Public Safety - Independent Voter News (Page 2)

Supreme Court Sides with Federal Corrections Officers in Lawsuit Over Prison Incident

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 30 that federal prison officers and officials cannot be sued by an inmate who accused them of excessive force during a 2021 incident, delivering a victory for federal corrections personnel concerned about rising legal exposure for doing their jobs.

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ July 1, 2025

Supreme Court Sides with Federal Corrections Officers in Lawsuit Over Prison Incident

The Price of Our Divisions: Rage, Rhetoric, and Political Violence in America

The United States is facing a disturbing resurgence of politically motivated violence, targeted attacks not just on individuals, but on the democratic fabric of the nation itself. Over the past several years, elected officials, public servants, and civilians have been stalked, firebombed, shot, and

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ June 23, 2025

The Price of Our Divisions: Rage, Rhetoric, and Political Violence in America

Clearing Homeless Encampments Is a Band-Aid, Not A Solution

Last July, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order “to address (homeless) encampments” and allocated funding to local governments to clear encampments and connect “those living in them to housing and supportive services.”

By

David Malcolm

/ June 20, 2025

Clearing Homeless Encampments Is a Band-Aid, Not A Solution

10 Reasons Nothing Ever Gets Done on the Border Crisis

ICE raids, Los Angeles riots, “No King” protests. It’s all people can talk about these days as immigration is front and center in the American social and political zeitgeist. For many voters, this all may seem familiar.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ June 13, 2025

10 Reasons Nothing Ever Gets Done on the Border Crisis

Health Care Behind Bars - How It Really Works

The health care crisis behind bars affects two distinct but deeply connected groups: incarcerated individuals and correctional officers. While incarcerated people are constitutionally entitled to care, access remains inconsistent, and most enter custody with significant medical and mental health nee

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ June 12, 2025

Health Care Behind Bars - How It Really Works

Peaceful, and Violent, Protests in Los Angeles

What began as peaceful immigration policy protests on June 6 has escalated into a national political crisis, with violent clashes, arrests, looted businesses, burning Waymo cars, a smashed government building, nighttime curfews, and an epic legal showdown between California officials and President D

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ June 11, 2025

Peaceful, and Violent, Protests in Los Angeles

More Than a Uniform: Remembering Annie Covarrubias and the Crisis Facing Correctional Officers

Last week, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials announced the sudden passing of Annie Covarrubias, a correctional officer at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad. She was 35 years old. In the words of her colleagues, Annie was a “dependable, profess

By

Chad Peace

/ May 20, 2025

More Than a Uniform: Remembering Annie Covarrubias and the Crisis Facing Correctional Officers

California Seizes $123.5M in Illegal Cannabis in Largest-Ever Enforcement Operation

In its largest coordinated crackdown to date, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force seized more than $123 million worth of illegal cannabis during a sweeping, multi-agency operation across the Central Valley.

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ May 20, 2025

California Seizes $123.5M in Illegal Cannabis in Largest-Ever Enforcement Operation

Democrat Senator Gallego Releases Plan for Immigration Reform that Party Loyalists Won’t Like

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) has introduced a plan for systemic immigration reform and a front-and-center border security plan to reach what he says should be a bipartisan goal of “getting illegal border crossing to as near zero as possible.”

By Tori Stevens

/ May 16, 2025

Democrat Senator Gallego Releases Plan for Immigration Reform that Party Loyalists Won’t Like

A History of California Criminal Justice and Prison Reform Initiatives (1994-2025)

Over the past 30 years, California voters have repeatedly turned to the ballot box to shape criminal justice policy, responding to concerns about public safety, justice, punishment, and rehabilitation.

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ May 13, 2025

A History of California Criminal Justice and Prison Reform Initiatives (1994-2025)

Trump Pushes Alcatraz Revival as Calif. Audit Finds State Prisons Unprepared for Natural Disaster Evacuations

As President Donald Trump calls for the reopening and expansion of Alcatraz Island to house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent offenders,” a new state audit raises alarms about California’s state prison system: most state-run facilities are not adequately prepared to evacuate during natural dis

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ May 5, 2025

Trump Pushes Alcatraz Revival as Calif. Audit Finds State Prisons Unprepared for Natural Disaster Evacuations

Cannabis Rescheduling Remains Paused Despite Trump Support

A popular and game-changing rescheduling proposal backed by Donald J. Trump to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) remains formally active but administratively paused by a DEA judge.

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ April 1, 2025

Cannabis Rescheduling Remains Paused Despite Trump Support