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the California Public Defenders Association's News RoomTracking the legal system, reform, and the right to counsel Filter:
Prisons & Jails · March 2026 Judge Orders Colorado to Stop Throwing Prisoners in Solitary for Refusing to WorkBryce Covert · Bolts · March 11, 2026 Public Defense · March 2026 San Francisco Public Defender Found in Contempt After Refusing New CasesAyah Ali-Ahmad · KQED · March 10, 2026 Public Defense · Policy & Law · March 2026 Alameda County Public Defender Challenges Judge Over Lack of Black JurorsA misdemeanor case has surfaced a troubling pattern in Alameda County juries, which often fail to reflect the community's diversity. Roselyn Romero and Darwin BondGraham · Oaklandside · March 9, 2026 Prisons & Jails · March 2026 Incarcerated Women in Arizona Go on Hunger Strike for Better ConditionsVictoria Law · The Appeal · March 4, 2026 Public Defense · March 2026 Public Defender Shortage Is Leading to Hundreds of Criminal Cases Being DismissedThe Conversation Georges Naufal & Emily Naiser · Mar 3, 2026 Reform · March 2026 Bad Omens: Reform Rollbacks in Washington D.C. Are a Warning Sign for State-Level AdvocatesFederal reversals on criminal justice reform send an urgent signal to advocates working at the state level. Prison Policy Initiative Sarah Staudt · Mar 4, 2026 Media · March 2026 CalMatters Named a Finalist in Prestigious National Magazine Awards Public Interest CategoryCalMatters Sonya Quick · Mar 3, 2026 Public Defense · February 2026 Oregon must dismiss more than 1,400 criminal cases due to attorney shortage, court rulesSevere lack of public defenders has meant people charged with crimes have been routinely unable to fight their cases. The Guardian Sam Levin · Feb 5, 2026 Immigration · February 2026 ICE-Cold Cash: Private Prison Companies and Executives Have Donated Millions to Members of CongressFind out if your representatives have taken cash from the companies fueling ICE's mass deportation efforts. The Appeal Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg & Ethan Corey · Feb 4, 2026 Opinion · February 2026 There is no both sides when power is unequalSanta Barbara Independent Tracy Macuga · Feb 27, 2026 Public Defense · February 2026 Oregon public defense non-profits allowed to limit caseloadsOregon Public Radio Holly Bartholomew · Feb 20, 2026 Immigration · February 2026 Federal judge in Riverside accuses White House of 'terror' against immigrants in US"The threats posed by the executive branch cannot be viewed in isolation," US district judge Sunshine Sykes said in a scathing decision. The Guardian Feb 20, 2026 Prisons · February 2026 California prisons have life-saving addiction treatment. Doctors say the parole board is undermining it.Signing up for substance use disorder treatment in California prisons involves taking more frequent drug tests. The results, which are prone to error, can set back a prisoner's chance for freedom. CalMatters Cayla Mihalovich · Feb 19, 2026 Criminal Justice · January 2026 Stanley Richards, criminal justice reformer and formerly incarcerated person, named as new head of NYC's Department of CorrectionsRichards will lead the same Rikers Island jails where he once served time on robbery charges in the 1980s. Gothamist David Brand · Jan 31, 2026 Crime & Safety · January 2026 California cities just saw their lowest homicide rates in decades. It's not clear why.Homicides surged during COVID-19. Now killings are at historic lows in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and many other cities. CalMatters Nigel Duara · Jan 26, 2026 ICE · January 2026 Senator Reyes Introduces SB 873 to Curb ICE Arrests In and Around Courthouse GroundsInland Empire Community News Jan 6, 2026 Public Health · January 2026 Crime rates declined over time near Toronto supervised drug consumption sites, study suggestsStudy examined police data from 2014–2025 near 9 drug consumption sites in Toronto. CBC News Artthy Thayaparan · Jan 8, 2026 Mental Health · December 2025 She goes to police calls in a Prius. It's part of a new approach to mental health emergencies.CalMatters Cayla Mihalovich · Dec 23, 2025 Homelessness · December 2025 Cities can't punish outreach workers for helping homeless Californians under new lawCalMatters Marissa Kendall · Dec 28, 2025 Indigent Defense · December 2025 The Walmart of Public Defense: How justice gets sold to the lowest bidder in rural CaliforniaFlat-fee contracts have been banned elsewhere. But they've flourished in California. CalMatters Anat Rubin · Dec 18, 2025 Public Defense · December 2025 Public Defenders and prosecutors warn of crisis fueled by Prop 36"We now have the data that defines ethical workloads, new laws that have inflated caseloads, and a veto that stripped away protections." — Tracie Olson, CPDA President Daily Journal James Twomey · Dec 1, 2025 Immigration · December 2025 New pilot program will defend LA immigrants in deportation court — a first for the countyThe LA County Public Defender's Office is expanding its immigration unit to include removal defense. LA Public Press Susana Canales Barrón · Dec 1, 2025 Courts · December 2025 