Law Enforcement
New report: School cops double student arrest rates and race, gender key factors
Government watchdog reveals students twice as likely to be arrested when officers are present and their race, gender and disability play pivotal role.
Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing
Violent crime in the U.S. saw a significant decrease in the first quarter of 2024, according to preliminary data from the FBI. But some may stille manipulate crime statistics for political gain, experts warn.
These wrongly arrested black men say a California bill would let police misuse face recognition
Three men falsely arrested based on face recognition technology have joined the fight against a California bill that aims to place guardrails around police use of the technology. They say it will still allow abuses and misguided arrests.
Teens say distracted driving messages need to be catchier, more frequent and blunt
Young adults typically underestimate the risk of distracted driving, making it difficult for public safety officials to craft effective messaging.
White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows
Much of the increase in hate and extremism can be attributed to a 50% surge in white supremacy hate groups in 2023, the highest jump ever recorded by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Amid campus protests nationwide, DC’s response stands out
The capital city’s police department cleared an encampment at a local university following pressure from House Republicans to be more forceful. But the District’s reluctance to take action sooner underlies lessons officials learned decades ago about the perils of aggressive enforcement.
As cities ban them from public spaces, homeless people scatter in search of refuge
Attorneys say bans could become more common nationwide if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns lower-court rulings in Oregon and Idaho that protect homeless people from being ticketed, charged or arrested for sleeping on public property.
States are required to background check child care workers. Many are falling short.
Dozens of states are out of compliance with at least one component of a federal law’s requirements, a congressional report found. But the problems are so complicated, it’s unclear if anyone has a solution.
In reversal, more areas allow high-speed police chases
Supporters of policy rollbacks say police pursuits can reduce crime; some experts aren’t so sure.
Oregon rolls back decriminalization of drugs. But is it too soon?
At a time when drug overdoses plague the nation, Oregon will recriminalize hard drugs, walking back a first-in-the nation experiment that critics say the state botched.
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One city's long and historic lawsuit against the gun industry appears to have met its end
After surviving 25 years of appeals, Gary, Indiana's efforts to hold firearm manufacturers responsible for illegal gun sales is likely over after the governor signed a bill aimed at extinguishing the suit.
‘Tough-on-crime’ policies are back in some places that had reimagined criminal justice
Several states are considering or have already enacted legislation undoing more progressive policies.
N.Y. governor sends National Guard troops into subway to tackle the “psychology of crime”
The New York governor's supporters say the specter of National Guard troops checking bags will make New Yorkers feel safer, but activists say it’s just a militarized version of stop-and-frisk.
As xylazine surges, some lawmakers want jail time for dealers and people who use the drug
The animal sedative is cheap, easy to get and sometimes winds up in other illicit substances.
Chicago is the latest city rethinking disputed technology that listens for gunshots
More than 150 U.S. cities use ShotSpotter, but a growing body of research shows that the tool has not succeeded in reducing gun violence, has slowed police response times to emergency calls and often did not lead to evidence recovery.
Philly mayor might consider these lessons from NYC before expanding stop-and-frisk
In New York City, stop-and-frisk led to unwanted consequences, such as lawsuits against the city, greater racial disparities in the criminal justice system, citizen unrest and distrust of the police.
City extends police department’s ‘life changing’ 4-day workweek pilot
The decision comes after the data shows that the 32-hour workweek resulted in faster emergency response times and cost savings
Policies to expand access to psychedelics could be ‘short-sighted’
While research shows psychedelics’ potential to mitigate the effects of substance use disorders, observers warn states might be better off waiting for federal guidance before legalizing their use and possession.
Cities know that the way police respond to mental crisis calls must change. But how?
Cities are experimenting with new ways to meet the rapidly increasing demand for behavioral health crisis intervention, at a time when incidents of police shooting and killing people in mental health crisis have become painfully familiar.
Active shooter training: State-specific requirements for schools and law enforcement
No states mandate annual active shooter training for police officers, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and FRONTLINE. In comparison, at least 37 states require such training in schools, typically on a yearly basis.
