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Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help.
Congress recently lowered spending from a victim services fund to $1.2 billion, sparking widespread concern among prosecutors’ offices, rape crisis centers, and more.
As drag shows go ‘mainstream,’ some red states look to restrict them
The growing visibility has made drag performances a target for conservative legislators.
‘Tough-on-crime’ policies are back in some places that had reimagined criminal justice
The percentage of Americans who think the United States is “not tough enough” on crime grew for the first time in 30 years, according to a Gallup poll released in November.
Releasing suspects pretrial doesn’t lead to higher crime rates, experts say
Politicians on both sides of the debate often connect bail policy to crime rates. But experts note that much of the crime data that states and cities use is unreliable.
Car thefts and carjackings are up. Unreliable data makes it hard to pinpoint why.
Between 2019 and 2023, car thefts and carjackings increased dramatically, by 105% and 93%, a new Council on Criminal Justice’s report says.
Philadelphia is latest city to restrict ski masks in public spaces
Philadelphia's ban, introduced last June, came after a series of fatal shootings involving masked suspects.
How many inmates return to prison? Inconsistent reporting makes it hard to tell.
Recidivism rates nationwide can vary greatly because of how they’re defined, how the data is collected and how it’s presented to the public.
High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws
Lawmakers across the political spectrum say clearing or sealing criminal records will help people find jobs and housing.
Cash bail policies are under fresh scrutiny
Some states, including New Jersey, have largely eliminated cash bail to reduce inequities. But other states are taking the opposite approach.
Politicians love to cite crime data. It’s often wrong.
Law enforcement agencies’ inability — or refusal — to send their crime data to the FBI has resulted in a distorted picture of the nation's crime trends.
AI bots are helping 911 dispatchers with their workload
The integration of AI technology into 911 centers is partly a response to an acute staffing crisis and the pressing need to address the mental health challenges that emergency responders face.
It’s hazing season on college campuses. State safeguards are uneven.
Some experts and anti-hazing advocates say the penalties in some states aren’t harsh enough to deter organizations from participating in hazing.