David Bronner’s psychedelic justice trip
His soap company donates millions to psychedelics research and reforms, which the CEO says can lead to a healthier, more just society. By Jeremy Lindenfeld,…
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Incarcerated men and women are learning to address their own trauma
Can we learn to look at violence as an aspect of pain? By George B. Sánchez-Tello, Capital & Main This story is produced by the…
Sacramento County’s Chief Probation Officer, Marlon Yarber, discusses his department’s goal of achieving positive change
Marlon Yarber was born and raised in Stockton. His personal experiences there, in large part, he says, helped shape his career.
Criminal justice reform: A talk with Contra Costa DA Diana Becton – and what Sacramento might learn from her
Many people in Sacramento are rethinking our criminal justice system. So we decided to sit down with Contra Costa’s District Attorney, Diane Becton. During her…
No way out: Why a mentally disabled man was jailed in Sacramento 9 years awaiting a murder trial that never happened
By Jocelyn Wiener for CalMatters Eight years, 9 months, 24 days. That’s how long Lorenzo Mays waited inside a cell in the Sacramento County jail,…
Are police helicopters worth the cost?
As advocates and academics question the impact of flights over neighborhoods, police departments lack persuasive evidence of crime-fighting effectiveness By Angelika Albaladejo, Capital & Main…
Analysis: ‘We Own This City’ is the series that both sides of the police reform debate should be talking about
A real story of deep-rooted corruption, questionable incentives and the work of oversight investigators details how problems grow and are confronted in troubled departments …
Sacramento city manager discusses why the city now seeks community input when selecting the police or fire chief, while activists call for more transparency
By Stephen Maganini, the Sacramento Observer This story is co-published with The Sacramento Observer, a newspaper with more than 58 years of bringing public service journalism…
Sacramento Fire attempts to change course, while another Black firefighter breaks his silence about alleged harassment
Tale of first responder who worked in the Capital City in 2017 suggests that some supervisors ignored the department’s official goals The Sacramento Fire Department…
Sacramento Fire grapples with work culture after second Black firefighter resigns
Two department veterans recount startling unprofessionalism, Chief vows to chart a new course When Sacramento city firefighter Waris Gildersleeve heard that his colleague Desmond…
One of Sacramento’s few Black firefighters quits, citing hostile work environment
Past and present city fire department members say that there’s no accountability for bullying, harassment or racist behavior Desmond Lewis wanted to be a firefighter…
Schubert for attorney general?
Editor’s note: Sacramento’s district attorney may have her sights on statewide office Anne Marie Schubert, Sacramento County’s district attorney, pushed hard last year to raise…
Sacramento budget battle
Editor’s note: In first major disagreement, new City Council progressives get outvoted on spending priorities It came as little surprise that the first big fight…
Sign of the times
Editor’s note: Will Sacramento give its blessing to a “Black Lives Matter” sign in a city park? “Black Lives Matter”—the phrase as well as the…
Build back better
Editor’s note: Sacramento refocuses on creating a more inclusive economy, post COVID, but the plan has a curious gap Sacramento’s effort to build a fairer…
The police eyes in the skies
Police face few limits on operating unmanned aircraft For two years of his life, Sacramento County public defender Joseph Cress had the unenviable task of…
Making police reform work in Sacramento
Editor’s note: Citizens commission recommends millions more for community groups to respond to mentally ill After all the debate and protests for police reform this…