Stateline Stories

Attorneys General Prepare to Defend Controversial Laws

State attorneys general are about to head to court to defend controversial state laws. Are they required to defend laws that might not survive legal scrutiny?

Foreign Law Bans: Political Statement or Unconstitutional?

State lawmakers are focused on keeping U.S. courts away from the influence of foreign law. But does banning all foreign law go too far?

Attorneys General Seek Warning Label Cautioning Pregnant Women Against Using Pain Pills

State attorneys general are hoping to protect the littlest victims of prescription drug abuse.

Maryland Repeals Death Penalty

Maryland has executed five people since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. But nobody else will be sentenced to death in the Old Line State.

Boston Bombings Show Future Use for Police Drones

The manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers has raised fresh questions about the use of domestic drones by law enforcement.

Balancing State and Federal Roles in Boston Bomber Case

Accused Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was charged with federal crimes of terrorism that carry the potential for a death sentence. Does it matter that Massachusetts doesn’t have the death penalty?

Drone Limits Become Law

Police agencies in five states already have drones, and lawmakers want to make sure protections are in place before more agencies spend more money. Which cities already have drones?

Security Cameras Were Key to Finding Boston Bombers

Will the successful use of video analysis to identify the suspect accused of planting explosives near the finish line of the Boston Marathon spark a new push for more surveillance cameras in American cities?

Facebook Partners with Attorneys General in Teen Online Safety Campaign

Facebook has been revamping its much-maligned privacy practices under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. Now, the social networking giant is teaming with state attorneys’ general to educate teens about how to navigate the digital world without endangering their safety and privacy.

New State Gun Laws Show Power of One-Party Control

Despite the push from President Obama on gun control, states are going their own way on new gun laws—especially ones dominated by one party or the other. Which states passed gun control and which states loosened regulations?

Report: No Easy Options for Feds in Legal Marijuana States

The federal government may not have much choice but to continue its mellow attitude toward legal marijuana in Washington and Colorado.

Registry Finds More Exonerations in 2012

Since 1989, at least 1,089 people convicted of crimes have been officially cleared based on new evidence of their innocence, according to the National Registry of Exonerations annual report released Wednesday.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Retains Conservative Tilt

The Wisconsin high court’s perceived conservative tilt will remain after a justice was re-elected in Tuesday’s vote.

Sequester Cuts at Justice Department Threaten Local Drug Investigations

The partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. threatens to curb drug investigations in rural communities.

Balance of Power, Future of Key Issues at Stake in Wisconsin Court Race

Two years after one of the most contentious and bruising Supreme Court elections any state has ever seen, Wisconsin voters will return to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes in another judicial election.

Legislatures Consider Limits on Prisoner Deportations Through Secure Communities

As Congress considers major revisions to federal immigration laws, legislators in a few states are trying to curb the federal government’s power to deport immigrants who land in jail.

Supreme Court Will Review Michigan’s Affirmative Action Ban

The nation’s highest court will decide whether a Michigan affirmative action ban passed by voters in 2006 can prevent colleges and universities from using race when they decide which students to admit.

Top 10: Gun Run Pumps Up State Wildlife Funds

Which state wildlife programs will benefit the most from a surge in gun sales?

States Tackle Mental Illness and Gun Ownership

New York’s new gun law requires mental health providers to report on dangerous patients. Will the law harm treatment?

Colorado Governor Signs New Gun Restrictions

Colorado’s new gun restrictions will limit the size of gun magazines and require a background check for all gun sales, including online purchases. Governor Hickenlooper signed the bill just hours after state Department of Corrections Director Tom Clements was shot and killed in his home.

Supreme Court Probes Arizona Voter Registration Law

The Supreme Court justices dissected Arizona’s challenge to a federal voter registration law during arguments Monday, even as they seemed to avoid the broader issues of states’ rights versus federal authority underlying the case.

Ten States Win Money To Fight Domestic Violence Homicides

To reduce gun violence, Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder announced grants to cities and counties to stop murders by spouses or partners.

Nullification: Old Arguments Against Feds Get New Life

States challenging Washington is not new, but Second Amendment worries have breathed new life into a movement championing a wider range of topics than ever before.

Maryland Repeals Death Penalty, Sixth State in Six Years

Maryland became the sixth state in as many years to repeal the death penalty. But the fate of the state’s five remaining death row inmates is up to Governor Martin O'Malley.

Lawmakers Move Swiftly to Block Release of Gun Permit Records

Government watchdogs say they are losing the ability to check whether people legally barred from owning guns are gaining access.

States Tackle School Safety After Sandy Hook Shootings

At least 20 states are considering bills that would allow some teachers to be armed. Others are focusing on emergency plans and mental health checks.

