#criminal-justice

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US news
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 hour ago

As a boy, he killed for the Norteno gang. Now in his 20s, he'll serve 19 years for it

Salvador Mexicano, 22, received a 19-year federal prison sentence for gang-related murders, armed robbery, and jail stabbing as part of a major prosecution targeting Norteno gang operations in California.
fromSFGATE
2 hours ago

Calif. woman murdered in high school parking lot finally identified

Unlike many murder trials where there are family members sitting in court and hearing the evidence, that didn't happen in this case because the victim's identities were still unknown. Not only had the defendant taken their lives, he had also wiped away their names, leaving family members longing and waiting for decades for answers about their loved ones.
US news
fromwww.thereporter.com
4 hours ago

Trial date set for woman accused of killing Bay Area cop

Rodriguez was inducted by a grand jury last year, charging her with murder with a special circumstance of killing Officer Bowen in a DUI-related crash while he was engaged in the lawful performance of his duties. Bowen, 32, was a motorcycle officer with the Vacaville Police Department who had stopped along Leisure Town Road and Orange Drive to issue a ticket when he was struck and killed.
US news
fromThe Mercury News
4 hours ago

Trial date set for woman accused of killing Bay Area cop

Serena CJ Rodriguez, 25, will return to Judge Gutierrez's Dept. 9 courtroom, at 8:30 a.m. May 4 and again on Sept. 28 for trial confirmation and at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 19 for a trial management conference. Judge Gutierrez set her trial for Oct. 28 at 10 a.m., with the trial expected to last 8 to 10 weeks.
US news
fromsfist.com
5 hours ago

Oakland Man Paroled Following Plea Deal In 2024 Juneteenth Shootout That Injured 14 People

After an unsanctioned Juneteenth gathering by Oakland's Lake Merritt devolved into chaos and dozens of shots fired in 2024, there were many headlines calling this a mass shooting. 14 people sustained injuries, and many in the community were angry and saddened given that there had been another shooting on Juneeteenth three years earlier, which left one person dead.
East Bay (California)
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
9 hours ago

Role of Scotland's top law officer questioned after bombshell' over Peter Murrell charges

Scotland's lord advocate faces resignation calls over dual roles as chief prosecutor and government legal adviser after informing the first minister of criminal charges against Peter Murrell nearly a year before public disclosure.
US news
fromwww.thereporter.com
9 hours ago

Judge denies East Bay man's motion to try two murder allegations separately

A Martinez man charged with two Solano County murders committed months apart in 2022 will be tried on both charges simultaneously after a judge denied the defense motion to sever the cases.
fromwww.theguardian.com
11 hours ago

US man deported from Bali after 11 years in prison for suitcase murder' of then girlfriend's mother

The badly battered body of von Wiese-Mack, a 62-year-old wealthy Chicago socialite, was found in the boot of a taxi parked at the upmarket St Regis Bali resort in August 2014. Mack, who was almost 19 and a few weeks pregnant at the time of the killing, and Schaefer, 21 at the time, were arrested on the island a day after the body was found.
World news
US news
fromThe New Yorker
13 hours ago

The Betrayal of a Friend's False Testimony

A teenager's coerced confession during police interrogation led to three friends being imprisoned for murder, creating lifelong guilt he attempts to address through legal proceedings decades later.
California
fromThe Mercury News
2 days ago

Jury convicts Bay Area man of stalking police officer

A Dixon man convicted of stalking a police officer will seek release on bail pending his March sentencing after a jury found him guilty.
New York City
fromsilive
4 days ago

Here are 9 Staten Islanders who made news this week

Staten Island headlines featured philanthropists' major hospital gifts, Epstein-related legal records, criminal sentencing, residents confronting environmental hazards, and local nurses rescuing a stolen dog.
France news
fromThe Atlantic
5 days ago

An Extraordinary Account of a Dangerous Marriage

A man systematically drugged his wife and invited numerous men to rape her; a security guard's intervention led to arrests, convictions, and a 20-year sentence.
#assault
fromIndependent
6 days ago
Miscellaneous

Anti-immigration campaigner Philip Dwyer avoids jail over altercation with political rival on election trail

fromIndependent
6 days ago
Miscellaneous

Anti-immigration campaigner Philip Dwyer avoids jail over altercation with political rival on election trail

