Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for University Park and eight other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in nine L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Eight neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. University Park was the most unusual, recording six reports compared with a weekly average of 1.5 over the last three months. Lake View Terrace was the lone neighborhood with a property-crime alert.
Los Angeles Times

Two wounded in South Los Angeles shooting
Two adult males were wounded Thursday afternoon in a possible drive-by shooting in South Los Angeles, authorities said. The shooting occurred about 2:30 p.m. in the 700 block of East Manchester Avenue, one block east of Avalon Boulevard, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Christopher No. He said police were notified of the incident by firefighters. A motive for the shooting was not known. The incident remains under investigation.
Los Angeles Times

Injured Torrance newspaper carriers get $40,000 for new truck
Two women injured when Los Angeles police officers mistakenly opened fire on them as they delivered newspapers in Torrance during the first chaotic hours in the hunt for ex-cop Christopher Dorner will receive $40,000 from the city to replace their bullet-riddled truck. Margie Carranza, 47, and her mother, Emma Hernandez, 71, who was shot in the back, will receive the cash following a settlement reached Thursday between their attorney, Glen Jonas, and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Woman's body found outside Northridge home
An investigation was underway Thursday after a woman's body was found in front of a Northridge home. The discovery was made about 5 p.m. Wednesday in the 10200 block of Encino Avenue, near Devonshire Street. A passerby heading north on Encino spotted the victim slumped over on the sidewalk and called 911. Paramedics responded and pronounced the woman dead at the scene. The victim - said to be 30 to 35 years old - has not been identified. There was no information about the cause of death.
Los Angeles Times

In Los Angeles, focusing on violence before it happens
In the national debate that has followed the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, much of the focus has been on regulating firearms. But many law enforcement and mental health experts believe that developing comprehensive approaches to prevention is equally important. In many cases, they note, the perpetrators of such violence are troubled young people who have signaled their distress to others and who might have been stopped had they received appropriate help.
New York Times

California lost 4,000 cops during economic downturn
Three of every four California police agencies shrunk during the last several years, collectively laying off thousands of cops, the latest FBI figures show. The number of sworn police officers in California fell from 81,286 in 2008 to 77,584 in 2011, a roughly 5 percent decline. The number of police officers per 10,000 residents shrunk by 7 percent. Police agencies also employed about 3,000, or 7 percent, fewer civilian support staff in 2011 than they did during 2008.
Sacramento Bee

LAPD, CHP crack down on St. Patrick's Day driving
The Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol are taking steps to ensure St. Patrick's Day partying does not result in dangerous roadways. The LAPD will mount additional patrols and have undercover cops selling alcohol to ensure that no one under the age of 21 is buying it and that those who are already too intoxicated do not buy more alcohol. Last year's St. Patrick's Day, the Los Angeles Police Department made 14,615 arrests for drunk driving while 2,356 car accidents involved intoxicated drivers.
ATVN

First drunk-driving conviction can cost nearly $16,000 in California
Beware of the $16,000 cocktail. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day partying, the Automobile Club of Southern California has calculated that a first-offense misdemeanor DUI conviction can now cost up to $15,649 in California. That's up 29% from 2011. The penalties are even higher for teenagers. The expense of an under-age-21 first-offense misdemeanor DUI is up to $22,492.
Los Angeles Times

Prison Realignment

San Francisco sees rise in sex offender parole violations since prison realignment
Cut the monitor and run - escaping from justice is as easy as that. Or so some paroled sex offenders think. Since state prison realignment began in October 2011, there has been a 15 percent increase in such parolees violating the terms of their release. In San Francisco, that number rose from 72 to 84 cases. Of those, 11 sex offenders were still at large as of last week, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
San Francisco Examiner

State Budget

California faces higher costs because of past furloughs, report says
The decision to furlough state employees over the last five years may have saved money in the short term but will leave bigger bills for California down the road, according to a new report. State employees took fewer and fewer vacation days because furloughs were already forcing them to take time off from work. Now California will have to pay them $3 billion for unused time off when they retire, an increase of more than $1 billion since the furloughs began.
Los Angeles Times

The Courts

Courtroom closures draw protests
Chanting "Save our courts!" dozens of people rallied in front of the Stanley Mosk courthouse in downtown Los Angeles Thursday to protest the impending closure of several courthouses throughout the county starting March 18. The Save Our Courts Coalition, made up of community groups, religious organizations, legal aid providers, labor union and court employees, demanded that the Los Angeles Superior Court cancel the closures, hold public hearings at each of the affected courthouses and find other ways to balance its budget.
Los Angeles Daily News

District Attorney Jackie Lacey: Realignment, court closures threaten justice
Los Angeles County's new chief prosecutor said Wednesday she believes courtroom closures will restrict access to justice and lead to shorter sentences for criminals. During a wide-ranging conversation with reporters at her office, District Attorney Jackie Lacey also said she plans to use a new computer system to better track offenders released through the state's "realignment" program. Lacey said courtroom closures scheduled for June, which will affect 10 community courthouses, will lead to long delays in cases and likely mean some witnesses will be reluctant or unavailable to testify.
Los Angeles Daily News