Source: NPR
The state of California has banned prosecution fees for misdemeanor crimes after a report detailed their prevalence within the state.
Governor Jerry Brown made the fees illegal after a team of reporters for The Desert Sun found that some citizens were billed thousands of dollars after taking plea deals.
According to the journal’s reports, citizens were charged after paying initial fines to settle their disputes.
The newspaper is being praised for its coverage of local, citizen-based issues that are often ignored by larger media outlets.
“If we lose papers like The Desert Sun, there’s just not going to be journalistic institutions to find these things in your neighborhood,” said journalist Brett Kelman.
Read Full Story: NPR