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Santa Cruz County Crime & Justice Articles



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After Trump Win, Santa Cruz County Leaders Affirm Support for Immigrants

Several Santa Cruz County leaders, including Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah, reaffirmed their support for immigrants Thursday in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential election. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local)
SANTA CRUZ >> Dozens of elected …

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County Installs Dumping Surveillance Cameras

The County of Santa Cruz has begun installing surveillance cameras at key locations in unincorporated areas of the County to help prevent illegal dumping, a strategy to protect the environment and help keep Santa Cruz County clean.

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‘Concerning’ Use of Force Described in Santa Cruz County Inspector General Report

The Santa Cruz County Office of Inspector General recently issued a 58-page report about the Sheriff’s Office. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
Community meetings
The Santa Cruz County Office of the Inspector General plans to share findings of …

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Sarah Ryan Named Capitola’s First Female Police Chief

The City of Capitola announced Friday that Capt. Sarah Ryan has been named the next Police Chief.

Image caption: Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr., a staunch defender of voting rights.
The Attack on the Popular Vote

In more than 30 states, it’s harder than ever to vote this year. But in California, it’s never been easier.

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Cruz Takes a Stance Against Homeless Drop-Offs

Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley sent a clear message last week during an early morning press conference: Santa Cruz will not take on other cities’ unhoused populations. Accompanied by city and county officials, Keeley convened the media to unveil a …

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Attorney General, Local Law Enforcement Officials Arrest 22 in Statewide Pot Shop Burglaries

California Attorney General Rob Bonta was in Santa Cruz County on Thursday to announce the arrest of 22 people who are facing a total of 32 felony charges stemming from multiple burglaries of marijuana dispensaries throughout the Bay Area.

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County Supervisors Appoint New Sheriff

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously appointed Undersheriff Chris Clark to take the agency’s lead role, a decision that was backed by several members of the public and the leaders of numerous agencies that addressed the …

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Neighborhood Court Program Seeks Volunteers

A Santa Cruz County justice program that places reconciliation over punishment has helped more than 240 people keep criminal convictions off their record since its inception in 2020, with just one case of recidivism.

Image caption: The California mental health crisis is tied to both homelessness and rising crime.
UPDATE: California’s Mental Health Crisis: How We Got Here

How the California mental health crisis emerged out of the state’s history of deinstitutionalization and laws designed to protect the mentally ill, as well as the communities around them.

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Sheriff’s Fentanyl Crisis Response Team Uses Education, Enforcement

After 133 people died in Santa Cruz County in 2023 after overdosing on Fentanyl, the Sheriff’s Office has launched a new way to address the problem, with a special focus on the people who deal the dangerous drug.

Image caption: A new law seeks to prevent cars from speeding, which causes about one of every three traffic fatalities.
If Drivers Won’t Slow Down, Proposed Law Requires Cars Do It for Them

“Intelligent” speed-limiting technology will be required in all new California cars starting in 2027, if a new law authored by San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener passes.

Image caption: Under a new law, homeless people in San Mateo County can be criminally charged for refusing to move to a shelter.
Should Homelessness be a Crime? New San Mateo County Law Allows Charges

In San Mateo County, a new law allows police to charge homeless people with criminal offenses if they don’t accept shelter. SCOTUS will soon weigh in with a potential landmark decision in an Oregon case.

Image caption: California traffic deaths dropped by 12 percent in the first three months of 2023, but road fatalities remain at crisis levels.
Death on the Roads: Traffic Fatality Crisis Far From Over

As the COVID pandemic eased, so did the epidemic of death on the road. Somewhat. But the ongoing crisis of traffic fatalities remains at high levels with early numbers form 2023 appearing to top 4,000 in California.

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Scotts Valley police chief mourns loss of ‘old school’ top-cop father

Three generations of “Steve Walpole”—(from left) Steve Walpole Sr., Steve Walpole Jr. and Steve Walpole III—attend the Special Olympics Torch Run in Scotts Valley last year. The community lost a significant link to its past when the elder Walpole died …

Featured

With just two courthouses, Santa Cruz County has one of the smaller court systems in the Bay Area.
The Superior Court—Explained
One of 58 superior court systems in the state, here's how the Santa Cruz County courts work.
The Santa Cruz civil grand jury meets in County Government Center
The Grand Jury—Explained
Santa Cruz’s civil grand jury promotes accountability in local government.
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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