Santa Cruz County Crime & Justice Overview

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) promoted 125 cadets to the rank of officer. The graduation ceremony on March 21 marked the successful completion of a 26-week intensive training schedule at the California Highway Patrol Academy in West Sacramento.

By Jennifer Mount

Demonstrators protest immigration enforcement changes at the Town Clock in Santa Cruz on Feb. 3. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
Key takeaways

Chaos and confusion abound, and immigration lawyers are overwhelmed by the number of clients seeking their services. Here's the view from Salinas Attorney, Blanca Zarazua.

Rachel Anne Goodman talks with members of the community who are helping immigrants before, during and after Trump's ICE raids. Guests include

Elevated chemical levels in the water at the Rountree Detention Center near Watsonville have prompted work on a new water filter system. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local)
WATSONVILLE >> After elevated levels of “forever chemicals” or PFAS were found …

A huge, boisterous crowd of people protesting recent arrests of immigrants around the country took their message to the streets Monday following a rally in Watsonville Plaza.

Thousands of people filled the streets in downtown Watsonville Monday afternoon, waving Mexican flags, carrying signs and chanting, all in observance of a Day Without Immigrants, one of numerous protests nationwide against the hardline immigration policies enacted by the new …

Watsonville Police Department brought on two new officers to the force last week, a move that brings the department closer to filling its roster.

Since its inception in 2020, the Santa Cruz County Neighborhood Justice Program has held 351 conferences between people who commit low-level crimes and their victims.