Supreme Court Considers Link between DNA and Privacy Rights

More than half the states allow police officers to collect DNA from criminal suspects before they are convicted of a crime, but a Maryland man is arguing that the practice is a violation of privacy.

States Seek Legal Limits on Domestic Drones

Lawmakers in nearly half the states are working to set legal limits on the use of drones, before they become a key part of domestic policing.

Should Judges Be Forced To Retire?

Judges in 33 states are forced to retire at a certain age. State legislators are not so sure this is a good idea.

Obama Backs Funding for Violence Against Women Act

The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act will ensure that federal dollars keep flowing to state courts, prosecutors and law enforcement to combat violence against women.

Governors Ask Lawmakers to Prevent Future Shootings

The recent mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut reshaped governors’ legislative agendas this year, and many used their once-a-year legislative addresses to ask lawmakers to take up gun control, mental health treatment and school safety.

Despite Governor’s Push, Voting Rights for Felons Fails in Virginia

A House subcommittee chose not to take up legislation that would have amended the constitution to automatically restore those rights after nonviolent felons pay their debt to society.

Governors Balance Pardons With Politics

Governors are more reluctant to use their pardon power in the face of heightened political scrutiny. But some still issue regular pardons.

Bucking Trend, Iowa Senator Seeks Death Penalty’s Return

Following the kidnapping and murder of two young girls, an Iowa lawmaker wants to bring back the state’s long-abolished death penalty.

Social Issues Challenge State-Federal Relationship

States have leapt ahead of Washington on key social issues, ushering in a new era of stress between the two levels of government.

Issue To Watch: Gun Regulation

Gun legislation moved to the top of the list for many state lawmakers after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December.

Colorado Preps for Recreational Marijuana

Colorado voters amended the state’s Constitution this November to legalize recreational marijuana use. That’s left the state’s established medical marijuana community apprehensive about its future.

With Quick Action, New York Enacts Tough Gun Laws

New York on Tuesday enacted a wide-ranging set of new gun laws, becoming the first state to tighten oversight in the wake of last month’s elementary school massacre in Connecticut.

Wyoming Lawmakers Seek to Block Federal Gun Restrictions

Wyoming lawmakers proposed legislation this week that would block federal restrictions on guns — any of them.

California Lawmaker Proposes New Controls on Bullet Sales

In an effort to curb gun violence, a California lawmaker has proposed legislation that would tighten oversight of bullet sales.

As Sandy Hook Students Return to School, Connecticut Governor to Launch Gun Violence Task Force

Still reeling from the elementary school massacre that shocked the nation, Connecticut has launched an expert panel that will study current policy and make recommendations on school safety, mental health and gun violence prevention, Governor Dan Malloy said Thursday.

Bullet Tax Proposal Is New Twist in Gun-Control Debate

Today’s Take: The school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut isn’t just prompting gun-control proposals. It’s generating bullet-control proposals, too.

In Massacre’s Wake, Michigan Governor Vetoes Concealed Pistol Bill

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has vetoed a bill that would have allowed concealed weapons into schools and other places that are off limits under current state law.

Report: Death Penalty Becoming “Irrelevant”

This year marked more decline in the usage of the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

U.S. Senate Committee Probes “School-to-Prison Pipeline”

Education, civil rights and public safety leaders discussed ways to dismantle the “school-to-prison pipeline” on Capitol Hill this week.

Connecticut Governor Looks Back on a Tough Two Years

Connecticut has been hit three times in the last year by natural disasters and now faces a new $415 million budget shortfall. In an interview with Stateline, the governor looks ahead and spells out how he plans to balance the budget.

Prescription Databases Weigh Public Health Against Patient Privacy

Prescription drug monitoring programs are a popular tool for states looking to combat prescription abuse, but not all databases are used the same way.

Costly Prison Phone Calls Frustrate Families

Most state prisons impose a surcharge on calls made by inmates. Many of the inmates’ families have trouble paying it.

More States Dig into Libor Scandal

As lawsuits and inquiries mount, more states are looking into the rate-rigging scandal.

D.C. Crime Lab: An Experiment in Forensic Science (Second of Two Parts)

Washington, D.C. has had its fair share of crime lab problems. Will a new agency get the District back on track?

Forensic Science Falls Short of Public Image (First of Two Parts)

Many juries depend on lab evidence to make a decision in a criminal trial. They don’t often realize how fragile the crime lab process actually is.

Courts Embrace Technology, Advocacy To Stay Afloat

Investing in technology has helped state courts to better weather the recession, according to a group of state chief justices, court administrators and legislators who met in Washington, D.C. on Thursday (November 15).

In Iowa and Florida, Judges Survive Expensive Ouster Attempts

Three justices in Florida and one in Iowa held off conservative efforts to remove them from office. In Michigan and North Carolina, conservatives retained power on the Supreme Court following expensive campaigns.

