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
Rape Survivor Petitions Supreme Court Over How Police Handled Her Case
Heather Marlowe, now an activist, says neglected kits are a reflection of who and what police prioritize.
Raven Rakia Aug 15, 2019
A huge victory in L.A. represents a shift in thinking about public safety
Vaidya Gullapalli Aug 14, 2019
Oakland Police Have Been Systematically Underreporting Use Of Force
A new internal audit shows that officers disproportionately strike, tussle with, and draw guns on Black people but then fail to disclose the incidents in their reports.
Darwin BondGraham Aug 12, 2019
LA County Supervisors to Vote on Canceling Jail Contract
Black Lives Matter and other advocates have pushed county officials to abandon the $2.2 billion project with McCarthy Builders.
Lauren Gill Aug 08, 2019
‘See How Quickly They Behave Once We Put Our Foot Down?’
A federal lawsuit claims that Palo Alto, California, police falsely detained, arrested, and beat a gay Latinx man—then boasted about their brutality.
California Man Charged With Murder Even Though He Didn’t Fire A Shot
Last year, lawmakers repealed the felony murder rule, which allowed prosecutors to charge defendants with murders they didn‘t commit. Prosecutors are trying to overturn the new law, but AG Xavier Becerra believes that the reform should stand.
Darwin BondGraham Aug 05, 2019
Oakland Police Conducted An Illegal Search And Then Lied About It. But They May Be Spared From Discipline.
A California Superior Court ruling gives officers accused of misconduct access to investigator notes and files while cases are in progress.
Darwin BondGraham Jul 17, 2019
When Someone Dies in An Orange County Jail, Who’s Culpable?
Advocates say Anthony Aceves’s death conforms with long-standing issues in the second-largest jail system in California.
Raven Rakia Jul 10, 2019
‘Do Not Record’
Phone calls between prisoners in Orange County and their lawyers were recorded and accessed. How wide the eavesdropping was remains an open question.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Jun 28, 2019
Spotlight: After Nipsey Hussle’s Killing, Gang Members Call For An End To Violence
Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 24, 2019
Fremont Police Said a Man Wielded a Deadly Weapon When They Shot Him. But Records Reveal He Waved a Tent Pole.
The police union’s newly elected vice president led the investigation into the shooting that cleared Officer William Gourley of any wrongdoing.
Darwin BondGraham Jun 21, 2019
Spotlight: Kevin Cooper’s Case Exemplifies Decades of Systemic Failures
Sarah Lustbader Jun 20, 2019
Jackie Lacey’s Legacy Is ‘Unfair and Discriminatory,’ Advocates Say
A new report charges the Los Angeles DA with seeking the death penalty in unjust and harsh ways.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Jun 19, 2019
Orange County’s ‘Standard Operating Procedure’
The California county has a thin blue line that appears to protect not just the police, but also the DA’s office, criminal justice advocates say.
L.A. Prosecutor Touts Her Mental Health Reforms, But Critics Say She’s Making The Crisis Worse
Advocates and attorneys say Jackie Lacey’s rhetoric doesn’t match her actions.
Raven Rakia Jun 07, 2019
‘I Was in Constant Fear’: Immigrant Faces Deportation After Prison for Domestic Dispute
Aylaliya Birru has served over four years in a California prison for assaulting her husband, who she said was physically abusive. A pardon from Governor Gavin Newsom is her last hope to stay in the U.S.
Aaron Morrison May 29, 2019
Commander Of Major California Narcotics Task Force Fired For A String Of Thefts And Lies
Newly released records show that task force members faced allegations of theft and questionable overtime, all under the watch of a commander later fired for lying as the misconduct was investigated.
Darwin BondGraham May 23, 2019
Simon Liu Isn’t A Sex Offender. But He’s Still on the Registry For Life.
California’s expansive registry law forces people to pay for crimes they didn’t personally commit.
Kyle C. Barry May 13, 2019
Police In California Are Killing Sleeping People
The fatal shooting by Oakland police of an unconscious man as he woke is putting pressure on the California department to rethink its deployment of force.
Darwin BondGraham May 02, 2019
Are Sheriffs Necessary?
