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Santa Clara County Crime & Justice Digest



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.

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.

Copper Wire Thefts Plague VTA Sites

03/12/2024

Incidents of copper wire theft reported at Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority sites have resulted in over $500,000 of damages so far this year.

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.

Santa Clara Political Ads Pulled After Flubbing Endorsements

02/22/2024

Proponents of Santa Clara’s Measure B have removed a series of Facebook and digital ads that wrongfully portrayed former police chiefs’ positions on the measure.

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.

Point/Counterpoint: Measure B, City of Santa Clara

02/20/2024

One of the biggest issues facing the city of Santa Clara on the March 5 ballot is Measure B, which would make the position of police chief appointed by the city manager instead of being an elected official.

Santa Clara Voters to Weigh Electing Police Chief

02/14/2024

Voters in Santa Clara will decide in March if they want to continue electing their police chief and city clerk or change the process.

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.

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.

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.

Campbell Breaks Ground on New Police Department

01/27/2024

The Campbell Police Department will soon move out of its small, decades-old location. Its new 24,000-square-foot operation center is set to open in 2025.

Could the Closure of Oakland’s Only In-N-Out Help the City With Its Crime Problem?

01/26/2024

Closing Oakland’s only In-N-Out restaurant due to increasing crime could be the last straw for community members, and possibly a blessing in disguise.

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.

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.

South Bay Nonprofit Receives Gift From MacKenzie Scott

01/25/2024

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley received a much-appreciated infusion of funding over the holidays: a $3.4 million gift from philanthropist and Amazon shareholder MacKenzie Scott.

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.

D.A. Announces Indictment of Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting Suspect

01/23/2024

On the eve of the first anniversary of the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office announced the indictment of suspect Chunli Zhao.

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.

Judge Orders Lawsuit Against WomenSV into Arbitration

01/20/2024

More than 80 women, elderly donors and real estate professionals have joined forces to expose an attorney referral scheme allegedly operating through the Los Altos-based nonprofit WomenSV.

$20K Reward Offered for Information About Taco Bell Robbery

01/20/2024

The nonprofit group Mothers Against Murder is offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest of the man who robbed at gunpoint a Taco Bell in south Palo Alto.

3 California Lifers Serve Time for Murders They Didn't Commit. Is Relief Possible?

01/19/2024

Three men have been incarcerated for a combined 90 years under California's felony-murder rule, which is based on an archaic legal doctrine that says engaging in certain illegal behaviors requires full responsibility if a death occurs.

Employee at Mike's Diner Bar Investigated for Embezzlement

01/18/2024

Police are investigating an employee for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from Mike's Diner Bar, a Midtown institution that was recently saved from eviction.

San Jose Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Police Collisions

01/17/2024

An analysis by San José Spotlight found that of the 1,122 claims filed by residents over the last three years, the city settled 208. Of that 208, 123 were car accidents—56 of which involved San Jose police officers.

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