California Bill That Promotes Alternatives to Policing Is Back Despite Governor’s Veto The CRISES Act would fund emergency response programs that are not handled by police. Governor Newsom blocked the bill last year, but now advocates are pushing for a redo. Piper French Feb 17, 2021
Los Angeles D.A. George Gascón Leaves California’s Powerful D.A. Association Gascón is battling a lawsuit, filed by his own line prosecutors and backed by the state DA association, against his criminal justice reforms. Jerry Iannelli Feb 16, 2021
Let Civilians Run for Sheriff Again, New California Bill Proposes The measure may pave the way for more sheriff candidates who want to challenge mass incarceration, but are currently banned from running. Katie Jane Fernelius Feb 01, 2021
California Could End Cash Bail. But is This Alternative Any Better? Proposition 25 would replace the current system with an even more punitive one, some criminal justice reform groups say. Lauren Lee White Oct 21, 2020
Governor Newsom Adds Another Prosecutor to the California Supreme Court The state has not had a justice with experience as a public defender since the mid-1980s. Kyle C. Barry Oct 09, 2020
California Adopts New Laws to Fight Racism in Jury Selection California just made it harder for prosecutors to exclude Black people from jury trials, amid broader reforms against racial discrimination in courtrooms. Kyle C. Barry Sep 30, 2020
A New Association of Progressive D.A.s Could Overhaul California’s Reform Movement Prosecutors across the country are rethinking their membership in professional organizations that oppose a meaningful reform agenda. Jay Willis Sep 15, 2020
Progressives See Super Tuesday as a Chance to Transform Los Angeles “We’re at a watershed moment for criminal justice reform,” Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, said about Measure R and LA’s upcoming DA election. Daniel Nichanian Feb 28, 2020
D.A. Associations Should Own Up to the Splintering Politics of Prosecution California’s DA association responded to a critic in a letter signed by nearly all prosecutors. But this may only exacerbate worries about DAs’ tendency to talk in a single political voice. Daniel Nichanian Feb 14, 2020
How Rachel Rossi Would Change the D.A.’s Role in Los Angeles: “It Takes a Public Defender” Rossi rules out seeking the death penalty or prosecuting sex work. “Oftentimes justice may mean a restorative outcome. Oftentimes justice may mean never filing a case,” she said in a Q&A. Daniel Nichanian Jan 16, 2020
How George Gascón Wants to Reform Los Angeles and Achieve “the Lowest Level of Intervention” “The problem is that LA County has come to a place where they use the most expensive and the most intrusive tools of the criminal justice system to deal with every behavior," Gascón said in a Q&A. Daniel Nichanian Jan 09, 2020
California Legislature Adopts a Flurry of Criminal Justice Reforms New laws signed by Governor Newsom target private prisons, and fines and fees, the power of DAs, and more. Daniel Nichanian Sep 19, 2019
Reform Prosecutors Respond to Attack by U.S. Attorney General Checking-in on the politics of prosecutors: A Vermont state's attorney makes waves, and California and Florida prosecutors plan on dismissing more drug charges Daniel Nichanian Aug 22, 2019
California's New Reforms Went into Effect, but Implementation Challenges Lie Ahead Daniel Nichanian Jan 17, 2019
New California Laws Limit Prosecution of Children, Increase Police Transparency Daniel Nichanian Oct 04, 2018
New California Laws Will Help Thousands Have Old Convictions Vacated, Expunged, or Reduced Daniel Nichanian
Sparse Competition in 2018 Prosecutorial Elections An analysis of California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Utah in the 2018 midterms Daniel Nichanian Jul 10, 2018
