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Police cars in Los Angeles in April 2011. California is among the states which have enacted new laws requiring state and local police agencies to collect and report stop and search information.

Policing

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Feature
How a Massachusetts Cop Allegedly Groomed, Controlled and Killed Sandra Birchmore
Matthew Farwell met her in a police Explorer program. Prosecutors say he abused her for years before she became pregnant and he killed her.
Signs lie on the ground as a person hovers over one on the left side of the photo, and another person holds one with a gloved hand. A sign in the center reads: "Justice for Sandra Birchmore", and shows a picture of Sandra, a White young woman with brown hair and red-rimmed glasses.
A photo illustration shows the cover and black-and-white pages of “Rights in Conflict,” a book more commonly known as the Walker Report.
Looking Back August 14
How the 1968 DNC in Chicago Devolved into ‘Unrestrained and Indiscriminate Police Violence’
As protesters prepare for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, a half-century old report provides lessons for preventing chaos.
By
Tim Walz, a White man with white hair and glasses, wearing a navy suit jacket and khaki pants, walks outside with two men behind him to his left.
Election 2024 August 7
Tim Walz on Criminal Justice: 5 Things to Know
Where Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, stands on policing, guns, prison reform and other issues.
By and
Traffic lights highlight the silhouette of a police officer as they wave their arm.
Closing Argument August 3
They Exposed Police Misconduct. Now They’re Paying a Steep Price.
Whistleblower laws have advanced in public and private sectors, but protections for police who report illegal or unethical behavior lag far behind.
By
A crisis response team of three people, wearing cargo pants, turquoise shirts and fanny packs, talk to a medium-dark-skinned man sitting on a concrete wall. The man, wearing gray sweatpants, holds a water bottle in one hand.
Analysis July 25
Sending Unarmed Responders Instead of Police: What We’ve Learned
There are more than 100 response teams nationwide, but experts say more research on their impact is needed.
By
News July 18
Meet the New Generation of Unarmed First Responders in This New Podcast Series
“The Fifth Branch,” a podcast from The Marshall Project and Tradeoffs, examines new, alternative ways to respond to 911 crisis calls.
By
A collage shows a side profile of a Black man in a suit, a clipping that shows a Minneapolis police badge and text, an image of protesters, and a mugshot of the same Black man with bruises on his face.
Feature June 16
The Minneapolis Cop Who Beat Him Pleaded Guilty. He Still Fears the Department Won’t Change.
Jaleel Stallings was swept up in the chaos of protests over George Floyd’s murder. The outcome changed his life.
By
A White person, wearing sunglasses, a green bandana mask and black shirt, holds a poster with the black-and-white image of Elijah McClain, a Black man wearing glasses and a plaid button-up shirt. The poster also reads, "Black Lives Matter. #JusticeForElijahMcClain." There are more protesters marching in the background.
Closing Argument June 15
More States Restricting ‘Excited Delirium’ as Cause of Death in Police Custody
Authorities use the term to describe the condition of some people who die. But some medical organizations say it’s useless or racist pseudoscience.
By
A view from above the awning of the St. Louis Police Department headquarters' entrance, where a man is standing in front of the metal doors. The man’s face is not visible.
Feature June 10
5 Takeaways From Our Series on St. Louis Homicide Investigations
The police department has struggled to solve homicides, partly due to shoddy detective work, staffing shortages and eroding community trust.
By Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio; Tom Scheck and Jennifer Lu, APM Reports
An illustration shows silhouettes of a close-up face, a side profile of a person, and an IV bag hanging from a pole. Prison bars are in the foreground.
Feature June 9
They Were in a Mental Health Crisis at a Hospital. This Is How They Landed in Jail.
Washington, like most states, has a law intended to protect health care workers. Instead, it’s led to prosecutions of people with severe mental illness.
By , Sydney Brownstone and Esmy Jimenez
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