Do Police Need Search Warrants for Drug-Sniffing Dogs?

States asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to let them use drug-sniffing dogs to investigate homes and cars without warrants.

Sandusky Case Influences Pennsylvania Contest for Attorney General

Neither candidate for Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement post has anything to do with the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case. But it’s the main thing they talk about.

Oklahoma Looks for Ways to Keep Mentally Ill Ex-offenders Out of Prison

The mentally ill account for an ever-greater portion of prison populations. Oklahoma has had success in preventing former inmates with mental problems from being incarcerated again.

School Ruling Roils Race for Washington Governor

School funding is playing an outsized role in the Washington gubernatorial race, but it may be a while before new money comes from Olympia.

Pa. Legislature Passes Bill Modifying Juvenile Sentences

The Pennsylvania Legislature has sent a bill to the governor that would dramatically reduce sentences for juveniles convicted of murder, seeking to bring the state in line with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Law Enforcement Predicts Dire Impact from Automatic Cuts

Law enforcement officers fear that if the automatic funding cuts, known as sequestration, take effect on Jan.2, 2013, layoffs and program closures are sure to follow, according to a survey from the National Criminal Justice Association and the Vera Institute of Justice.

Could a Recount of Prisoners Affect Elections?

Four states now count prisoners at their last known home address rather than where they’re incarcerated. Could this affect election outcomes?

Supreme Court Considers Competency in Death Penalty Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments from Ohio and Arizona that federal judges should not be allowed to indefinitely stay a death sentence even if there are questions about an inmate’s mental competency.

Pa. Supreme Court Spares Man From Execution

In a two-sentence order released hours before Terrance Williams’ originally scheduled death by lethal injection, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the request of state prosecutors to go ahead with the execution, punishment for robbing and murdering a man who allegedly sexually abused Williams.

Kansas Attorney General Wants Return of “In Cold Blood” Evidence

Kansas Attorney General Derek Smith on Monday called for the return of the case file records, investigative reports and gruesome crime scene photographs related to the 1959 murders of Holcomb, Kansas farmer Herb Clutter, his wife and two children, the subject of Truman Capote’s classic book “In Cold Blood.”

Undocumented Immigrants to Get Driver’s Licenses in California

California may become the first U.S. state to grant driver’s licenses to some undocumented immigrants. On a mixed day for pro-immigrant advocates, Governor Jerry Brown late Sunday (September 30) signed into law legislation directing the state Department of Motor Vehicles to grant licenses to illegal immigrants w

States Still Resisting National Sex Offender Law

A 2006 federal law calls on states to create a national sex offender registry. But most have not complied, and some have stopped trying.

California Reconsiders “Three Strikes”

Voters in California will decide whether to revise the state’s “three strikes” law, largely considered to be the nation’s harshest on repeat offenders. Polling is strong for revision, but many police officers, victims’ advocates and district attorneys oppose the change.

Pa. Board Denies Clemency For Death Row Inmate Allegedly Abused by Victim

The majority vote wasn’t enough to spare Terrance Williams from his pending execution. Now, his life depends upon a last-ditch court effort in court Thursday (September 19). The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons on Monday voted 3-2 to grant clemency to the convicted murderer who was allegedly sexually abused by his vi

A Marijuana Revolt?

Colorado, Oregon and Washington voters will decide this November if they want to decriminalize and regulate marijuana production and possession, which could generate millions in state revenue. But any of these initiatives would put the states in conflict with federal law, which classifies marijuana as a controlled substance with no acceptable medical use.

In Connecticut, Death Row Inmates Get Trial on Sentencing Fairness

Seven of Connecticut’s last 11 death row inmates are challenging their sentences, saying they were arbitrarily applied and based partly on race and geography.

Cost Concerns Lead California’s Death Penalty Repeal Debate

Opponents of California’s death penalty hope that highlighting the system’s $4 billion price tag will sway a majority of voters to repeal the death penalty this November.

Can Digital Recordings Save Money for Courts?

Faced with crippling budget shortfalls, state courts are replacing in-person stenographers with digital recording systems. But do they really save money?

With New Resources, Delaware Looks to Crack Down on Child Abuse

Governor Jack Markell signed legislation aiming to boost Delaware’s ability to track child abuse — the culmination of more than two years of effort to close gaps in a system that enabled a prominent doctor to abuse children for years.

Best of #StateReads: Ex-Parks Official Had Criminal Past

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Report: Progress on Juvenile Justice, Problems Remain

A new report sees progress on juvenile justice, but problems remain.

Courts Differ on Police Use of DNA

Taking DNA samples from suspects immediately upon arrest is an increasingly common law enforcement practice. But some courts have ruled it unconstitutional.

