Category: Public Safety

  • The Quality of a Legal Defense: Does it Matter if You’re Rich or Poor, Black or White?

    By Maureen Cavanaugh and Patty Lane Is the quality of legal representation different for someone who is poor and accused of a crime versus someone who can afford their own attorney? Stephen B. Bright of the Southern Center for Human Rights says the civil rights movement has had little effect on the justice system. He…

  • Reality Changers to Expand Services

    By Kyla Calvert   Mayoral candidates San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio and Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher joined city schools Superintendent Bill Kowba in applauding the planned expansion of Reality Changers at the organization’s annual “State of the Inner City Address.” The event always preceeds the mayor’s State of the City Address. Reality Changers President Christopher Yanov…

  • More Latino Youths in Juvenile Hall for Drug Offenses

    By Ruxandra Guidi Despite treatment and prevention services for those at risk of entering the juvenile-justice system, in the last couple of years, more than 5,000 San Diego youths have passed through county correctional facilities. A majority were allegedly involved in gang activity and about half are Latino. According to the report by the San Diego Association of Governments,…

  • San Diego Tackles Prisoner Recidivism

    San Diego is one of a few California counties that plan to avoid building more jails by keeping offenders from ending up back behind bars. That’s a tough assignment when jobs are scarce and many in this population have nowhere to live. By Nicholas McVicker and Alison St John Frederick Recupido, 35, recently arrived in…

  • Community Braces for Prison Realignment

    The Public Safety Realignment Act will transfer responsibility for 2,000 parolees to the County Probation Department. It will also keep some new offenders from going to state prison, placing them in county jail or under house arrest instead. Residents worry the shift will impact the safety of their streets. | Video Credit: Brian Myers, Media…