Criminal Justice

Probation Watchdog Finds More Kids Getting Pepper Sprayed In Juvenile Halls

In the midst of a “stalled phase out” of pepper spray, L.A. County’s Probation Oversight Commission calls the increased use of the chemical “troubling.”

An orange and blue pie chart shows the number of pepper spray incidents between June 2022 and September 2022. 68% of the spray incidents were at Central Juvenile Hall, shown in orange, while 32% were at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, shown in blue.

What Kind Of LA County Sheriff Will Robert Luna Be?

Luna, the former Long Beach Police chief promises a “180 degree difference” in how he'll run LASD. Incumbent Alex Villanueva conceded Tuesday.

A Latino man in a dark blue suit and tie stands in front of a U.S. flag and a sign that reads: Chief Robert Luna LA County Sheriff

DA Declines to File Criminal Charges Against LA Sheriff’s Deputies Who Killed Dijon Kizzee

The Aug. 2020 shooting of the bicyclist sparked angry protests.

Fatal Shootings: California’s Bid To Police Its Police Is Lagging

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, California stepped up with a plan: Put the state in charge of investigating police shootings of unarmed people. CalMatters is tracking these cases and, so far, the Justice Department is struggling to keep up.

A group of sheriffs, carrying long batons, walk forward at night wearing riot gear helmets. One deputy near the front holds up his baton and looks off-camera, while another deputy near him grabs the white T-shirt of a Black man on the ground.

DA Charges LA Sheriff’s Deputy With Assault In Fatal Shooting Of Man Having A Mental Health Crisis

Deputy Remin Pineda faces two felony assault charges.

David Ordaz, Jr. poses for a photo with his children

Bar Assn. Ratings — One Of Few Tools For Voting On LA Judges — Are Supposed To Be Unbiased. Now, There Are Allegations That's Not The Case

In June, a LACBA board member alerted leadership of allegations of bias against women, people of color and non-prosecutors. The organization didn't investigate until we asked about the concerns.

A bronze sculpture on a black background shows a person with shoulder length curly hair who is blindfolded.

AG’s Office Recommends LAPD More Mental Health Crisis Training After Investigating Fatal Shooting

According to an investigation released Thursday by Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Office, Matthew James Sova had 12 separate encounters with police related to his mental health before LAPD officers fatally shot him last year.

A screen shot from the officer body cam footage of the fatal shooting of Matthew Sova in 2021 shows officers pointing their weapons at Sova, who wears a red shirt and dark pants and is standing in front of a business in Hollywood.

A Shortage Of Court Reporters In LA Means That Some People Will Have To Pay For Their Own

Beginning Nov. 14, participants in some non-criminal cases will have to pay for their own court reporters.

The inside of an L.A. courtroom. A female judge who appears to be white sits at the bench. To her left, a large screen shows images related to the case; they are difficult to make out.

LA Supervisors Approve $47.6M For Sheriff’s Deputies' Alleged Misconduct

The settlements involve cases in which individuals were shot and killed, died after being beaten, or died in custody. One was paralyzed after being shot.

Hundreds of people spent their Father's Day marching from the auto body shop where 18-year-old Andres Guardado was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy last week to the Compton Sheriff's station were that deputy is based.

After Nearly 40 Years In Prison, A Wrongfully Convicted Man Is Free

Maurice Hastings spent 38 years behind bars for a murder he didn't commit. He's finally free.

A Black man who is bald and wearing glasses and a suit and tie sits in a chair in a conference room setting.

LA County Jail Accused Of Being ‘Far From Compliance’ On Provisions To Protect People With Mental Illness

Citing a court-appointed monitor’s latest report on conditions in L.A. County jail, the ACLU sent a letter to L.A. County Supervisors calling on them to make investments required to reduce the jail mental health population.

The Jail complex in downtown Los Angeles

How Outgoing LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva Went From Running As A Progressive To Being A Fox News Darling

In five takeaways from Episode 5 of our podcast on the L.A. County sheriff, we look at his unlikely rise to a powerful county office.

Alex Villanueva, a man with a ligh skin tone, raises his hand while he walks off a stage with his head down. There's a campaign sign behind him that reads reelect Sheriff Villanueva 2022 and finally someone on our side.

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