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How much taxpayers lose in special elections

Henry T. Perea’s decision to vacate his Assembly seat early cost Fresno County a half-million dollars — enough to pay for four sheriff deputies — and has reignited a discussion on the cost of special elections. The Fresno Democrat announced

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

CA asset seizure survives SCOTUS review

James Poulos March 6, 2016

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take on a 15-year-old case challenging California’s asset seizure practices. The justices decided “they would not hear a long-running lawsuit that contends the state does not do enough to notify the rightful owners before seizing their

CA asset forfeiture reform fails

James Poulos September 30, 2015

After passing the state Senate overwhelmingly, California’s bipartisan attempt to reform asset forfeiture laws ran aground in the Assembly, victim of a powerful lobbying campaign conducted by law enforcement and its allies. Golden State cops teamed with prosecutors to sink the

Lawmakers bow to pressure, abandon effort to fix property confiscation laws

John September 11, 2015

Government agencies will continue to have the power to confiscate private property in California – without a criminal conviction – after lawmakers bowed to intense lobbying pressure by agencies with a vested interest in maintaining California’s civil asset forfeiture system. “No

Survey: Voters want more police oversight, reform

James Poulos September 3, 2015

This year, Californians wanted more police reform than they’ve gotten. The results of a new poll, touted by activist groups, revealed a constituency for continued re-adjustments in the balance between what law enforcement can do and what residents must expect. Broad

Asset forfeiture reform draws bipartisan buzz

James Poulos July 11, 2015

Amid growing national concern over the practice of so-called civil asset forfeiture, bipartisan support has swelled in California to reform the practice, with a new bill poised to add Assembly to Senate approval. An emerging consensus Asset forfeiture, wherein law enforcement retains

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

Another black lawmaker turns on CA teacher unions

Chris Reed June 6, 2015

California’s Democratic Party has long been able keep the peace between its richest faction — public employee unions — and its biggest faction — minority voters. But more than with any Legislature this century, the current session has produced some

Black Caucus brings its clout to CA school funding fight

Chris Reed March 18, 2015

The Local Control Funding Formula, enacted in 2013, is supposed to make sure more education dollars are used in ways that specifically help struggling students. Gov. Jerry Brown pushed for the education funding change because he said it was crucial