Law Enforcement

CA poised to reform asset forfeiture by law enforcement

After a failed attempt last year, so-called asset forfeiture — the controversial nationwide practice used by cops to permanently seize property belonging to individuals who have run afoul of the law but have not been convicted — could soon be reformed in California

CA cops fuel FBI iris data collection

James Poulos July 21, 2016

After years of operating under the radar, the cover has been pulled back on an FBI program, centered around Southern California, to amass iris scan information in a federal database. “To create that pool of scans, the FBI has

State attorney general and charter school haggle over education settlement

James Poulos July 18, 2016

California Senate candidate Kamala Harris has kicked over a hornet’s nest in a big but contentious settlement with the nation’s largest online charter school. Not only has K12 refused to admit wrongdoing, despite Harris’s public allegations, but the organization has also

Legislature advancing bill to stop license suspensions for unpaid fines

Matt Fleming June 22, 2016

A bill to stop automatic suspensions of driver’s licenses for unpaid fines is only a few votes and one signature from becoming law. Senate Bill 881, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hertzberg, has cleared the Senate already and is working its

Bipartisan support building to curb “policing for profit”

Matt Fleming May 25, 2016

Proponents of a measure to close a loophole that allows local law enforcement agencies to seize citizens’ property without a criminal conviction or even an arrest — a practice dubbed “policing for profit” — are moving behind the scenes to shore

Court to stop suspending licenses for unpaid fines

Matt Fleming May 23, 2016

Under pressure from civil liberties groups, Contra Costa County Superior Court announced last week a moratorium on the practice of suspending driver’s licenses over unpaid fines. In March, the ACLU of Northern California and other groups urged the California Judicial Council

FBI startles CA with secret courthouse surveillance

James Poulos May 19, 2016

Touching off another national controversy centered around California, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was discovered to have concealed video and audio monitoring devices around a courthouse in the San Francisco East Bay five to six years ago. “Federal agents planted

SCOTUS denies CA death penalty suit

James Poulos May 7, 2016

The Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit intent on overturning California’s death penalty regime on that grounds that it was too slow to be constitutional, drawing a rebuke from just one of their members. “The case was brought by Richard

CA sues Morgan Stanley over public pension funds

James Poulos April 12, 2016

The State of California has sued investment bank Morgan Stanley, filing a complaint in San Francisco Superior Court, seeking redress for what officials said was massive harm to its public-sector workers. “Public employees in California, including peace officers, firefighters,

Bill blocking law enforcement from seizing property without convictions nearing return

Matt Fleming April 11, 2016

Lawmakers and civil-liberty groups are ratcheting up public support for a bill that closes a loophole allowing local law enforcement agencies to seize citizens’ property without a criminal conviction — a practice dubbed “policing for profit.” Current California law already bars the practice