SF politics
fromStreetsblog
6 days ago

Commentary: The West Portal Crash Wasn't Incomprehensible. But the Lack of Punishment Is - Streetsblog San Francisco

Reckless speeding and deliberate lane-weaving through a residential neighborhood that caused deaths demands strict penalties, license revocation, vehicle seizure, and safer street design.
#sexual-assault
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Brother of Laos methanol victim says sentences 'an absolute joke'

Trainee lawyer Simone and childhood friend Bethany Clarke had met up in Laos and spent a night at the hostel, where about 100 guests were given free shots. It is thought those drinks were tainted with methanol, a toxic substance normally found in paint thinner but that is sometimes mixed with alcohol illegally to cut costs. The friends felt unwell the next day and were eventually taken to hospital, where Simone, from Orpington in south-east London, was put on life support before she died.
World news
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Enjoying mafia movies doesn't make me a killer. So be wary of the state using rap music to prove murder | Shami Chakrabarti

Prosecutors increasingly use rap and drill music as evidence, producing prejudiced trials and risking miscarriages of justice for predominantly young Black defendants.
#child-abuse
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

How Appealing Weekly Roundup - Above the Law

Federal prosecutors consider mass resignations over Pretti shootings while multiple appellate rulings and legal developments affect censorship, immigration protections, and patent law clarity.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 weeks ago

Mistakenly freed sex offender jailed again for biting police officers

Brahim Kaddour-Cherif jailed for 26 weeks after punching, biting and assaulting two police officers following a mistaken prison release while facing multiple criminal cases.
London
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

School mentor jailed over abuse of five girls

A former learning mentor was jailed for sexually abusing five vulnerable teenage girls at a London school and placed on the sex offenders register.
fromsfist.com
3 weeks ago

Sup. Dorsey's Latest Crusade Is to Hold Hearings Into Whether SF Drug Court Is Getting Too Lenient

SF's 30-year-old Drug Court was intended for non-violent drug offenders to avoid jail for low-level drug crimes. But now people with pretty violent charges are sneaking in, and Supervisor Matt Dorsey ain't happy about it. San Francisco's Drug Court was established in 1995, and is meant as a diversion program so that low-level drug offenders can avoid normal court and jail, and instead get "services in the community designed to get them out of their drug and crime situations.
San Francisco
US news
fromwww.ocregister.com
4 weeks ago

Misconduct by prosecution leads to reprieve for California killer once sentenced to life in prison

A state prisoner will be released in about five years after a 1988 murder case was compromised by prosecutorial misconduct, resulting in a reduced sentence.
#prison-reform
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

London courts have fastest growing case backlog

London's court backlog grew fastest in England and Wales, with nearly 19,000 outstanding criminal cases causing long delays that harm victims and discourage prosecutions.
US news
fromBoston.com
1 month ago

He's accused of executing a man behind a Hyannis bar. Now he's out on bail, raising questions on Cape Cod.

A white defendant charged with first-degree murder was granted $100,000 cash bail and released, raising concerns about race and socioeconomic influence on justice.
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Doctor who battled opioid addiction spared criminal record for stealing and forging prescriptions

A medical doctor, who attributed his opioid addiction to work stress and admitted stealing and using forged prescriptions, has walked free from court.
Miscellaneous
#public-defender
from48 hills
1 month ago
Law

Why the Public Defender's Office can't take all the felony cases City Hall is forcing on us - 48 hills

from48 hills
1 month ago
Law

Why the Public Defender's Office can't take all the felony cases City Hall is forcing on us - 48 hills

fromIndependent
1 month ago

Extortionist who demanded 20k and threatened to slit children's throats appeals five-year sentence

An extortionist who demanded €20,000 from two innocent victims - threatening one that their children's throats would be slit and warning another he would be killed - has argued that his five-year sentence was twice as severe as that handed to his co-accused.
Miscellaneous
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

UK government drops plans to publish photos and names of offenders under community orders

Ministers abandoned plans to publish names and photos of people ordered to complete unpaid community work after concerns about humiliating offenders' children and probation criticism.
US politics
fromPortland Mercury
1 month ago

Good Morning, News: ICE Officer Shoots and Kills Legal Observer in Minneapolis, Portland City Council President Vote Deadlocked, New US Food Pyramid Has Steak at the Top

Portland City Council deadlocked 6-6 in selecting a council president; activists stage poetry protests over Wells Fargo sponsorship while local human-interest reports continue.
US news
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Shooter who killed 2, injured 13 in notorious SoCal school rampage could now go free

Charles 'Andy' Williams, the 15-year-old Santana High shooter who killed two students in 2001, may be resentenced in juvenile court and potentially released.
US politics
fromwww.esquire.com
1 month ago

I Was a Drug Dealer. After Venezuela Strikes, Would Trump Kill Me?