Advocates are pushing to abolish the office in Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Jessica Pishko Apr 24, 2019
California Cities Have Shredded Decades of Police Misconduct Records
Police union lawsuits delayed many local governments from complying with a new transparency law. In the meantime, some cities have destroyed files.
Darwin BondGraham Apr 17, 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
One Simple Way To Hold Bad Prosecutors Accountable
State bar organizations have the power to discipline prosecutors, but they studiously ignore bad behavior.
The Appeal Podcast: Pushing For Police Accountability in Sacramento
With Appeal senior staff reporter Aaron Morrison
Adam H. Johnson Mar 14, 2019
‘I’m Not Going Anywhere Until They Stop Killing People’
In 2009, Anaheim police shot and killed Theresa Smith’s son. A new California law promises police transparency, but her quest for answers faces a substantial cost.
Aaron Morrison Mar 13, 2019
California Police Unions Fight New State Law Promising Transparency on Misconduct Records
Senate Bill 1421 requires law enforcement agencies to make public investigative records of officer-involved shootings and uses of force resulting in great bodily harm. But law enforcement unions argue that the law threatens the privacy of their members.
Darwin BondGraham Feb 20, 2019
Man Exonerated In Murder, But Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer As He Awaited Freedom
William J. Richards was cleared in the death of his wife. But he says he was the victim of medical neglect while he was behind bars, which led to a cancer diagnosis becoming terminal. Now he's suing.
Erika Stallings Feb 19, 2019
Over 200 People Went On Hunger Strike After Months In Lockdown At California Prison
Corcoran state prison has a history of abuse that includes forcing prisoners into ‘gladiator fights.’
Raven Rakia Feb 15, 2019
ICE-friendly Policies. A String of Jail Deaths. Why Does This Sheriff Keep Getting Elected?
Advocates say Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern is an odd fit for the Bay Area, but mounting a challenge has proved daunting.
Kyle C. Barry Feb 14, 2019
Police Policy for Sale
Lexipol, a private for-profit company, has quietly become one of the most powerful voices in law enforcement policymaking in the country.
Scott Morris Feb 13, 2019
‘I’ve Made My Share Of Wrongs, But I Haven’t Killed No One’
California amended its felony murder law, which holds accomplices responsible for murder. But reform won’t reach a man sentenced to death in a deadly robbery—even though he was never accused of firing a shot.
Maura Ewing Feb 04, 2019
‘I Feel The Oxygen Going Out Of My Mouth’
In October 2018, Marshall Miles was taken into custody by Sacramento County sheriff‘s deputies outside a convenience store. About 14 hours later, he was dead.
Aaron Morrison Jan 31, 2019
Incarcerated Transgender Women’s Lives Must Matter
As Kamala Harris begins her presidential run, her move to block gender affirming surgery for an incarcerated transgender woman deserves scrutiny, especially as new cases highlighting the struggle for the rights of imprisoned trans women emerge.
Zoé Samudzi Jan 28, 2019
San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Chesa Boudin Announces Run for District Attorney
In a wide-ranging interview, Boudin, a progressive reform candidate, told The Appeal he wants to redefine ‘public safety’ to encompass the rights of both victims and defendants.
Melissa Gira Grant Jan 15, 2019
San Francisco Officials Wanted to Close A Dilapidated Jail by 2019. So Why Is It Still Open?
Everyone agrees the jail at 850 Bryant should close, but it’s not yet clear what would happen to those locked inside.
Melissa Gira Grant Dec 14, 2018
Could New Cash to Fight Homelessness in San Francisco Mean Less Reliance on Police?
Supporters hope the passage of Prop C may herald a more compassionate—and effective—approach.
Melissa Gira Grant Nov 15, 2018
Solitary Confinement, Jail Deaths Rock Race For Sheriff in California
In Santa Clara County, incarcerated people, and a former undersheriff challenging six-term sheriff Laurie Smith, have turned conditions of confinement into a potent electoral issue.
Victoria Law Oct 29, 2018
Man Convicted Of Obstruction For Refusing To Open His Door For Police
If his conviction stands, it could criminalize people who refuse to do things like unlock their phones or garages at police request.
Levi Pulkkinen Oct 17, 2018
Is Orange County D.A. Candidate Sending Mixed Signals on Jail Phone Company’s Contract?
