Crime
Ernest Lacy law goes unused in Wisconsin police custody deaths
Of the 18 deaths in law enforcement custody from 2008 through 2012 in Milwaukee County, 12 were classified as suicide or natural. Officials at every level have used those rulings to absolve themselves of responsibility for prisoners’ deaths, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found. In many cases, officials did not evaluate all of the circumstances…
Read MoreFired Honolulu cop’s file illustrates lack of public insight into misconduct
It took the Honolulu-based Civil Beat almost one year and $935 to get access to files on three discharged police officers. The records, which were heavily redacted, provide new insight into the case of an officer accused of raping a woman on the hood of his patrol car. The officer’s case “illustrates how difficult it…
Read MoreLax prison policies questioned after Pa. guard’s killing
Attorneys for an inmate accused of murdering a federal correctional officer cited a Citizens’ Voice investigation into the case as they laid the groundwork Wednesday to spare him from the death penalty. For a December story the paper obtained closely guarded prison documents that showed a stark shift in the way the inmate Jessie Con-ui was disciplined. Treatement ranged from…
Read MoreWisconsin freeing more sex offenders from mental lockup
“Wisconsin officials have nearly quadrupled the number of offenders released from state custody after they were committed as sexually violent persons,” the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism reports. “The risks to residents are reasonable, officials say, because the state’s treatment programs are working and new data suggest these offenders are less likely to reoffend than previously…
Read MoreExtra Extra Monday: Secret settlements, data breaches and university lobbyists
Mizzou did not pursue alleged assault | ESPNThe University of Missouri did not investigate or tell law enforcement officials about an alleged rape, possibly by one or more members of its football team, despite administrators finding out about the alleged 2010 incident more than a year ago, an “Outside the Lines” investigation has found. The…
Read MoreTimes-Union Investigation: Juvenile Justice?
“The 4th Judicial Circuit, which consists of Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, dramatically leads the state in the number of juveniles incarcerated through a method called direct commitment,” The Florida Times-Union reports. “That’s usually a plea deal reached between a juvenile’s lawyer and the prosecutor. When juveniles agree to plea deals, they are often incarcerated…
Read MoreThe alleged assault of Sasha Menu Courey
The University of Missouri did not investigate or tell law enforcement officials about an alleged rape, possibly by one or more members of its football team, despite administrators finding out about the alleged 2010 incident more than a year ago, an “Outside the Lines” investigation has found. The alleged victim, a member of the swim…
Read MoreGuards may be responsible for half of prison sexual assaults
Jail and prison officials are reporting an increase in allegations of sex abuse, according to a new report from the Justice Department. ProPublica broke down the numbers and found some disturbing trends. The vast majority of sex abuse allegations are deemed “unfounded” by prison officials. Officials often allowed abusive staff members to resign, preventing the…
Read MoreSan Diego Has Fallen Behind on Combating Police Racial Profiling
“The San Diego Police Department has often failed to follow its own rules regarding the collection of racial data at traffic stops, saying the community isn’t concerned about racial profiling. A local black officers group, the NAACP and a city councilman disagree,” the Voice of San Diego writes in its investigation. Read the full story…
Read MoreMass killing data records not being kept up to date
“USA TODAY examined FBI data — which defines a mass killing as four or more victims — as well as local police records and media reports to understand mass killings in America. They happen far more often than the government reports, and the circumstances of those killings — the people who commit them, the weapons…
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