The Crime Report

drawing of judge with gavel and lawbooks

Viewpoints

Make Prosecutors 'Earn' Immunity

By James M. Doyle | 6 hours ago

The doctrine of absolute prosecutorial immunity was conjured out of thin air by the Supreme Court in 1976, with no basis in the Constitution. Until it is eradicated, culpable prosecutors who want immunity should have to apply for it, writes TCR’s legal affairs columnist James Doyle.

Prison Writing

Black Tears: Lament For a Murdered Son

By Montreal Blakeley | 6 hours ago

A San Quentin inmate recalls the son he lost to violence in the community he left behind.

Prisoner Education

Teaching in Prison: ‘You Have to Respect the Rules’

By Charlotte West/Open Campus | 6 hours ago

Nigel Poor, co-producer of Ear Hustle, a podcast about life inside San Quentin, discusses the challenges―and rewards― of instructing individuals locked behind bars.

Policing

Departing NYPD Chief Slams 'Magical Thinking' of Reformers

By TCR Staff | 6 hours ago

Blaming the rise in violent crime on “misinformed” efforts to overhaul the justice system, outgoing New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said authorities should stick with the policies that were proven to keep people safe.

National Security

A New Secret Court Is Coming to Guantanamo

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

The creation of the court is seen as a further retreat from transparency by some, but is described as a cost-saving measure by others.

Reforming the System

DOJ Awards Washington State Tribes $8.5M for Justice Programs

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

From developing youth programs to upgrading court programs and drug treatment programs, the eight tribes in western Washington will use the funds to build stronger communities, advocates say.

Sex Trafficking

Gislaine Maxwell Found Guilty of Conspiring in Epstein Sex Abuse

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Four accusers testified that they had been served up to Epstein by Maxwell to be sexually abused.

Immigration

Biden Pushes Supreme Court to End ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Rather than an immediate stop to the policy, the government’s latest petition seeks review on the Supreme Court’s 2022 spring calendar.

Crime

LAPD Kills Five in Nine Days

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Five of the people shot by LAPD around the Christmas holiday have died, and not a single victim was armed with guns.

Drugs

Judge Orders Hold on OxyContin Lawsuits and Renewed Negotiations

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain warned the Sackler family and others that he would end the protections early if there are not serious talks toward a new settlement.

Research & Analysis

Reforming the System

Bring Plea Bargaining ‘Out of the Shadows’: Paper

The dominance of plea bargaining and the lack of transparency throughout the justice system should be addressed with “legal safeguards” to protect defendants, argues a forthcoming paper in the Stetson Law Review.
Reforming the System

Restrictions on Family Contacts Darken Holiday Season for Inmates

Since the start of the pandemic, corrections authorities around the U.S. have tightened "needlessly cruel" barriers to family contacts—ranging from curtailing visits to raising fees for phone calls―that will increase recidivism and worsen the emotional health of incarcerees, two separate research reports warn.
Reforming the System

NY Bail Reform: ‘Two Steps Forward, One Step Back’

Although bail reform in New York successfully reduced city and state prison populations, it has failed to resolve economic inequality in the state’s pretrial detention system, argues Daniel Chasin in the Cardozo Law Review.
Race and Equity

Study: Black People 65% More Likely to Die From Prison Time Than Whites

New research has found that Black Americans who have spent time in jail or prison are 65 percent more likely to die prematurely, even if it's been years since their incarceration, while having no meaningful impact on the long-term health of white former inmates, reports Health Day.
Domestic Violence

Handgun Ownership Boosts Risk of Repeat Violence by Domestic Abusers: Study

Handgun owners previously convicted of, or charged with, intimate partner violence are more likely to re-offend, according to a new study by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program.
Reforming the System

‘Unaffordable and Unethical’: PA Courts Routinely Set High Cash Bail

According to new research published by the ACLU-PA, courts within the commonwealth routinely assign unaffordable cash bail, incarcerating thousands of people simply because they cannot afford to pay their way out. The researchers outline recommendations that the courts can take on the path to reform.

WORTH A READ

Viewpoints

The Tragedy of Valentina and the ‘Clear Shot’ Provision
By Jeffrey A. Schwartz | December 29, 2021
The accidental shooting death of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta might have been avoided if Los Angeles cops had followed standard procedures that prohibit use of lethal force when it might endanger bystanders, writes California psychologist Jeffrey Schwartz.
Drugs

Social Media, Fentanyl a ‘Deadly’ Combination, DEA Warns
By TCR Staff | December 29, 2021
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says that drug traffickers are now using social media to sell pills laced with Fentanyl. Young adults who purchase them through Snapchat or Instagram are suffering deadly consequences.
Policy & Politics

More Funds for Cities in $1.6B DOJ Crimefighting Package
By TCR Staff | December 28, 2021
The Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs has announced that hundreds of communities and organizations are being awarded or are eligible to receive a slice of $1.6 billion in grant awards to support a wide range of programs designed to reduce violent crime.
Juvenile Justice

The Lesson of Meek Mill’s ‘Trauma’
By Andrea Cipriano | December 23, 2021
The best-selling rapper’s autobiographical song is a starting point for examining the traumatic experiences of Black youth involved with the justice system, writes the author of a forthcoming book.

Featured

Bill Moyers on Justice

By TCR Staff | December 1, 2017

Moyers was honored as TCR’s 2018 “Justice Media Trailblazer.” Watch the video of his remarks at the Feb 15, 2018 John Jay College dinner here.

The Crime Report - Your Complete Criminal Justice Resource

National Security

A New Secret Court Is Coming to Guantanamo

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Reforming the System

DOJ Awards Washington State Tribes $8.5M for Justice Programs

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Sex Trafficking

Gislaine Maxwell Found Guilty of Conspiring in Epstein Sex Abuse

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Immigration

Biden Pushes Supreme Court to End ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Crime

LAPD Kills Five in Nine Days

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Drugs

Judge Orders Hold on OxyContin Lawsuits and Renewed Negotiations

By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago

Prisoner Reentry

DC Employment Program for Ex-Offenders Helps Budding Entrepreneurs

Justice and Health

42% of Utah Police Shootings Involve People in Mental Health Crisis

Crime Victims

In-Custody Death of Kansas Teen Ruled a Homicide

Investigations

Despite ‘Credible’ Allegations, Westchester DA Decides Against Charging Cuomo

Public Opinion

Homeland Security Seeks Distance From ICE’s Negative Reputation

Judge Refuses to Dismiss Jan. 6 Charges Against Proud Boys Leaders

Feds Award $20.5 Million in NYC Anti-Gun Violence Programming

Chicago Sexual Assault Numbers Hit 20-Year High

LAPD Claims Crime is Spiking, But Data May Show Otherwise