News · LA
Louisiana sheriff indicted after New Orleans jailbreak
Public safetyLouisiana’s attorney general says a sheriff faces 30 felony counts following a 2025 jailbreak in New Orleans.
The Ballot Louisiana DeskOct 4, 2026
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35 stories · page 1 of 2
News · CA
California bans electric shock gloves in law enforcement
Public safetyA new California law prohibits law enforcement personnel from using electric shock gloves.
The Ballot California DeskOct 4, 2026
News · HI
Jack Smith tells Senate prosecution threats will not silence him
Public safetyThe former Trump prosecutor told the Senate that the threat of prosecution would not stop him from speaking.
The Ballot Hawaii News DeskOct 3, 2026
News · IN
Indiana AG sues court commission, Lake County prosecutor
Public safetyThe lawsuit creates a court dispute among the attorney general, a state court commission and the Lake County prosecutor.
The Ballot Indiana Policy DeskOct 3, 2026
News · MS
Mississippi Democrats weigh a new Senate push
Public safetyA young district attorney is urging party leaders and donors to compete despite a Democratic drought dating to 1982.
The Ballot Mississippi DeskOct 3, 2026
News · FL
Florida governor signs warrant in prison cellmate killing
Public safetyThe governor signed a death warrant for a man who killed his cellmate while confined in a Florida state prison.
The Ballot Florida News DeskOct 2, 2026
News · CA
Newsom signs California worker protections for AI use
Public safetyThe new laws limit AI-based firing decisions, emotional monitoring and the use of AI in mass layoffs.
The Ballot California News DeskOct 2, 2026
News · AR
Arkansas launches Rapid DNA at booking stations
Public safetyThe Arkansas State Crime Laboratory has begun using Rapid DNA technology at participating booking stations, making Arkansas the third state to do so.
The Ballot Arkansas Policy DeskOct 2, 2026
News · AR
Arkansas starts Rapid DNA testing at booking stations
Public safetyThe new system can create and search DNA profiles from qualifying arrestees in about 90 minutes.
The Ballot Arkansas News DeskOct 2, 2026
News · MI
Claim targets Mike Rogers’ public safety funding votes
Public safetyThe Michigan Independent says Rogers repeatedly opposed funding measures, but the claim does not identify the bills or roll-call votes involved.
The Ballot Michigan DeskOct 1, 2026
News · CO
Colorado sues over ICE site as midterm monitoring looms
Public safetyColorado’s lawsuit over a Hudson ICE facility joins questions about midterm poll monitors and a criminal case involving a former sheriff’s deputy.
The Ballot Colorado Policy DeskOct 1, 2026
News · MD
Prosecutor flags capacity as Maryland changes youth rules
Public safetyA prosecutor is raising capacity concerns as Maryland changes rules for charging young people.
The Ballot Maryland DeskSep 30, 2026
News · MS
Mississippi AG will not seek new trial for officer
Public safetyThe attorney general will not pursue another trial for the officer in the fatal shooting of a Black motorist.
The Ballot Mississippi News DeskSep 30, 2026
News · LA
Officials announce Gator Task Force in Shreveport
Public safetyThe federal, state and local effort will focus on violent crime and gangs in Shreveport and across North Louisiana.
The Ballot Louisiana Policy DeskSep 30, 2026
News · CO
Colorado announces first medical debt law enforcement
Public safetyThe attorney general announced Colorado’s first enforcement action under the state law governing medical debt collection.
The Ballot Colorado DeskSep 29, 2026
News · MO
Andrew Bailey announces resignation from FBI
Public safetyThe former Missouri attorney general announced his departure from the federal agency; the move is not directly tied to an election.
The Ballot Missouri News DeskSep 29, 2026
News · CA
California governor signs 10 firearm-related laws
Public safetyThe governor described the 10 new laws as gun-safety measures, while Guns.com characterized them as restrictions on guns.
The Ballot California DeskSep 29, 2026
News · CA
Newsom signs California gun-safety bill package
Public safetyThe new laws address firearm storage, protective orders, state reporting, youth cases, violence prevention and 3D-printed guns.
The Ballot California DeskSep 28, 2026
News · AR
Arkansas judge rejects prison board control settlement
Public safetyThe ruling leaves in place an injunction blocking two 2023 laws that moved oversight of the corrections secretary to the governor.
The Ballot Arkansas Policy DeskSep 27, 2026
News · CA
Newsom signs California gun-safety legislation
Public safetyThe governor signed new bills focused on preventing gun violence and strengthening California’s gun-safety policies.
The Ballot California News DeskSep 27, 2026
News · AR
Arkansas judge rejects prison board control settlement
Public safetyThe ruling keeps an injunction blocking two 2023 laws that moved oversight of Arkansas’ corrections secretary from the prison board to the governor.
The Ballot Arkansas Policy DeskSep 27, 2026
News · AR
Arkansas judge keeps prison firing-power laws blocked
Public safetyA Pulaski County judge refused to lift an injunction against two laws that gave the governor authority to fire top corrections officials.
The Ballot Arkansas News DeskSep 27, 2026
News · KY
Kentucky Supreme Court to hear fight over parole change
Public safetyThe justices will consider whether a 2024 law requiring more prison time before parole eligibility can apply to people convicted earlier.
The Ballot Kentucky DeskSep 25, 2026
News · CT
Glock challenges Connecticut’s convertible-pistol ban
Public safetyThe gunmaker’s federal lawsuit disputes Connecticut’s ban on pistols that can be readily converted into machine guns.
The Ballot Connecticut Policy DeskSep 25, 2026
News · LA
Silver Alert for Longview man who may head to Louisiana
Public safetyPolice are looking for Ricky Hughes, 69, who has a cognitive impairment and was last seen at a Longview hospital.
The Ballot Louisiana News DeskSep 25, 2026
News · MA
Massachusetts man sentenced for threats against Randy Fine
Public safetyEdwin Guerrero received nine years and 11 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening Rep. Randy Fine and his children.
The Ballot Massachusetts DeskSep 24, 2026
News · VA
Virginia attorney general creates firearms enforcement unit
Public safetyThe FAIR Unit will investigate gun manufacturers and dealers and may bring civil lawsuits under Virginia’s responsible-conduct law.
The Ballot Virginia News DeskSep 18, 2026
News · FL
Florida AG proposes tougher penalties for phone and text scams
Public safetyJames Uthmeier’s proposal targets mass scam operations, fake caller identities and delayed responses to requests to stop telemarketing messages.
The Ballot Florida Policy DeskSep 18, 2026
News · MO
Kehoe orders safeguards for license plate reader data
Public safetyMissouri’s governor directed the Department of Public Safety to set statewide protections for police use of automated license plate readers.
The Ballot Missouri DeskSep 18, 2026
News · FL
Uthmeier announces abuse charges, details AI investigations
Public safetyFlorida’s attorney general announced five charges against a 34-year-old man and described the state’s use of AI in child predator investigations.
The Ballot Florida News DeskSep 17, 2026