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Monterey County Crime & Justice Articles



Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Trailblazing public interest attorney Michael Stamp dies at 72.

Guided by a keen sense of justice, Michael Stamp was not afraid to stand up to anyone—government or developers or pro sports teams, or the attorneys representing government or attorneys or pro sports teams. In his career as a lawyer,…

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
James Hunt appointed as King City police chief

KING CITY — James Hunt has been appointed as King City’s new police chief, announced City Manager Steve Adams on Tuesday. Hunt has been serving in the City’s interim chief role since late last December, filling in after the departure …

Image caption: A memorial to the seven victims slain in a mass shooting in Half Man Bay in January 2023.
Mass Shootings in California: 2023 Has Been a Bad Year

Three mass shootings with at least six fatalities have already taken place in California in 2023, resulting in 25 deaths. Statistically however, California has been below average for the United States in rate of mass shooting deaths.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Automated police cameras put Monterey County at the frontline of the debate over safety vs. privacy.

The past month has seen local cities double down on automated police surveillance equipment that promises to reduce crime and assist short-staffed forces – but which has also raised privacy concerns among citizens and civil liberties advocates.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Salinas Police receive more than $1M for new technology as city honors slain officer

SALINAS — U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren recently visited the Salinas Police Department to highlight new federal funding for the department to deploy technology that will improve efficiency, officer safety and community transparency. Salinas Police Department received $1,165,000 …

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Planning gets underway for South County Family Justice Center

MONTEREY COUNTY — Community members are invited to attend a strategic planning event for South Monterey County’s Family Justice Center later this month. A team from the Family Justice Center Alliance, a project of Alliance for HOPE International, is helping …

Image caption: The AB 3121 Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans meets in Oakland on Dec. 14, 2022.
Reparations Task Force Seeks More Than Dollars

The task force members are discussing monetary and nonmonetary reparations ideas to compensate for slavery and racism. Some say they want policies to prevent future harms against Black Californians.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Seaside PD clamps down on speeding drivers on Hilby and other residential streets.

Seaside police are cracking down on speeding drivers, particularly on residential streets, in response to concerns from residents and in advance of a city-commissioned traffic calming plan currently in the works for Hilby Avenue.

Image caption: Can YouTube be held liable for a deadly terrorist attack if its algorithm recommended ISIS videos?
SCOTUS Takes on Section 230, the Online Free Speech Law

The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments in a potential landmark case that could roll back Section 230, the 27-year-old law that protects free speech on social media and other online platforms. Which way were the justices leaning?

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
Former King City police chief returns to fill vacancy

KING CITY — Former King City Police Chief Robert “Bob” Masterson is returning to the city, but this time as interim police captain. King City Police Department announced Masterson’s appointment Feb. 10.  “I am pleased that Bob agreed to return …

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Seaside prayer vigil in honor of Tyre Nichols focuses on a message of community action.

A prayer vigil held in honor of Tyre Nichols turned into a call for community action on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Low staffing forces Salinas PD to prioritize calls, meaning not all will trigger a police response.

With staffing levels thin, the Salinas Police Department has changed the way it prioritizes call responses. On Jan. 26, Salinas PD implemented a new process when deciding whether to send a police officer to a reported crime.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
County law enforcement officials are coordinating to crack down on the worsening “ghost gun” problem.

Two recent arrests in Monterey County have brought further attention to untraceable, homemade firearms known as “ghost guns,” with local law enforcement officials saying they’re coordinating to crack down on the problem.

Image caption: Has Google established a monopoly over online advertising? The feds say yes.
DOJ Lawsuit Seeks To Force Google to Sell Ad Service

Google may be forced to sell off its $200 billion online advertising service if a new lawsuit by the federal Department of Justice claiming that Google acts as a monopoly succeeds.

Image caption: Memorial dedicated to the victims of the May 2022  mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis

State and local officials are still asking law enforcement to prevent gun violence. Community leaders believe gun violence should be treated as a public health crisis, and incorporate prevention strategies that address the social factors in areas most at risk.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Inside a transformative justice initiative at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad.

Agata Popęda here to share perhaps the most important story I’ve written for the Weekly so far. Over the last few months, I devoted my Thursday afternoons to weekly trips to the Correctional Training Facility, a state prison located 5…

Image caption: Explaining California is hard work! But at California Local, we were up for it throughout 2022.
Explaining California in 2022: Our 10 Best Explainers of the Year

2022 was a year that needed a lot of explaining. And California Local was there. Here are our 10 most important explanatory journalism stories from the year gone by, from immigration to cryptocurrency to wealth inequality and more.

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
City of King announces police chief’s departure

KING CITY — King City Police Chief Keith Boyd will be leaving his post to accept the undersheriff position with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, city officials announced this week. Boyd’s last day on the job with the City of …

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
State funding to help boost Soledad police patrols

SOLEDAD — Soledad Police Department has been awarded a $50,000 grant to increase patrols throughout the community and provide other traffic safety programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on roads. “This grant funding allows us …

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Organized thefts make waves throughout Monterey County retail stores.

Smash-and-grab robberies are nothing new, but a few local stores have been hit repeatedly over the last few years: Victoria’s Secret in Salinas, Ulta in Sand City and Apple in Monterey. High-end jewelers have also been robbed. (Store managers were…

Featured

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But even in California, access to abortion services in many areas remains limited.
The California mental health crisis is tied to both homelessness and rising crime.
UPDATE: California’s Mental Health Crisis: How We Got Here
The making of Gov. Newsom's plan to help get mentally ill Californians into treatment.
The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think
What causes the cycle of homelessness and crime, and how to stop it.
The California Supreme Court has defined the state’s legal and political agenda for more than 170 years.
How the California Supreme Court Blazes Legal Trails
From its beginnings in the Gold Rush, the state Supreme Court continues to define the state today.
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