Crime News
The Daily Signal reports on crime news with analysis and commentary on policies, crime rates, and policing debates.
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- Opinion
The Justice Department’s Latest Misbehavior
For the past decade, John Fund, J. Christian Adams, and I have been writing about the misbehavior, unethical conduct, and lack of professionalism exhibited by lawyers inside the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department, including the Voting Section. The situation apparently has not improved, given the serious accusations of unprofessional conduct made by…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
How Local Citizens Can Take Up the Fight Against Public Corruption
We hear it all the time from politicians: They are finally going to stop the “waste, fraud, and abuse” in government. In states with more corruption, like Pennsylvania, New York, or Illinois, calls to clean up government are frequent as well. The problem is that these promises rarely come to fruition. This week—Sunshine Week—is a…Brandon Muir -
- Opinion
Jeff Sessions’ Speech to Law Enforcement Signals Tough Approach to Violent Crime
Earlier this morning in Richmond, Virginia, Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke to a gathering of law enforcement leaders from across the country to lay out the Department of Justice’s agenda for addressing the surge in violent crime affecting the nation. While acknowledging that crime rates remain near historic lows, Sessions correctly pointed out that over…Scott Erickson -
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- News
Father Gives Heartbreaking Plea on Anniversary of His Son’s Murder by an Illegal Immigrant
The father of a high school football player killed by an illegal immigrant spoke about how the media ignores the victims of those crimes. Jamiel Shaw Sr., a guest at President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday, spoke on the anniversary of his son, Jamiel Jr.'s, death. Shaw mentioned how the media ignores these crimes and…Amber Randall -
- News
Trump’s Opportunity to Work With Congress to Scrap Unneeded Criminal Laws, Rules
In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump spoke eloquently Tuesday night about the need to “break the cycle” of violence and poverty, Heritage Foundation legal expert John Malcolm observes. “Combating this problem,” Malcolm writes, “will be one of the president’s greatest challenges, and his success will have much to…John-Michael Seibler -
- Opinion
How Tennessee Criminalized Compassion for Animals
Giving physical therapy to animals usually isn’t too controversial, but apparently in Tennessee, it is. A Tennessee licensing board has threatened to criminally prosecute two women for nothing more than helping horses through massage therapy. Their case shows just how asinine state occupational licensing laws can be: While the applicable regulatory scheme forbids their current…David Rosenthal -
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How Trump Proposes to Help Victims of Crimes by Illegal Immigrants
With family members of three Americans killed by illegal immigrants looking on, President Donald Trump on Tuesday night used his address to Congress to bring attention to his plan for an office to help victims of crimes committed by those not authorized to be in the country. “I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security…Josh Siegel -
- News
One County Saw a 27% Drop in Assaults After It Helped Enforce Immigration Law. Here’s the Rest of the Story.
In July 2007, the elected board of a growing county in Northern Virginia adopted a controversial resolution requiring the police department to partner with the federal government to help deport illegal immigrants. Corey Stewart, the Republican elected the year before as chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, ran on a platform of…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
How Trump’s DOJ Can Start Enforcing Federal Marijuana Law
On Thursday last week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he “believe[s] that we will see greater enforcement” of the federal laws against recreational marijuana. While he acknowledged that the question to which he was responding was better directed to the Department of Justice, Spicer said that state legalization of recreational marijuana “is something…Cully Stimson -
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Trump Wants Justice Department to Investigate Leakers. How That Works.
Frustrated by a proliferation of leaks early in his administration, President Donald Trump last week said he directed the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation. “I’ve actually called the Justice Department to look into the leaks,” Trump said during a 75-minute news conference at the White House. “Those are criminal leaks.” The spotlight…Josh Siegel -
- News
Congressional Aides in Criminal Probe Owed Money to Hezbollah-Connected Fugitive
Congressional aides suspected of criminally misusing their access to House computer systems owed $100,000 to an Iraqi politician who is wanted by U.S. authorities and has been linked to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Middle Eastern terrorist outfit. Imran Awan and four of his relatives were employed as information technology aides by dozens of House Democrats, including…Luke Rosiak -
- News
Trump Targets Criminals, Late Arrivals in Immigration Enforcement
The Department of Homeland Security will make prioritization key in its beefed-up enforcement of the border and the interior of the country—removing criminals first, while more recent arrivals will also face expedited removal. However, critics call it “mass deportation” that will face a legal challenge. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly released implementation memos to agencies…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Why the Assault on Campus Free Speech Threatens Our Republic
It’s no secret that free speech is increasingly under threat on U.S. college campuses. A number of University of Chicago activist groups, including U of C Resist and UChicago Socialists, demanded that the university rescind its offer for Corey Lewandowski to speak on campus. In a letter sent to campus officials, students felt that any dialogue…Roger Ream -
- Opinion
The Real Crime in the Michael Flynn Saga
Washington is abuzz with the saga of former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s resignation, the Russia connection, and the melodrama of who knew what, when, and what they did about it. There are, to be sure, myriad aspects of this story that will consume the media, the Hill, civil society, and the like for a…Cully Stimson -
- Opinion
The Truth About Sanctuary Cities and Crime Rates
If restricting local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests is supposed to make communities safer, as some immigration advocates and law enforcement officials suggest, I’d like to hear them reconcile their beliefs with the actions of Texas’ Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez. Hernandez, sworn in as the newly elected…Scott Erickson -
- Opinion
No Excuse for Congress Not to Pass Criminal Code Reforms So Innocent Americans Don’t Get Punished
Contrary to recent calumnies that “criminal justice reform is dead,” the 115th Congress has the means, backed up by bipartisan and public support, to continue its work to address problems in the federal criminal code. Only Congress can enact much-needed mens rea (Latin for “guilty mind”) reform and address overcriminalization, the overuse of criminal laws…John-Michael Seibler -
- Opinion
How White Liberals Enable Crime in Black Communities
Ordinary black people cannot afford to go along with the liberal agenda that calls for undermining police authority. That agenda makes for more black crime victims. Let’s look at what works and what doesn’t work. In 1990, New York City adopted the practice in which its police officers might stop and question a pedestrian. If…Walter E. Williams -
- News
Senate Confirms Jeff Sessions as Attorney General
The Senate voted 52-47 Wednesday night to confirm Jeff Sessions, a longtime U.S. senator and former federal prosecutor, as the nation’s 84th attorney general. Only one Democrat, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, joined Republicans in confirming Sessions, who voted “present.” Sessions, a Republican representing Alabama in the Senate since 1997, will take over a Justice…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
When Sending People to Jail, Criminal Intent Matters
Can a person go to jail for a crime that he had no intent to commit, and that the government admits he did not know would occur? Jack and Peter DeCoster, father and son executives of the Quality Egg business, have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider their jail sentences for a crime committed…David Rosenthal