Can the Fourth Amendment Save Us from the Coming Era of Pervasive Biometric Surveillance?
New technologies mean new crimesolving techniques—and new threats to privacy and liberty.
Police
Asset Forfeiture Funding Has Little Impact on Solving Crimes, Says New Study
A new study by the Institute for Justice says federal asset forfeiture funds have little to no impact on solving crimes, suggesting police are more interested in the revenue it generates
How Oakland Cops Gamed the System To Earn $30 Million in Overtime Pay
A new audit reveals how poor oversight and structural problems allowed one Oakland cop to earn $2.5 million in overtime pay in five years.
Cop Arrests Mom for Letting Kids Wait in Car During 10-Minute Errand
A Pennsylvania mom faces reckless endangerment charges for assuming her children—ages 2, 5, and 7—could survive a very short wait.
Migrant Kids As Young As 5 Were Left in Vans Overnight While Waiting to Reunite With Their Families
It took 39 hours for every child to be reunited with their parents.
Was Scot Peterson's Cowardice a Crime?
The criminal charges against the former Broward County sheriff's deputy for failing to intervene in the Parkland shooting seem like a stretch.
San Francisco Police Got a Warrant to Monitor a Journalist's Phone Before Raiding His Apartment
The move is an assault on the First Amendment.
Alabama Passes New Transparency Requirements for Civil Asset Forfeiture
Alabama is one of the least transparent states in the U.S. when it comes to civil asset forfeiture. That could be changing.
Texas Police Union Kills Effort To Close State's 'Dead Suspect Loophole'
Texas law lets police hide records of suspects who die in custody from grieving families. It could have been fixed, but a police union torpedoed the reform bill.
The NYPD Underreported Rape Due to an Outdated Definition of the Crime
The NYPD failed to update its crime-tracking system—and underreported rape by 38 percent.
$6.75 Million Awarded to the Family of a Milwaukee Jail Inmate Who Died From Dehydration
The jail, which saw several deaths, was overseen by former Sheriff David Clarke at the time.
A 16-Year-Old Girl Is Facing Child Pornography Charges for Making a Sex Video of Herself
A finding of guilt would be an attack on the autonomy and self-ownership of all young people
Police Raid on San Francisco Journalist Descends Into Blame Game
The chief and the union square off over who arranged what was likely an illegal search.
Bill Would Limit California Cops' Use of Deadly Force
The legislation moves forward following a compromise with law enforcement groups.
A Retired NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty to Running a Prostitution Ring
The operation used its intimate knowledge of NYPD operations to thrive.
A Man Fights Back After His Profane Rant About a Deputy Ended in Harassment Charges
Jon Goldsmith called a local deputy a "stupid sum bitch" on Facebook, so the deputy's superior charged Goldsmith with writing a threatening statement.
Are We Seeing Early Signs of a Facial Recognition Technopanic?
Or are Americans simply wising up to the dangers posed by cops having their "face prints" on file?
An Amber Alert Was Botched Because Detectives Struggled To Work a Fax Machine. Wait, What?
While well-intentioned, the alert system is often ineffective.
Texas Poised To Ban All Red Light Cameras
The oft-abused tool is used more to raise revenue than to protect public safety.
George Kelling, Father of 'Broken Windows' Policing, Dies
Kelling later disavowed the high-volume arrest programs that police departments justified using his theory.
An NYPD Superior Reacted to Eric Garner's Death by Texting 'Not a Big Deal.' And That's Completely Unsurprising.
For five years, the NYPD, its apologists, and even Mayor Bill de Blasio have absolved cops of their role in Eric Garner's death.
San Francisco Bans Police Use of Facial Recognition
Preventing a slow march toward automated authoritarianism?
Trial (Sort of) Begins Over Police Officer's Conduct in Eric Garner's Death
Five years later, Daniel Pantaleo faces administrative justice.
Detroit Cop Shoots Family Dog in Front of 9-Year-Old
"She's not a vicious dog at all. … She's a sweetheart."
76 Shots, 2 Cops, and a Deadly Chase Through a Residential Neighborhood
The officers won't be charged, but the DA thinks their actions were "alarming and irresponsible."
Oregon Supreme Court: Cops Can't Collaborate with Garbage Haulers to Paw Through Your Trash Without a Warrant
Police now have to get a judge's permission before they rummage through your bins.
Kentucky Judges Pre-Signed Blank Legal Documents So That Child Services Could Take Custody of Kids on Nights and Weekends
"Children are being illegally taken from their home without judges' proper authority."
NYC Police Union Tweets Video of Subway Blow Job To Criticize New Congestion Pricing Policy
This is not the first time a tweet from the Sergeants Benevolent Association has courted controversy.
The 'Largest Gang Takedown in New York City History' Mostly Swept Up Non-Gang Members
More than half of the 120 defendants in a notorious 2016 police raid were never even alleged to be gang members.
In 2018, 55 U.S. Law Enforcement Officers Were Killed by Attackers
In contrast, police killed nearly 1,000 people last year.
Milwaukee Pays $2 Million to Family of Man Who Died in Back of Cop Car
Derek Williams told police that he couldn't breath while sitting in the back of a police car.
North Dakota Makes it Harder for Police to Take Property Without a Conviction
Police had wide authority to seize assets without having to prove a crime even happened, but now the state is tightening the rules.
Massage Parlor Surveillance Videos Can't Be Used in Court, Says Florida Judge
Plus: the biggest trouble with Devin Nunes' Twitter lawsuit, the Senate fails to override Trump's Yemen veto, bad news for the gig economy, and more...
Police Union Protects Another Bad Cop, This Time Despite Domestic Violence Allegations
Thanks to a police union, Officer Darren Cachola has managed to stay on the force job despite a firing, brutality and abuse allegations, and a video of him punching his girlfriend.
The ACLU is Suing D.C. Police for Searching a Home Without a Warrant
The Metropolitan Police Department was in the middle of a legal battle with the family when the warrantless search was conducted.
Minneapolis' Mayor Wants to End 'Warrior' Training That Teaches Cops to Treat Us All Like Threats
The local police union promises to defy him.
Her Ex Was the Wanted Man. So Why Did This Mom Spend Easter Weekend in Jail?
"What started out as a clerical error magnified into a very regrettable and Kafkaesque mistake."
Check Out This New Database of Corrupt Cops
USA Today launches an important new tool for tracking officers who have been fired for misconduct.
Press Parrots Police Talking Points on Arrest of Alleged Drug Dealers' Bird
It's fair to take the cops' account with a grain of salt.