Todd Spitzer blasted Global Tel Link for recording attorney-client phone calls, but his campaign won’t call on a PAC supporting his candidacy to return the company’s lobbyist’s donation.
George Joseph Oct 16, 2018
When Handing Out Candy To Trick-or-Treaters Means Risking Arrest
Lawyer seeks end to Halloween restrictions that target people convicted of sex offenses.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Oct 01, 2018
Claims of Racism and Brutality Dog Los Angeles County Sheriff ‘Deputy Gangs’
A lawsuit brought by a Compton resident detailing an alleged beating by deputies is just one of nearly three dozen federal civil rights lawsuits alleging brutality and racial bias at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The Appeal Podcast Episode 14: The Prison-to-School Pipeline
With activist and scholar Danny Murillo.
Adam H. Johnson Sep 13, 2018
A New Power for Prosecutors is on the Horizon—Reducing Harsh Sentences
Legislation in California would provide a direct route to resentencing, and a new tool for activists.
Kyle C. Barry Sep 07, 2018
Doxxed By Berkeley Police
Critics say the Berkeley Police Department’s unusual practice of posting anti-fascist protesters’ mugshots on Twitter endangers activists and violates free speech rights.
Scott Morris Aug 24, 2018
California could soon end money bail, but at what cost?
The passage of Senate Bill 10 would decimate the bail industry, but many advocates say it falls short of true reform.
Max Rivlin-Nadler Aug 22, 2018
‘They treated me like a dog’: An Immigrant Was Forced to Clean the Truck of the Border Agent Who Arrested Him
Under ‘Operation Streamline,’ Border Patrol has become responsible for the housing and transporting of immigrants.
Max Rivlin-Nadler Aug 14, 2018
The ‘Streamline’ Program to Prosecute Immigrants is Ensnaring Kids by Mistake
‘Operation Streamline’ speeds up immigration prosecutions.
Max Rivlin-Nadler Aug 10, 2018
Against Innocence
In the wake of Nia Wilson’s murder, it’s critical that calls for justice in response to anti-Black violence are not contingent upon appeals to white-approved notions of innocence and respectability.
Zoé Samudzi Aug 08, 2018
A Distressed Man Came to a Police Station Looking for Help. Hours Later, He Was In a Coma.
Earl McNeil’s family is demanding answers from the National City, California, police department.
Max Rivlin-Nadler Jul 19, 2018
California Bill Would Deem Children Under 12 Too Young for Court
Legislation passed in Massachusetts and pending in California would set a minimum age for children to enter the juvenile justice system.
Jeremy Loudenback Jul 17, 2018
California County Law Enforcement Puts Kids On Probation for Bad Grades
A new lawsuit says Riverside County’s probation officers threaten to prosecute kids for ‘pre-delinquent’ behavior.
Carimah Townes Jul 10, 2018
Trump’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ Immigration Policy Has an Antidote
New bail funds aren’t just getting immigrants out of detention—they’re helping them stay in the country permanently.
Immigrants and activists flood San Diego to protest ‘Operation Streamline’
Defense attorneys say they’ll have only minutes to meet with their clients before the immigrants are convicted en masse.
Max Rivlin-Nadler Jul 06, 2018
The Only Winners In California’s Fines and Fees System Are Private Debt Collectors
San Francisco just became the first city in the nation to stop charging court fines and fees, but the rest of the state has a long way to go.
Teresa Mathew Jul 02, 2018
The Appeal Podcast Episode 5: How Silicon Valley Supports LAPD Surveillance
With Appeal staff reporter George Joseph.
Adam H. Johnson Jun 21, 2018
Chaos in the Courthouse as Border Arrests Surge
Public defenders say immigrants arrested under Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy are being denied their due process rights.
Max Rivlin-Nadler Jun 12, 2018
‘I didn’t lay down’: How a California man convicted of murder may have saved his own life
Death penalty mitigation offers juries a chance to see defendants in a different light.
Maura Ewing Jun 06, 2018
Criminal Justice Reformers Get A Chilly Reception In California
Across the state, most incumbents successfully fended off progressive challengers during the June 5 primary.
