Justice

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California AG charges construction firm with felony wage theft and tax evasion

A wood framing company is accused of stiffing workers and the state $2.6 million. Two employees could face penalties and jail if convicted.

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California lets defendants challenge racism in court. Few have succeeded

A Garrison Project and CalMatters analysis of the Racial Justice Act found about a dozen successful cases in which judges took action on racial bias in the legal process.

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New LA police chief’s resistance to Trump deportation plans has little to do with liberal politics

The effort to keep Los Angeles police out of immigration enforcement is neither new nor liberal. It has its roots deep in LAPD’s history, when a very conservative chief headed the department and Jimmy Carter was in the White House.

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It used to be a notoriously violent prison. Now it’s home to a first-of-its kind education program

Cal Poly Humboldt’s bachelor’s program offers new opportunity to people incarcerated at maximum-security Pelican Bay State Prison

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Anti-slavery measure Prop. 6 fails, allowing forced labor to continue in California prisons

Other states, including Nevada, are deleting references to slavery in their constitutions and banning forced prison labor. California voters rejected that path when they turned down Prop. 6.

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How Proposition 36 convinced Californians to vote against their political views

Many are asking: Is the movement for criminal justice reform in California dead? The answer is no.

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California beat Trump in court his first term. It’s preparing new cases for his second

California sued the Trump administration more than 100 times in his first term and secured some major victories on the environment, immigration and health care.

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Why Californians got tougher on crime: Bleak downtowns and attention-getting retail thefts

Californians overwhelmingly backed Prop. 36 to lengthen criminal sentences for certain theft and drug offenses, and to direct more people to drug treatment after convictions. Voters’ views changed on public safety after the COVID-19 pandemic.