Past involvement in drug trafficking led to prison and later rehabilitation and advocacy, while many Venezuelans face lethal state violence without justice.
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Sickened and Outraged': Prosecutors Blast Portland Freedom Fund for Bailing Out Man Who Kills Partner Just Days Later

Prosecutors are blasting the PFF over their decision to step in on the case, noting Adan's long history of escalating violence against Abraham. Adan was born in Somalia and first came to the United States as a refugee. He was also convicted of felony strangulation, domestic violence, and more. The escalating series of attacks by Adan began in 2022, according to prosecutors.
Social justice
from24/7 Wall St.
1 month ago

The Most Challenging States for Black Americans, Ranked

Life in the United States can look very different depending on where you live, and for Black Americans, those differences are often influenced by longstanding factors. These include social, economic, and political conditions. Access to quality education, affordable housing, healthcare, and employment opportunities varies widely from state to state, affecting everything from annual income to overall well-being. While racial progress has been made nationally over the decades, disparities tied to race continue to affect daily life in meaningful ways.
Public health
Privacy technologies
fromDataBreaches.Net
1 month ago

Ukrainian Teen Sentenced for Sharing Military Data with Russian Spy - DataBreaches.Net

A 16-year-old in Khmelnytskyi was convicted for passing military facility data to a Russian intelligence officer and received two years probation.
California
fromSan Jose Spotlight
2 months ago

2025 in review: Silicon Valley's biggest stories - San Jose Spotlight

Silicon Valley experienced major political and institutional upheaval: high-profile criminal sentences, school firings and layoffs, transit strike resolution, hospital restoration, and pivotal special elections.
fromSan Jose Inside
2 months ago

Damon Silver Begins Work as Santa Clara County Public Defender

He has served as acting public defender since December 2024. "Damon has served the county Office of the Public Defender for nearly three decades, and his longstanding commitment to public service clearly demonstrates that he is exceptionally well-suited for this role," said Board President Otto Lee. "We are proud to see a leader with such deep institutional knowledge and community partnership rise to lead the Public Defender's Office."
California
fromElectronic Frontier Foundation
2 months ago

AI Police Reports: Year In Review

We do not fear advances in technology - but we do have legitimate concerns about some of the products on the market now... AI continues to develop and we are hopeful that we will reach a point in the near future where these reports can be relied on. For now, our office has made the decision not to accept any police narratives that were produced with the assistance of AI.
Privacy professionals
#investigative-journalism
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Today in History: December 23, Franco Harris makes the Immaculate Reception'

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 23, the 357th day of 2025. There are eight days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 23, 1972, in an NFL playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders, Steelers running back Franco Harris scored a game-winning touchdown on a deflected pass with less than 10 seconds left. The Immaculate Reception, as the catch came to be known, is often cited as the greatest NFL play of all time.
History
US politics
fromsfist.com
2 months ago

Day Around the Bay: Animal Rights Activist Freed From Jail Early

Multiple Bay Area and national news updates: political race developments, legal controversies, public safety incidents, and cultural highlights.
#police-misconduct
US politics
fromFortune
2 months ago

Jelly Roll, country-rap superstar who found music while serving prison time, pardoned by Tennessee governor in front of Christmas Tree | Fortune

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee pardoned Nashville native Jelly Roll, restoring civil rights and easing travel after his redemption from drug and robbery convictions.
US politics
fromJezebel
2 months ago

Larry Bushart, the Man Jailed 37 Days for a Single Trump Meme, Has Filed His Inevitable Lawsuit

A Tennessee man was jailed for 37 days on a $2 million bond after posting a Trump meme wrongly labeled a school violence threat.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

UK sex offenders may have to tell police about social media and dating accounts

Registered sex offenders must notify police of social media and dating accounts or face up to five years in jail.
San Francisco
fromABC7 San Francisco
2 months ago