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
San Diego DA Says She Won’t Take Law Enforcement Donations — But They’re Still Fueling Her Campaign
Max Rivlin-Nadler May 11, 2018
Law Enforcement Takes Unearned Victory Lap for Capture of One of Their Own — The Golden State Killer
Amelia McDonell-Parry May 09, 2018
Houston Police Chief Who Called Michael Bennett ‘Morally Corrupt’ is Quiet on Police Brutality
Jessica Brand Mar 28, 2018
As Bail Reform Moves Forward in California, Defendant Who Advanced It Remains Incarcerated
Max Rivlin-Nadler Mar 01, 2018
The Misguided Call for Harsher Punishments at the Heart of the Judge Persky Recall Effort
Shon Hopwood Feb 02, 2018
California Ruling Could Give Accused Gang Members a Chance to Clear Their Names
Maura Ewing Jan 24, 2018
Even With A Governor’s Pardon, Jesus Aguirre, Jr. Is Still a Gang Member According to Orange County
Jessica Pishko Jan 18, 2018
This Deep Red State Just Ended Cash Bail
Alaska’s new comprehensive criminal justice reform law will reduce the prison population by 13% and save taxpayers $380 million.
Bryce Covert Jan 10, 2018
Disrupting and Re-imagining the Role of Prosecutors: A New Focus on Re-entry and Rehabilitation
Courtney Oliva Jan 05, 2018
More Than 50,000 Californians Can Get ‘Back on the Road’
Alameda County Superior Court reversed license suspensions for 54,000 people who were punished for their inability to pay fines.
Rebecca McCray Dec 04, 2017
Is Mark Gonzalez The Reformer He Promised To Be?
So far, the report card on the “Mexican Biker” prosecutor is mixed.
Carimah Townes Nov 21, 2017
Symbolic “Justice”: California’s New Rape Kit Laws Fail to Address Existing Problems with Investigating Rape
Dispatches is our series from organizers, attorneys, officials, and others working at the frontlines of local criminal justice reform.
Heather Marlowe Nov 20, 2017
Juror Misconduct May Lead to Dismissal of Murder Conviction in Orange County
Larry Hannan Nov 14, 2017
California jail hunger strikers: “We’re seeking humanity”
Alameda and Santa Clara County jail detainees round out the first week of a hunger strike for better conditions.
Rebecca McCray Oct 20, 2017
Prosecutors Forced to Redefine ‘Gang Member’
Maura Ewing Oct 16, 2017
Spotlight on juvenile life without parole
Matt Henry Oct 13, 2017
Plans for new Los Angeles jail frustrate criminal justice reform advocates
Larry Hannan Oct 12, 2017
Nevada Supreme Court says man cannot be tried again after prosecutors hid evidence
Larry Hannan Sep 28, 2017
Las Vegas jury decides that a brutal murder does not justify the death penalty
John Valerio shows that violent offenders can change.
Carimah Townes Sep 25, 2017
Contra Costa County will stop forcing families to pay for incarcerated kids
The decision was unanimous.
Carimah Townes Sep 21, 2017
Colorado death penalty case challenged after prosecutor bragged about his involvement
“I was your worst nightmare.”
Sep 11, 2017
San Francisco wants safe injection sites. Law enforcement stands in its way.
There are approximately 22,000 intravenous drug users in the city.
Carimah Townes Sep 08, 2017
Reform candidates come under attack in Contra Costa County District Attorney selection process
Larry Hannan Aug 24, 2017
Will Contra Costa County’s next District Attorney commit to criminal justice reform?
Rebecca McCray Aug 23, 2017
California’s district attorneys at odds with voters over criminal justice reform
District attorneys want to keep an outdated system alive.
Death penalty taken off table for killer due to prosecutor and sheriff misconduct
Larry Hannan Aug 21, 2017
California prosecutor declines to charge police officer who shot unarmed teenager
Larry Hannan Aug 14, 2017
Charges dropped against black teenager, but no explanation for how she was mistaken for man wielding machete
Larry Hannan Aug 09, 2017
Honolulu prosecutor criticized for prosecuting woman who accused major campaign donor of sex discrimination
Larry Hannan Aug 02, 2017
Oregon prosecutors to judges: You’re Fired
Rebecca McCray Jul 27, 2017