The Defund Movement Aims to Change the Policing and Prosecution of Domestic Violence Though domestic violence is often cited as a reason to maintain the carceral status quo, advocates say there are more humane—and effective—alternatives. Jessica Pishko Jul 28, 2020
Washington Sheriff Faces Recall Efforts for Endangering Public Health The Snohomish County sheriff is among a string of officials nationwide who have combined a refusal to enforce lockdown orders with broader policies of increased policing and arrests. Jessica Pishko Jun 25, 2020
When Sheriffs Choose to Help ICE When people are arrested and booked into a local jail, they often end up on ICE’s radar. Sheriffs are a major reason why. Jessica Pishko Jun 09, 2020
Protecting Rural Jails From Coronavirus Aaron Littman, Lauren Sudeall and Jessica Pishko Apr 21, 2020
California’s Sheriffs Must Do More to Save Their Communities From the Ravages of Coronavirus Jody David Armour, Jessica Pishko Apr 18, 2020
Policing Coronavirus As infections and deaths mount, state leaders and law enforcement are turning to tough-on-crime tactics in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. Jessica Pishko Apr 07, 2020
What Sheriffs Can Do To Slow the Coronavirus Outbreak Sheriffs wield enormous power, and they can direct it in ways that will help contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect incarcerated people. Jessica Pishko Mar 18, 2020
Prosecutors Across U.S. Call for Action to Mitigate Spread of Coronavirus in Jails and Prisons In a joint statement, they emphasized the need to reduce the number of people currently incarcerated in order to contain the deadly COVID-19 virus. Jessica Pishko Mar 17, 2020
Cash Bail Is Creating a Crisis in Rural Jails A federal lawsuit alleges lack of due process in a rural Tennessee county, and reform advocates say its jail is hardly an outlier. Jessica Pishko Mar 12, 2020
Why Has Jackie Lacey’s Conviction Review Unit Exonerated So Few People? Critics say there may be systemic problems with how the unit is run within the Los Angeles County DA’s office. Jessica Pishko Feb 27, 2020
What Kim Ogg Gets Wrong About Work, Poverty, and Crime The attitude behind the Harris County district attorney’s message to ‘put down your gun and pick up an employment application’ is outdated. Jessica Pishko Feb 19, 2020
When a Sheriff’s Jail Is Emptied New York sheriffs are fighting the state’s cuts to pretrial detention. But bail reform can push sheriffs to embrace shrinking jails. Jessica Pishko Jan 24, 2020
Los Angeles County Democratic Party Endorses George Gascón for District Attorney The former San Francisco DA got the nod over incumbent Jackie Lacey, whose tenure advocates and activists have long criticized as lackluster. Jessica Pishko Dec 10, 2019
How District Attorney Jackie Lacey Failed Los Angeles On a host of issues—including police shootings, bail reform, marijuana legalization, and the death penalty—critics say Lacey, once seen as a reformer, has sought to preserve the status quo. Jessica Pishko Nov 12, 2019
How Sheriffs’ Power and Autonomy Make Them Central Players for Policing Reform Our ongoing series on the role of sheriffs turns to a site of heated political battles: policing powers. Jessica Pishko Sep 26, 2019
In Liberal California, A Crusader Against Criminal Justice Reform Assemblymember Jim Cooper is pushing to roll back changes that have successfully reduced incarceration. Jessica Pishko Aug 19, 2019
America’s New ‘Sheriff of the Year’ Pushed to Allow Teachers to Carry Weapons in School Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County, Florida, is one of the state’s most controversial lawmen. Jessica Pishko Jul 23, 2019
An Infamous Louisiana Sheriff Is On His Way Out. Now What? Louis Ackal has said he isn’t seeking re-election. But advocates fear that may not be enough to bring change. Jessica Pishko Jul 08, 2019
The Opioid Crisis and the Elected Sheriff Sheriffs often control access to treatment in jail and shape law enforcement attitudes toward the opioid crisis. What are their roles? Jessica Pishko May 09, 2019
Are Sheriffs Necessary? Advocates are pushing to abolish the office in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Jessica Pishko Apr 24, 2019
Hundreds Stuck in California Prisons as Prosecutors Seek to Block New Law Senate Bill 1437 virtually eliminated the ‘felony-murder rule,’ but district attorneys aren’t ready to let it go. Jessica Pishko Mar 25, 2019
Jail Deaths and the Elected Sheriff Jail deaths happen with alarming regularity. The Badge probes the responsibility of sheriffs. Jessica Pishko Mar 21, 2019
How A No-Knock Raid in Austin Turned Into a Lethal Shootout ‘There were explosions everywhere ... I had no idea who was in the house.’ Jessica Pishko Feb 05, 2019
At Angola Prison, ‘People Are Suffering. People Are Dying’ Trial begins in class action suit alleging medical neglect by Louisiana State Penitentiary. Jessica Pishko Oct 12, 2018
Caretaker Faces Deportation Over Dubious ‘Shaken Baby’ Conviction After being released from prison, her only chance is a pardon from the governor. Jessica Pishko Aug 14, 2018
Expert: Crime registries turn people into pariahs with ‘very little to lose’ New types of registries are being created around the country, despite research showing they don’t work. Jessica Pishko Jul 20, 2018
Why This Mother And Daughter Were Jailed Without Being Charged With A Crime A teenage girl spent weeks in jail, and her mother is still locked up on a $150,000 bond. Jessica Pishko Jul 13, 2018
Is The Yolo County District Attorney Betraying CA Voters? By charging shoplifters with felonies, Jeff Reisig is circumventing Prop 47, intended to reduce CA prison populations. Jessica Pishko Jun 04, 2018
How Walmart is Helping Prosecutors Pursue 10-Year Sentences for Shoplifting Jessica Pishko May 08, 2018
Even With A Governor’s Pardon, Jesus Aguirre, Jr. Is Still a Gang Member According to Orange County Jessica Pishko Jan 18, 2018
Despite Public Outcry Over Pay-to-Play Justice, Prosecutors Just Don’t Get it Jessica Pishko Oct 25, 2017
Why Would Prosecutors Refuse DNA Testing? In this Oregon capital case, it could ensure that the state doesn’t execute the wrong man. Jessica Pishko Oct 13, 2017
