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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
Election 2024
The Next Front in the War Over Homelessness Is on the Arizona Ballot
Conservatives want to use the criminal justice system to force unhoused people into treatment. It may do more harm than good.
A man wearing a red beanie and a black and red jumpsuit looks down as he stands in the middle of a homeless encampment.
A photo collage shows, from left, Vanika Burks, a Black woman with a bomber jacket; Cornelius Love, a Black man with a plain baseball cap; and Asia Barton, a Black woman wearing a New York Yankees cap, all in grayscale tones, at the bottom of the frame. Behind them are a digital sign that reads “Prepare to Stop,” a white Cleveland Police truck and a man facing away from the viewer in a yellow vest that reads “Police” on the back.
Cleveland October 1
Cleveland Police Stop and Search Black Drivers at Higher Rates Despite DOJ Oversight
Review of 17,000 Cleveland police stops shows Black people are searched three times as often, yet White people have contraband at near equal rates.
By , The Marshall Project, Sarah Buduson, News 5 Cleveland
Michael Bell Sr., a White man, looks at a high school photo of his son, Michael Bell Jr., a White man, while sitting at a table. Four other photos of Michael are visible beneath the high school photo of Michael Bell Jr.
Feature September 25
A Wisconsin Board Says the Real Victim of Police Misconduct Is … the Government
Michael Bell says Kenosha police killed his son and covered up the truth. A victims rights board had a different takeaway.
By
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.
Feature August 30
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.
By
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
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