign with the name “Polly Klaas” and another sign reading “For a brief moment an angel rested here.”

Commentary

California study is asking crime survivors what we need

Polly Klaas' sister regrets that politicians used Polly's death to justify "tough on crime" laws such as California's Three Strikes law. A study will collect survivors' thoughts.

By Jess Nichol • November 12, 2025

A row of four police officers stand facing a group of protesters sitting in the middle of a street during a protest. The police officer in the middle faces towards the camera while holding a baton.

Justice

California Supreme Court strikes down warning on LAPD citizen complaint forms

California adopted criminal penalties for filing false claims against police officers 30 years ago. The state Supreme Court held that the LAPD went too far in advising people about those penalties when they file citizen complaints.

By

Nigel Duara

• November 10, 2025

About 57% of staff in California prisons have skipped COVID vaccines. In this image from 2018, inmates pass a correctional officer as they leave an exercise yard at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

Justice

Jury awards $16.8 million to California prison doctor who complained about inmate’s threat

A California prison psychologist sought protection after an inmate reportedly threatened her. Instead, the prisoner was allowed to stay and she lost her job.

By

Adam Ashton

• November 3, 2025

A narrow prison cell with yellow-painted walls contains a stainless steel sink and toilet unit, a small white bucket on the floor, and a black metal bed frame without a mattress. Above the sink, a wall-mounted shelf holds a few items, including toilet paper and a towel. Harsh wall-mounted lights cast strong illumination, highlighting the chipped paint and worn surfaces throughout the confined space.

Justice

California prisoners sleep with ‘one eye open’. Should they have their own cells?

Potentially volatile cellmates are a fact of life in California prisons. That may change as the state's incarcerated population declines, freeing up space for single-person quarters.

By

Joe Garcia

• November 3, 2025

Investigation

15 DUIs, still driving: California’s failure to take repeat drunk drivers off the road

As alcohol-related roadway deaths spike across the state, a CalMatters investigation finds California has some of the weakest DUI laws in the country.

By

Robert Lewis

and

Lauren Hepler

• October 30, 2025

Criminal Justice