San Francisco filmmaker Kevin Epps found not guilty of 2016 shooting, murder

Kevin Epps was found not guilty of murder for the 2016 shooting of Marcus Polk after a nine-year legal battle, with strong community support.
#district-attorney
#adhd
California
fromABC7 San Francisco
2 months ago

Family 'blindsided' as Alameda County DA moves to dismiss case in killing of Steven Taylor again

Alameda County D.A. moved to dismiss the 2020 case against the officer accused of killing Steven Taylor, prompting family outrage and a new judge review.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

Court backlog needs 'urgent action' says Met chief

About 30% of offenders who should be electronically tagged were not, tag breaches occur weekly, courts often default to bail, and public confidence has fallen.
#journalism
fromNew York Daily News
2 months ago
New York City

DA drops case against man who videoed anti-Israel vandalism of Brooklyn Museum officials' homes

Criminal charges against journalist Samuel Seligson were dismissed via adjournment in contemplation of dismissal after being arrested while documenting a pro-Palestinian protest.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago
UK politics

Watch in full: Starmer faces Budget grilling at PMQs

The Independent funds on-the-ground reporting through donations, keeps journalism free of paywalls, and covers US politics, climate, reproductive rights, and accountability.
San Francisco
fromsfist.com
2 months ago

Humpday Headlines: Elderly Pedestrian Killed In Russian Hill

Bay Area news: fatal pedestrian crash, potential adult prosecution for mall shooting suspect, human trafficking arrest, expanded ride-hail hours, police leave costs, and bookstore closure.
Women
fromwww.dw.com
2 months ago

South Africa's gender violence disaster: What's next DW 12/03/2025

South Africa's femicide rate is five times the global average; femicide and rape are rising, reporting is low, and convictions are around 12%.
#jury-trial-reform
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
2 months ago

Woman given extra 12 months in prison after attempting to bite and headbutt garda

A woman in her 40s received additional consecutive prison terms for repeated alcohol-fuelled public disturbances while also acting as full-time carer for her mother with dementia.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

California prosecutors' office used AI to file inaccurate motion in criminal case

Prosecutors used AI-generated content in filings that produced inaccurate legal citations and hallucinations, prompting withdrawn motions and appeals asserting due-process and ethical violations.
France news
fromThe Local France
3 months ago

France allows drug trafficker day release from supermax prison

A high-security French drug-trafficking inmate received an unescorted day release to meet a potential employer, returned on time, provoking controversy.
fromThe Atlantic
3 months ago

Why the Comey Prosecution Is Falling Apart

President Donald Trump may be stretching executive power to its outermost bounds, but in one very significant area he is simply not getting his way: criminal prosecutions. In many cases-such as those of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, charges against whom were thrown out by a federal judge in Virginia today-the basic, ground-level machinery of the criminal-justice system has thwarted the administration.
US politics
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
3 months ago

Ontario plans to require bail cash up front as part of new justice bill | CBC Accessibility

Ontario will require cash security deposits up front from accused people granted bail, with payment returned at case conclusion and additional bail-compliance measures.
#police-shooting
Artificial intelligence
fromAxios
3 months ago

AI's listening gap is fueling bias in jobs, schools and health care

AI speech recognition often misinterprets nonstandard English and some Black speakers, risking misdiagnosis, incorrect legal records, and unequal access in high-stakes decisions.
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 months ago

Man pleads guilty to rape of 12-year-old girl that sparked anti-asylum protests

A man has pleaded guilty to the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire, in a case that prompted anti-asylum protests in Nuneaton. Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, of no fixed abode, changed his plea at Warwick crown court on Friday, admitting to the single charge of rape of a child under 13 on 22 July. Mulakhil, an Afghan national, had previously denied abducting a child, three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 at a hearing on 28 August.
UK politics
US politics
fromThe Mercury News
3 months ago

Letters: Alameda County should stop coddling criminals

Alameda County must stop coddling offenders and restore punishment, while fully funding SNAP and protecting health, nutrition, and housing programs.
Public health
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 months ago

Letters: Alameda County should stop coddling criminals

Restore criminal accountability, fully fund SNAP benefits, and ensure accessible nutritious food alongside prevention and mentorship programs.
US politics
fromwww.esquire.com
3 months ago

Jim Jordan Managed to Look Like a Fool Even While Passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act

