Law Enforcement

New capital punishment plan sharpens CA execution fight

Obliged by a court settlement to figure out a new method of capital punishment, California officials have exacerbated the state’s protracted debate over executions by settling on a different kind of lethal injection. With a widespread shortage of execution drugs

Schism grows between San Francisco leaders, police

Chris Reed January 29, 2016

San Francisco could be on the brink of a schism between the police union and city leaders that rivals or exceeds the animosity seen in New York City between the police union and Mayor Bill de Blasio in the winter

Once-undocumented claim half of new CD drivers licenses

James Poulos January 17, 2016

Roiled by immigration fears on both sides, California supplied drivers licenses to big numbers of the otherwise undocumented, further sharpening the statewide debate. “California issued more than a half-million driver’s licenses under a new law granting the identifying documents to

Iraqi refugee arrested in CA on terror charge

James Poulos January 15, 2016

Two Iraqi refugees, one in California, have been arrested on joint terrorism-related charges. “From his pictures on Facebook, Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab looks like any other millennial with a wardrobe of Nike sneakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses and flannel shirts. But federal officials

California giving needed relief on traffic fines, fees

Steve Miller January 12, 2016

Financially strapped motorists are catching a break through the state’s traffic citation amnesty law, which began in October and gives discounts of up to 80 percent on unpaid traffic tickets due before Jan. 1, 2013. In Los Angeles Superior Court,

CA cities take advantage of misworded marijuana law

James Poulos January 9, 2016

California marijuana law has lurched into a new phase of disarray. But legislators in Sacramento have swung into action to correct the mistake behind the chaos. At fault was a drafting error in a key piece of legislation designed to

CA secures federal extension on ID compliance

James Poulos January 8, 2016

Amid fears of travel debacles and administrative nightmares, the federal government gave California a last-minute extension to become compliant with new nationwide ID requirements. At the mercy of the Department of Homeland Security, California had joined a number of states in

CA lawsuit challenges cash bail

James Poulos January 4, 2016

The procedure of charging and posting cash bail has prompted a historic lawsuit out of San Francisco. Evidence has been mounting for years that the bail system places the poor in an untenable position when they are arrested. As the

Gun sales continue statewide climb

James Poulos January 3, 2016

California’s experience with gun control and gun sales has created an ironic situation with significant implications for policy: Tighter regulations have increased along with firearms purchases. The phenomenon cuts both for and against the prevailing party platforms on the political Left

Two bills transform CA parole system

James Poulos December 29, 2015

California officials are preparing to implement the state’s latest steps toward a transformed parole system for incarcerated youths. The changes were spearheaded by state Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland, who led two bills through closely fought battles in Sacramento. Senate Bill 261