The Best Defense Is Good Offense
Court filings bring national attention to local funding issues.
Justice Department
Georgia Is Segregating Troublesome Kids in Schools Used During Jim Crow
A Department of Justice investigation found that Georgia is giving thousands of kids with behavioral issues a subpar education and putting them in the same run-down buildings that served black children decades ago.
The Justice Department Compares the School-to-Prison Pipeline to Racial Segregation
Meridian, Mississippi, is the latest district to face consequences for disproportionately punishing black students.
Secret Memos Reveal Warrantless Surveillance of Internet Activity
The Obama administration has stepped up the National Security Agency's surveillance program on U.S. soil to search for signs of hacking.
'A Message of Hope': Obama Grants Clemency to 22 Prisoners in a Single Day
Is this the beginning of a new trend in commutations?
Hillary Clinton's Email Scandal Looks a Lot Like the Whitewater Investigation of 20 Years Ago
Hillary Clinton’s defense of her use of personal emails while she was secretary of state triggers memories of the "pink press conference."
The Patient Safety Movement's First Big Scandal Finally Has a Resolution
The Justice Department claimed patient safety celebrity Dr. Chuck Denham solicited payments from a drug company to win a prestigious National Quality Forum endorsement for its product.
The Far Reach of Racism in Ferguson
A new report by the Justice Department in the Ferguson investigation shows just how far racial bias can extend.
Is the Medical Device Used in Your Last Surgery FDA Approved?
A firm sold 18,000 knee-replacement tools before the government called a halt. The OtisKnee case shows just how easily trust can be violated in the rapidly evolving world of medical devices, a thriving $110 billion-a-year industry.
Democrats Push to Restart Funding for Gun Violence Research
New legislation would increase CDC funding for gun violence research from zero dollars to $10 million. The NRA calls the push “unethical” and an “abuse of taxpayer funds.”
Remembering the Drug Court Revolution
Stories from the 25th anniversary celebration of the nation’s first drug court.
Guards May Be Responsible for Half of Prison Sexual Assaults
A Department of Justice study also shows the number of reports of sexual assaults is rising, but rarely results in prosecution.
Can We Finally Do Something About Rape in Juvenile Detention Centers?
After years of frustration and delay, some hope in the fight against sex abuse in the nation’s juvenile jails.
The Strange and Possibly Illegal World of Truancy Court
Students are handcuffed, and often jailed. Fines can reach into the thousands of dollars. Accused students and their families are never provided with legal counsel. That, according to a complaint seeking federal intervention.
Remember When the Patriot Act Debate Was All About Library Records?
The early debate around a key provision wasn’t about anything like mass collection of phone records.
Boys in Custody and the Women Who Abuse Them
The nation’s system of juvenile justice has long been troubled. But recent studies have revealed a surprising new menace: female staffers at detention facilities sexually abusing the male youngsters in their care.
Mass Surveillance in America: A History of Loosening Laws and Practices
Surveillance in the name of intelligence gathering is nothing new. Here's a look back at significant developments over the past 30-plus years.