Law Enforcement

High-profile CA judge trashes legal system

Alex Kozinski, the libertarian maverick judge on the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is one of the best-known judges in the nation in media and legal circles because of his contrarian streak and his willingness to go

CA GOP eyes asset forfeiture reform

James Poulos June 24, 2015

After sailing through the state Senate, a key criminal justice reform bill with bipartisan support faced its first test in the Assembly at a closely watched end-of-month hearing. “SB443 will continue to allow California law enforcement agencies to keep a

Banned guns not the ones used in crimes

Steve Miller June 8, 2015

In the wake of firearms madness on both sides of the issue comes a batch of material obtained via public records request from guns.com, a news website that editorially tilts toward the support of gun rights. The site found that

California continues tussle with ex-offender employment

Steve Miller May 27, 2015

The good news is that the California Department of Corrections offers program to help inmates become opticians. The bad news is that there are four different state statutes that allow the state to refuse to license an ex-offender as an

CA struggles to curb heroin spike

James Poulos May 19, 2015

As loosening marijuana regulation and enforcement upends the drug culture in California, heroin use has become an increasing problem in the Golden State, new hospital data suggested. “The number of young adults admitted to California hospital emergency rooms with heroin

CA cops could get more mental illness training

James Poulos May 16, 2015

A recent pair of LAPD confrontations ending in death gave new life to a pair of state Senate bills that would increase mental illness training for California police. Introduced last year, Senate Bill 11, the first, has begun to gather steam as

Cartoon: Dirty Harry 2015

CalWatchdog Staff May 12, 2015

All eyes on CA police bodycam policy

James Poulos May 7, 2015

Body cameras for police officers have reached the forefront of California’s legislative agenda. After a spate of enforcement scandals that raised the ire of many in Los Angeles, bodycams began to catch on as a policy measure that could shield police from wrongful litigation and protect citizens

Hertzberg proposes plan to reduce traffic penalties, restore suspended licenses

John May 6, 2015

Drivers who’ve had their licenses suspended could soon get a reprieve. State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, has introduced legislation that would reduce outstanding penalties and fines for drivers with a suspended license. In addition to reducing penalties, Senate Bill

VIDEO: The effective use of police body cameras in San Diego

CalWatchdog Staff April 24, 2015

In a conversation with CalWatchdog.com Editor Brian Calle, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer discusses law enforcement issues ranging from human trafficking to marijuana legalization. In the interview, Mayor Faulconer outlines his support for the use body cameras by police officers,