Christie Headlines Romney Event With GOP Governors

Ten Republican governors joined Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, for a rally and fundraiser in Colorado Thursday (August 3), but most of the attention seemed focused on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Romney gave Christie, who is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick

Florida Governor Appeals Ruling On Law Barring Doctors From Asking About Guns

Governor Rick Scott has appealed a court ruling that blocked Florida from implementing a law prohibiting doctors from asking patients about guns.

Maryland Defends Strict Gun Permit Process

Maryland officials defended their strict gun permit regulations Friday by asking a federal appeals court judge to block the effects of a lower court ruling that would have loosened the state’s restrictions on obtaining concealed-carry permits.

In Massachusetts, No Signature for ‘3-Strikes’

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick says he won’t sign into law a “3-strikes” bill for criminal sentencing unless judges are granted more flexibility.

States Reconsider Juvenile Life Sentences

The Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life without parole for juveniles convicted of murder is unconstitutional. But the court left little guidance for states on what to do next.

Alabama Police Start Slowly in Enforcing Immigration Law

CLANTON, Alabama — Alabama is off to a slow start in rolling out its law requiring police to check the immigration status of suspects. But it is ahead of the other states, including Arizona, that approved similar measures.

Colorado Theater Shooting Revives Gun Rights Debate

The nation’s latest mass shooting has revived debate over its patchwork of gun laws. But advocates on both sides of the issue expect that public shock and outrage over the killing of 12 people at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater will do little to shift momentum in statehouses and on Capitol Hill toward harsher restri

Legislators Limit North Carolina’s Death Penalty Fairness Law

North Carolina’s “Racial Justice Act” was aimed at establishing fairness in capital cases. Critics complained that it obstructed justice rather than enhancing it.

Governors React Nationwide to High Court Health Ruling

Governors react to the Supreme Court's June 28 health ruling.

Courts Struggle to Maintain Safety

No one is sure why, but courthouses are becoming more dangerous every year. Better security is needed, but security isn’t cheap.

What Happens to Health Law Money Already in State Coffers?

If the high court overturns all or part of the health law, Congress could seek refunds of the nearly $14 billion in federal money already sent to states to implement it.

Mandatory Life Sentences for Juveniles Ruled Unconstitutional

Many states will have to reexamine their sentencing guidelines following a Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life sentences without parole are unconstitutional for juveniles.

All Eyes on U.S. Supreme Court

States await key decisions this week from the U.S. Supreme Court on health care, immigration and elections.

Conservative Activists Take Aim at Florida Justices

Judicial retention elections, which used to be just a formality, are becoming much more competitive and expensive. In Florida, conservative activists are targeting three members of the state’s Supreme Court.

Battle Against Stalking Escalates

Concerns over in-person and online stalking have led lawmakers to create new orders of protection. But enforcement is often up to the victims and most don’t pursue it.

Facing Off Over Funerals

A Federal judge last month ordered the Pennsylvania state board of funeral directors to rewrite their “outmoded” regulations that limited the numbers of funeral homes any one director could own, restricted the naming of homes, and prohibited funeral homes from serving food. Industry experts say the ruling could have broad implications for other states.

Registry Catalogs Over 2,000 Exonerations Nationwide

Researchers found more than 2000 wrongful convictions and exonerations from 1989-2011 in state and federal courts. But they say that these cases are just the tip of an iceberg.

More Voter ID Laws Enacted in the South

Two more Republican governors sign legislation making sure voters show proper identification before they cast their ballots.

More States Pass Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

Tennessee is the latest state set to require drug tests of those applying for welfare benefits. But while such proposals are popular in statehouses this year, their legality is still unclear.

States Have Second Thoughts About Juveniles in Adult Court

In Colorado, prosecutors have had full power to try juvenile offenders in adult courts. Now the state is restricting that power.

Alabama Immigration Debate Heats Up

While justices of the U.S. Supreme Court deliberate over the fate of Arizona’s anti-immigration law, Alabama lawmakers are deciding whether to tweak a similar they passed last year that is considered even harsher.

Should Drug Court be Mandatory?

All 50 states have embraced voluntary drug court for treating drug-addicted nonviolent offenders. Would a mandatory program help more people?

Courthouse Costs Engender Controversy

Many courthouses around the country are in dreadful physical shape. But spending the money to replace them can be a politically dicey proposition.

Drug Database Dilemma

No one disputes the need for more information about prescription drug abuse. But who should have access to the information is a divisive issue.

Immigration Law Debate Gets Preview in U.S. Senate

A Senate subcommittee heard testimony from author of Arizona’s controversial immigration law and from opponents of the law. If the Supreme Court upholds Arizona’s law, Senate Democrats threatened legislation to preempt more state immigration enforcement.