The House passed the Jeffrey Epstein Transparency Act 427–1 amid warnings that broad public release of investigative files could expose and harm innocent people without stronger privacy protections.
fromIndependent
3 months ago

'Our autistic son should never have been charged... it's help he needs, not to be locked up'

Young man's parents say he was in the midst of mental health crisis at time of incident - and is now in legal limbo
Mental health
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 months ago

A sick spectacle': counting down the final minutes on Oklahoma's death row

A media representative was selected by an Oklahoma Corrections lottery to witness Tremane Wood's execution, prompting investigation into his conviction, imprisonment, and family accounts.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
3 months ago

How do you find peace after war? A combat vet and NPR reporter's bond points a way

Two-tour combat veteran Dave Carlson experienced worsening criminal behavior, incarceration, and PTSD-related decline despite support from fellow service members.
Law
fromFortune
3 months ago

'The system's about to break' - Thousands of court-appointed lawyers and staffers haven't been paid since June | Fortune

Court-appointed federal defense lawyers and their clients face prolonged hardship after shutdown-driven funding shortfalls left panel attorneys unpaid and stalled many federal criminal cases.
#clemency
Film
fromIndieWire
3 months ago

DOC NYC: 10 Films to See at America's Largest Documentary Festival

DOC NYC screens 200+ documentaries November 12–20 in New York, featuring 30 world premieres and notable films like Whistle, Ask E. Jean, and Beyond.
Business
fromFuturism
3 months ago

Elon Says His Robot Will Follow Criminals Around to Make Sure They Never Offend Again

Optimus robots proposed to accompany released offenders and intervene to prevent criminal acts as a potential alternative to incarceration.
US politics
fromBoston.com
3 months ago

She went to prison for manslaughter. She was just sworn in on this Maine city council.

Angela Walker, a Bangor city council member and recovering addict who served prison time for manslaughter, was sworn in after placing among the top three vote-getters.
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 months ago

Man Pardoned By Trump Sentenced to Jail For New Crimes, Including Alleged Sexual Abuse

Convicted drug dealer Jonathan Braun, who had his sentence commuted by President Donald Trump during his first term, is being sent back to prison after he violated terms of his supervised release with a series of heinous acts, including allegedly assaulting a three-year-old and sexually abusing a nanny. Braun was sentenced to 27 months in prison on Monday in New York City.
US politics
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 months ago

Judge challenged over release of defendant ahead of Sunnyvale murder trial

Judge Hector Ramon granted pretrial release to murder defendant Vicente Aguilera Chavez; prosecutors sought reconsideration, citing the alleged murder's gravity and his criminal history.
California
fromwww.dailynews.com
3 months ago

Prop. 36 one year later: Thousands more prosecuted, but is it working?

Proposition 36 triggered over 13,000 charges in three Southern California counties while producing low treatment enrollment and few case dismissals.
#immigration
Mental health
fromKqed
3 months ago

Family Says Marin County Murder Suspect Should Receive Mental Health Care, Not Prison | KQED

A woman discharged from psychiatric care days earlier was fatally stabbed by her sister with schizoaffective disorder, prompting family demands for treatment instead of prosecution.
#murder
US news
fromwww.npr.org
3 months ago

How one legal team is building support for people with cognitive disabilities

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are overrepresented in prisons, often undiagnosed, and require specialized legal and support responses rather than routine incarceration.
US politics
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 months ago

The Manson Family killers who are still in prison after Newsom's decision

Patricia Krenwinkel's parole was denied again by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, keeping her imprisoned more than 50 years after the 1969 Manson Family murders.
Public health
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 months ago

Enforce law when suicide linked to domestic violence, say UK campaigners

Every suicide involving a domestic violence victim should be investigated as a potential homicide to hold abusers accountable and address criminal justice failures.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 months ago

Blue Lights is more than great TV. It might be the best chance Britons have of reckoning with the Troubles | Jonathan Freedland

A judge acquitted Soldier F of Bloody Sunday murder charges because prosecutors failed to prove individual culpability beyond reasonable doubt despite soldiers firing on unarmed civilians.
San Francisco
fromsfist.com
4 months ago

Humpday Headlines: Serial Harasser Already In Jail In SF

A previously jailed serial harasser was rearrested for parole violation while San Francisco courts, local governments, and national events face legal, political, and financial disruptions.
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