All Law & Courts
Maryland cop dressed as homeless man catches drivers textingMore than 40 states have laws banning texting while driving. But it continues, so police are trying unusual approaches at enforcement.
First LookWhy officer will not face state charges in 'concerning' shooting of S.C. teenSouth Carolina prosecutors declined to file charges against Lt. Mark Tiller in the July death of 19-year-old Zachary Hammond. The US Justice Department could still file federal charges.
S.C. video spotlights police in schools: Do they help or hurt?The number of police officers in schools has grown in recent years, but footage of a controversial arrest in South Carolina has sparked fresh debate.
Why FBI and White House can't agree whether 'Ferguson effect' is realThe 'age of viral videos' and anxious officers may be at least partly behind the increase in violent crime, said FBI Director James Comey. But the White House disagrees.
Chicago bee farm offers help to ex-inmates, and a model for USWith bipartisan support growing to reduce America's prison population, there's a need for more prisoner reentry programs such as Sweet Beginnings.
First LookPolice chiefs issue joint plea for background checks for all gun salesSenior law enforcement officials at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago link access to firearms and an uptick in homicide rates across urban areas in the United States this year.
First LookThe other side of incarceration: What happens to children left behind?One in 14 American children have experienced a parent serving time, according to a new study by Child Trends. For black children, the rate is even higher – one in nine.
First LookOfficer seen tossing black student in video faces existing civil-rights lawsuitA cellphone video recording of the incident has made the rounds on social media, igniting new debate about police treatment and the role of law enforcement in public school classrooms.
Rural Kentucky schools closed amid manhunt for police shooterFloyd Ray Cook, the suspect, is believed to be on foot after a Saturday shootout with a Kentucky state police trooper.
In New York, death of another officer kindles deeper debateNew York wants to be at the forefront of efforts to reform harsh prison sentences, but the killing of NYPD officer Randolph Holder last week could make that harder.
First LookFBI chief pins crime surge on 'Ferguson effect.' Are cops afraid to do their jobs?FBI director James Comey says that a fear of being the focus of a policing scandal has caused officers to be more timid on the street, which has in turn led to violent crime spikes in some cities.
Alabama state trooper feeds homeless: Are cops a new ally for nation's poor?As dozens of cities crack down on public attempts to help the hungry, a new generation of community-oriented police are shifting attitudes about homelessness: from punishment to prevention.
First LookSouth Carolina police find massive cache of more than 7,000 gunsAuthorities confiscated enough weapons over the weekend to fill four tractor trailers. Police suspect that nearly all of the guns were stolen.
First LookWhat led Oklahoma woman to crash into crowd at homecoming parade?A young woman was charged with four counts of murder after she careened her car into a street corner packed with about 100 people who were starting to disperse after a parade.
First LookFederal agents caught Arizona importing illegal execution drugsFederal officials confiscated the shipment when it arrived via British Airways at the Phoenix International Airport in July, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press.
First LookBeating suspects' smiling mugshots shock Ole Miss communityFive students have been arrested on charges relating to the severe beating of a junior accounting major at the University of Mississippi. The smiling mugshots of four of the suspects has sparked outrage in the university community.
First LookAfter deadly 'cops and robbers' game, father may face prison timeA 6-year-old took a loaded revolver and shot his 3-year-old brother on Saturday. The father is due in court Friday and could face five years in prison for child endangerment.
First LookAlbuquerque road-rage shooting: How did a lane dispute go so wrong?A 4-year-old girl was killed in the shooting, which police say began with a trivial road-rage episode that turned deadly.
First LookDice game erupts in violence on Tennessee State campusOne person was killed and three wounded apparently when a dice game led to gunfire on the Nashville campus. Police are characterizing the shooting as an 'isolated incident.'
Senate bill could cut nonviolent drug offenders' sentencesThe measure would eliminate mandatory life sentences for three-time, nonviolent drug offenders. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in a rare display of bipartisanship.
