When Cops Are Racist and Unaccountable, Then What?

The latest task force report isn't the first to suggest major reforms to the Chicago Police Department, but it might be the first to result in real change.

Making a Drug More Available to Save Addicts' Lives

There's a growing movement to make the drug that can reverse overdoses widely available at pharmacies, police departments and schools.

Virginia Governor Signs Bill Mandating New Rules on Testing Rape Kits

After discovering thousands of untested rape kits languishing across the state, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed into law new rules for the collection, storage and analysis of the critical evidence.

Judge Rules Sandy Hook Firearms Lawsuit Can Proceed

A judge in Connecticut rejected a request from gun manufacturers and sellers to dismiss a lawsuit filed by relatives of those killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The Fires That Threaten an Aging America

Older people are more vulnerable, but there's a lot that fire departments could be doing to keep them safer.

New Prison Rule Means Texas Jailbirds Can't Tweet

Texas prison inmates shouldn't be allowed to have active social media accounts, even if friends or family on the outside actually run them, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has decided.

Federal Judge Bars L.A. from Seizing Homeless Person's Property

A federal judge Wednesday issued a preliminary injunction barring Los Angeles police and sanitation officers from seizing and destroying homeless people's property without sufficient notice, and ordered the city to segregate and store impounded belongings where they can be recovered.

Report: Minorities, Poor Residents More Likely to Have Their Driver's License Suspended

A new study highlighting racial and socioeconomic disparities in license suspensions is the latest call for states to make reforms.

D.C. to Unveil New Crime Hotline to Connect Victims With Services

District officials plan to announce on Wednesday a new hotline for the city’s crime victims. With the new D.C. Victim Hotline, the District will become one of the few jurisdictions with a one-stop number for people affected by any crime, whether it’s mugging or murder. The number is not meant to summon emergency responders, but it can be used for services needed in the immediate aftermath or much later.

Philadelphia Wins $3.5M Grant to Cut Inmate Numbers

Philadelphia has been awarded a $3.5 million MacArthur Foundation grant to fund an aggressive plan to reduce its prison population by 34 percent over three years while addressing racial bias across the criminal justice system.

Chicago Police Task Force Calls For Oversight Reform, Admission Of Racism

The Chicago Police Department must acknowledge its racist history and overhaul its handling of excessive force allegations before true reforms can take place, according to a scathing draft report from the task force established by Mayor Rahm Emanuel following public unrest over the Laquan McDonald video.

Sandra Bland Committee in Texas Calls for New Jail, Body Cameras

Waller County, Texas, needs a new jail, local officers need body cameras to record their activities and the sheriff's office needs to promote civility, a study committee formed after the death of Sandra Bland said Tuesday. The county came under national scrutiny in July when Bland was found hanged in her jail cell three days after being arrested for assaulting an officer during a contentious traffic stop.

Synthetic Drugs: An Emerging, Evolving Threat

While states are focused on the opioid epidemic, they may not be paying enough attention to the lab-created drugs that are hard to control.

Tech-Savvy Teens Make It Easier to Clear Juvenile Records

Most people don't know they can get their juvenile records erased. Thanks to a group of young people, there's now an app for that.

Window for Criminal Justice Reform Closing in Congress

It’s one of the few issues with bipartisan support in Washington. But for several reasons, the chances for change this year are dwindling.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Traditional Redistricting Methods

The justices unanimously rejected a challenge to the way Texas -- and every other state -- draws its legislative lines. They did, however, leave one question unsettled.

Teen Driving Laws' Unexpected Impact on Crime

New research shows certain graduated driver licensing laws result in fewer teens being arrested for nontraffic-related crimes.

Zombie Foreclosures and the Crucial Role of Judges

Clouded property titles invite neighborhood blight. Simple steps by the courts can produce huge results.

Can Teaching Peace Reduce Violent Crime?

Other countries teach conflict resolution to at-risk youth as a way to break the cycle of violent retaliation. The idea is slowly catching on in America.

Public Unions Claim Victory in Supreme Court's 4-4 Tie

The ruling lets unions keep collecting fees from nonunion members -- for now. The case is likely to be retried.

Know CPR? New App Sends Alerts When Someone Nearby Needs It

It shows how technology can come to people’s aid -- sometimes faster than government.

The Pop-Up Jail in the ‘Spring Break Capital of the World’

Panama City Beach, Fla., gives new meaning to the phrase drunk tank.

How One City Solved Its Domestic Violence Problem

Can the strategy, which was originally developed to reduce gang violence, be replicated elsewhere?

Making Juvenile Justice LGBT-Friendly

Spurred by lawsuits and a growing understanding of the population’s challenges, some states are making detention centers safer for and more accepting of LGBT youth.

Hackers Hold Police Files Hostage for Ransom

The growing threat of cybercrime has exposed just how vulnerable police departments are to it.

The Libertarian on the Court Bench

One of the nation’s most prominent libertarian legal activists is the newest member of the Arizona Supreme Court.

A Proactive Approach to Keeping Kids Out of Jail

Instead of waiting to help until kids get in trouble, Los Angeles County is using data analytics to help them before. So far, it's proving successful.

States Seek More Secure Seat Belt Laws for School Buses

Only one state follows the new federal recommendations for seat belts in school buses. That could change soon, but money remains an issue.

Despite Lack of Seat Belts, School Bus Fatalities Are Rare

Only a few regions experienced multiple fatal crashes in the last decade.

Why Are Traffic Deaths Rising?

After years of going down, road-related fatalities went up last year. There's two big reasons for that.