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Santa Clara County Crime & Justice Articles



San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
Feds Looking for San Jose Man for Failing to Report Income from Chinese Company

U.S. citizens and residents who have more than $10,000 in a bank account in a foreign country are required to file with the United States Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

Image caption: A ban on assault weapons is just one of 107 California gun control laws.
California Gun Control Laws and Mass Shootings

California has more gun laws than any other state. Here's how it took a series of mass shootings to make the state the toughest in the country on guns.

Morgan Hill Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Police: Burglars break into Cigarland, steal more than $30K in cigarettes

Police are investigating the break-in and burglary of a cigar store in Morgan Hill in which the suspects used a vehicle to force open a security gate, and made off with thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes, authorities said. About …

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Audit shows county jail still has hundreds of recommendations to address

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has implemented about a quarter of the more than 600 reforms identified in a 2016 plan to improve its jail system, according to a report received Oct. 17 by the county Board of Supervisors …

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose Police Begin Non-jail Option for First-time DUI Arrestees

The preliminary DUI pilot program in Santa Clara County will be limited to arrestees who are non-violent, first-time misdemeanor DUI arrestees to avoid spending time in jail, while receiving alcohol-related support services at the Mission Street Recovery Station in San …

Morgan Hill Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Police investigate swastika in notebook at Live Oak High School

Morgan Hill Police today investigated a notebook found at Live Oak High School with a swastika and other hateful messages written inside it, and cited a student in relation to the incident. Someone posted a photo of the offending writings …

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
Owners of South San Jose Daycare Center Arrested on Felony Charges after Two Toddlers Drown

Nina Fathizadeh, 41, and her 64-year-old mother, Shahin Gheblehshenas, are the owners of Happy Happy Daycare in San Jose where two unattended children drowned in a backyard swimming pool Oct. 2.

Image caption: Demonstrators in Sacramento went on a hunger strike to persuade Gov. Newsom to okay a bill banning caste discrimination.
Newsom Vetoes 'Unnecessary' Caste Discrimination Bill

Gov. Newsom vetoes what would have been a first-in-the-nation law banning caste discrimination in education, housing and the workplace. The bill divided South Asian communities in California.

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Man accused of killing, dismembering woman in Gilroy

Human remains found in Gilroy recently have been confirmed to be that of a 33-year-old woman who went missing in late July and her ex-boyfriend has been arrested on suspicion of killing her, police said Oct. 4. Ivan Alfaro Escobedo …

Image caption: Gov. Newsom this week signed a law creating a new 11 percent excise tax on gun manufacturers and retailers.
Gun Manufacturers Fear Days Are Numbered in California

Gov. Newsom just signed a tax on firearms and ammunition, among other new gun control laws. California’s remaining gun manufacturers wonder if they have a future.

Image caption: Border Patrol policies deliberately channel migrants through some of the harshest desert areas in California, resulting in frequent deaths.
Border Patrol Routes Migrants Into Deadly Imperial Valley Desert

In the Imperial County desert, a volunteer group routinely maintains large barrels filled with water to help migrants traversing the California desert. As rescues increase, the longstanding immigration policies that funneled migrants to such harsh terrain deserve scrutiny.

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Parking lots to remain closed at Las Animas Veterans Park, for now

Residents who live near Las Animas Veterans Park say illicit activities in the area have decreased since city officials shut down two of its parking lots months ago. However, others, including members of the Gilroy Tennis Club, say the closure …

Image caption: As California's legislative session ends, lawmakers take no steps to address the state's fire insurance crisis.
Legislature Fails to Address California Fire Insurance Crisis

Legislators weren’t able to reach a compromise that helps insurers with wildfire risk while also protecting homeowners. Interest groups hope to find one in meetings this fall.

Image caption: Non-law enforcement spending on anti-hate efforts has topped $200 million since 2021, more than any other state.
California Spends Millions to Stop Hate Crimes. Here’s How

Hate crimes were up 20 percent in California in 2022, with those against transgender, Muslim and Black people increasing especially sharply. But the state is also spending more than any other to combat such crimes, including a hotline, state commission …

Image caption: Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to wait for more information before signing a bill that would remove TikTok from most state smartphones.
Newsom Halts TikTok Ban, App to Stay on State Phones

A bipartisan bill to prohibit TikTok on state phones is shelved until 2024. It had breezed through the state Legislature, but the authors want to tweak the measure. It's the latest social media regulation to get stalled in California.

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Center opens at St. Louise hospital for sexual assault victims

County health officials celebrated the opening of a new location at St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy on Aug. 31 that provides treatment and examinations for victims of sexual assault. The opening of the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam program (SAFE) …

Image caption: A new contract with their union is designed to ease a shortage of California prison doctors and psychiatrists.
Some of California’s Best-Paid Employees to Get $40K Bonuses

California prisons are badly understaffed when it comes to doctors and psychiatrists. A new contract attempts to boost retention with substantial bonuses.

Image caption: In San Francisco, new police officers can now expect six-figure starting salaries, and other cities are taking similar measures.
Cities Compete to Give Police Recruits the Best Financial Deal

California cities are struggling to hire police in a tight labor market after the COVID pandemic. Some are raising by double digits and offering eye-catching bonuses.

Image caption: In a recent poll, 60 percent of Californians supported use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes.
How Some Psychedelic Drugs Could Be Decriminalized in California

Psychedelics are having a moment. A nationwide push to bring magic mushrooms and other psychedelics into the mainstream is gaining traction, and some Californians want in.

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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