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Monterey County Crime & Justice Digest



After Previously Being Cleared, Three Alameda Police Officers Now Face Manslaughter Charges

04/19/2024

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged three East Bay police officers with involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 death of 26-year-old Mario Gonzalez.

Senate Impeachment Trial Begins for Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

04/17/2024

Alejandro N. Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who grew up in California, is the first U.S. Cabinet official impeached in nearly 150 years.

Civil Grand Jury Mental Illness Response Recommendations

04/11/2024

A Monterey County Civil Grand Jury report made recommendations for improvements to law enforcement and first responder procedures.

TSA Found More Than 1,500 Firearms on Airline Passengers in First 3 Months of 2024

04/11/2024

A majority of the guns found were loaded, according to the TSA.

California Fails to Adequately Help Blind and Deaf Prisoners, US Judge Rules

04/08/2024

Thirty years after prisoners with disabilities sued the state of California and 25 years after a federal court first ordered accommodations, a judge found that state prison and parole officials still are not doing enough to help deaf and blind prisoners.

Reps. Gaetz and Greene Lawsuit Against Cities Where Political Rally Was Canceled Can Move Forward

03/25/2024

A judge ruled GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene can move forward with their lawsuit against two California cities where rallies were canceled.

Laguna Seca Raceway Lawsuit Settled

03/22/2024

The Highway 68 Coalition suit against the County of Monterey over operation of the Laguna Seca Raceway has been settled.

California Speeds Plans to Empty San Quentin's Death Row

03/18/2024

California prison officials announced they will move the last 457 condemned prisoners out of San Quentin's death row by summer. They will be transferred to other state prisons and housed in the general population.

California Law Enforcement Transparency Legislation Signed Into Law

03/09/2024

After receiving bipartisan support, California Senate Bill 400, legislation intended to increase law enforcement transparency, was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

San Francisco Voters Pass Police & Drug Ballot Measures

03/08/2024

Proposition E broadens police surveillance powers and Proposition F mandates drug screening and treatment for people receiving county welfare benefits who are suspected of drug use.

Study Finds Almost 50% of San Francisco Drug Users Not Residents

03/01/2024

A report of a 12 month study which ended in February indicates almost half of those cited for drug usage were not residents of the city, leading to questions about city approaches to drug addiction.

Why Does California Elect Local Judges?

02/23/2024

Of all the races on your ballot, the least information is often available on local judges. Here are some ways to find out more about these candidates.

Judge Again Dismisses Charges Against Members of California White Supremacist Group

02/21/2024

In his decision, a judge agreed that the alleged white nationalists were being selectively prosecuted instead of 'far-left extremist groups, such as Antifa.'

Bay Area Car Owners Have Yet Another Crime to Worry About

02/20/2024

License plates are getting stolen from vehicles, Livermore officials say.

Beekeeper Offers $100,000 Reward in Brazen Fresno Beehive Thefts

02/14/2024

Commercial beekeeper Andrew Strehlow estimates he’s had 1,000 hives stolen over the years. The latest theft, of 96 hives from a Fresno County orchard, was his last straw.

Central California Is Battling a Unique, ‘Growing’ Crime Problem

02/13/2024

Beehives, tractors and more are getting stolen from farmers.

Court Denies Plaintiffs Attorney Fees in Latest Monterey High Stadium Court Ruling

02/08/2024

The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District has once again prevailed in its pursuit of completing a stadium renovation project at Monterey High School, according to the latest court ruling.x

Appeals Court Temporarily Reinstates Calif. Background Checks for Ammo Purchases

02/06/2024

California’s law that requires background checks when purchasing ammunition is back in place.

Newsom to Send 120 CHP Officers to Fight Crime in Oakland

02/05/2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom is increasing state police presence in Oakland under a new law enforcement campaign to target rising violent crime and theft.

How Many People Die Each Year in Jails and Prisons? No One Knows

02/02/2024

As Jay D. Aronson and Dr. Roger A. Mitchell explore in their book “Death in Custody,” that lack of data is a national problem.

Marina Names Former Kansas City Deputy Chief as New Police Chief

02/01/2024

The new Marina Police Department Chief of Police is a law enforcement veteran with more than 30 years in service.l Randy Hopkins started work this week and will be sworn in next week.

Tribal Leaders Cite Problems with California’s Feather Alert for Native People Who Go Missing

01/28/2024

In the first year of California’s Feather Alert system, authorities denied some requests to issue bulletins on missing people, causing concerns.

L.A. Is Being ‘Stripped for Parts.’ Here’s What the City Council Wants to Do About It

01/26/2024

Among growing concern over copper wire thefts, L.A. City Councilmembers Kevin de León and Traci Park proposed a task force anchored by the LAPD.

Did Legal Marijuana Help or Harm Californians? Here’s What the Data Says

01/26/2024

When California’s cannabis shops opened their doors six years ago this month, they inaugurated the world’s largest market for legalized recreational marijuana. What’s life like, after legalization?

Salinas Police Department Gets New Assistant Police Chief

01/26/2024

After a nearly two-month nationwide search process, Salinas welcomes new Assistant Chief John Murray. He has served the Salinas community for more than 27 years, most recently as a commander in the field operations division.

Controversial California Bill Would Physically Stop New Cars From Speeding

01/25/2024

The proposed bill would require new California cars to have a speed limiter.

Jailed for Missing a Court Date, He Died After Not Being Given His HIV Medicine

01/23/2024

An El Dorado County Jail inmate died after not receiving vital HIV medication for weeks, a new lawsuit claims.

As California Closes Prisons, State Spending Per Inmate Hits a New Record

01/22/2024

Locking up a California state prisoner for one year costs nearly twice as much as tuition at the state’s top private universities—due to inmate medical costs and pay boosts for prison guards and other workers.

Californians Want to Use Zoom for Court Appearances. Will Lawmakers Let Them?

01/22/2024

Each year, California lawmakers pass temporary extensions to COVID-era rules that allow people to attend court via video conferencing services. One powerful state union has been a barrier to making the feature permanent.

Oakland Gas Station Is Going Viral for Its Nonstop Car Burglaries

01/16/2024

An auto burglary trend shows that thieves are targeting travelers.

LAPD Chief Announces Departure at End of February

01/12/2024

Michel Moore, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, announced he will resign. The departure of Moore, who has been in the job since 2018, will spur the appointment of an interim chief and a nationwide search for his replacement, according to Mayor Karen Bass.

SCOTUS to Hear Case with Major Implications for Homeless

01/12/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case related to whether cities and towns can ban camping on public property. The high court could overturn Martin v. Boise, a 2018 federal court decision that keeps western cities and counties from blocking public camping when sufficient shelter space is unavailable.

Featured

California cities switch to more inclusive, district-based elections system.
Voting Rights...the Final Frontier
Pushed by activists, cities move from at-large elections to district races.
Access to abortion in California is limited in many areas, though state laws protect a woman’s right to choose.
Abortion Rights in California, Explained
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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