Most people dread jury service, but some people never get the chance to serveKQED Alexis Madrigal · Dec 1, 2025 Jails · November 2025 'Nauseated': S.F. supervisors demand action after alleged mass strip search of women in jail"These women are gonna sue. They're going to win. We're going to end up paying for it." — Supervisor Myrna Melgar Mission Local Abigail Van Neeley · Nov 21, 2025 Forensic Science · November 2025 New Jersey Bans 'Shaken Baby Syndrome' in Nationwide FirstBloomberg Law Alex Ebert · Nov 20, 2025 Public Defense · November 2025 Spokane County braces for impact of Washington's new public defender caseload limitsKREM Amanda Roley · Nov 20, 2025 Bail Reform · November 2025 New York bail reform not linked to higher recidivismA John Jay College study finds bail reform led to fewer felony rearrests. The state's prison population has dropped nearly 50% since 2003. News10 Johan Sheridan · Nov 17, 2025 Criminal Law · November 2025 John Oliver on the 'shocking' use of felony murder charges in the USThe host examines a charge that sends people to prison for life even if they didn't commit murder. The Guardian Benjamin Lee · Nov 10, 2025 Immigration · November 2025 Voters ousted this Pennsylvania sheriff after he signed up to collaborate with ICEA populous swing county replaced its sheriff months after controversy over his joining ICE's 287(g) program. Bolts Alex Burness · Nov 10, 2025 Surveillance · October 2025 An obscure military program helps local cops buy armored cars and spyware. It might balloon under Trump.The Intercept Matt Sledge · Oct 30, 2025 Death Penalty · October 2025 Her mentor sent Richard Glossip to Death Row. Can she give him a fair trial?Judge Susan Stallings refuses to recuse herself despite ties to the DA's office that prosecuted Glossip. The Intercept Liliana Segura · Oct 29, 2025 Surveillance · October 2025 LA County moves to limit license plate tracking, citing CalMatters reportCalMatters Phoebe Huss & Khari Johnson · Oct 23, 2025 Law Enforcement · October 2025 For the first time, a California county removed its sheriff over misconduct allegationsThe San Mateo County Board of Supervisors removed Sheriff Christina Corpus after allegations of nepotism. CalMatters Nigel Duara · Oct 23, 2025 Public Defense · October 2025 Newsom Vetoes Legislation Aimed at Safeguarding Public Defenders' IndependenceDavis Vanguard David Greenwald · Oct 14, 2025 Prop 36 · October 2025 California's Prop 36 promised 'mass treatment' for defendants. A new study shows how it's going.The biggest study yet shows few people are finding their way into the treatment Prop 36 promised. CalMatters Cayla Mihalovich · Oct 13, 2025 ICE · October 2025 California gave counties power to inspect ICE detention centers. They're not using it.CalMatters Wendy Fry & Jeanne Kuang · Oct 2, 2025 Prisons · September 2025 California shrank prisons with sentencing changes. A new study shows how that's working.CalMatters Cayla Mihalovich · Sep 23, 2025 ICE · September 2025 ICE arrest inside Oakland Courthouse blasted by public defender, other leadersImmigration agents detained a man attending a court hearing at Wiley Manuel Courthouse. Oaklandside Darwin BondGraham · Sep 23, 2025 ICE · September 2025 California law forbids ICE from making arrests at courthouses. Officers are showing up anyway.CalMatters Nigel Duara · Sep 23, 2025 Criminal Justice · September 2025 They were convicted of gang crimes. New California Supreme Court rulings trim their sentences.CalMatters Joe Garcia & Nigel Duara · Sep 2, 2025 Military · September 2025 Trump broke the law by sending National Guard to LA, federal judge rulesCalMatters Mikhail Zinshteyn · Sep 2, 2025 Jails · September 2025 California sues Los Angeles County over 'inhumane' conditions in its jail systemAbout 14,000 people are housed in L.A.'s jail daily. The state's lawsuit cites rats, spoiled meals and no clean water. CalMatters Cayla Mihalovich · Sep 8, 2025 AI & Policing · August 2025 Bill to Require Law Enforcement Disclosure if AI Was Used to Help Write ReportsCalifornia Globe Evan Symon · Aug 7, 2025 AI & Policing · August 2025 California Bill Would Require Police to Disclose Use of AI in Report WritingKQED Sukey Lewis · Aug 4, 2025 Public Defense · August 2025 US House Budget threatens over 600 public defender jobsReuters Nate Raymond · Jul 31, 2025 ICE · August 2025 'Help me, please!': Video captures ICE arrest outside L.A. County courthouseLos Angeles Times James Queally · Aug 13, 2025 ICE · August 2025 Some legal experts say ICE in criminal courts means a slower path to justiceNPR Meg Anderson · Aug 8, 2025 ICE · August 2025 Lawyers, judges see a chilling effect from immigrants' arrests at criminal courthousesNPR Meg Anderson · Aug 8, 2025 Criminal Law · August 2025 A Friend's Death to Mourn, and to Serve Time forAn Alabama teen was shot alongside his friend, then prosecuted for his killing — highlighting felony murder doctrine. Bolts Michaela Markels · Aug 6, 2025 Courts · August 2025 ICE Raids In Our Courts Must Stop NowCapitol Weekly Kate Chatfield & Brendon Woods · Aug 27, 2025 California Public Defenders Association · Newsroom · Coverage Aug 2025–Present |