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DC forensic lab under scrutiny after evidence errors discovered in murder cases 11/02/2020 04:25am • The Firearms Examination Unit houses the guns it collects from crimes inside the city’s department of forensics. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty) Federal prosecutors in D.C. have opened a sweeping audit into the handling of ballistics evidence by the District’s forensic lab after the discovery of a bot US marshals recover 27 missing children in Virginia 10/31/2020 04:07am • WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice said federal marshals have recovered 27 children reported as missing throughout the state of Virginia. A news release on Friday announced the completion of a five-day law enforcement effort, dubbed “Operation Find Our Children." The departme Pennsylvania man charged with Potomac home arson 10/29/2020 08:13am • A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on murder and arson charges for allegedly setting a Potomac, Maryland, home on fire Monday night. Montgomery County fire personnel responded to 11132 Korman Drive, near Kilgour Branch Stream Valley Park, around 10:45 p.m. Monday. They found a vehicle on fire i 'Out of whack': Va. lawmakers vote to end jury sentences in criminal trials 10/24/2020 08:29pm • Virginia lawmakers have voted to change a 224-year-old jury sentencing law, with the hope of ensuring defendants can choose a jury trial without facing the likelihood of a stiffer punishment if convicted. Currently, Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states that mandate if a defendant or pros An alternative to jail for defendants with mental illness in Fairfax County 10/23/2020 09:49am • Virginia — like many states — has a high percentage of jail inmates who have mental illness, and Fairfax County is trying to reduce that number, administer justice after an arrest and keep mentally ill inmates from being re-arrested and returning to jail. Last year, after getting approval fro Maryland corrections officers charged in smuggling case 10/21/2020 05:30pm • BALTIMORE — Three corrections officers and four detainees at Baltimore’s state-run, federal jail have been indicted by a federal grand jury after prosecutors say an investigation revealed ongoing smuggling of drugs, cellphones and other contraband. The Baltimore Sun reports the U.S. Departmen Virginia legislators advance police and criminal justice reform measures 10/19/2020 12:40pm • RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia General Assembly wrapped up the agenda this month for the special session that began Aug. 18. Legislators introduced over 50 police and criminal justice reform bills during the session. Gov. Ralph Northam called the session to update the state budget and to address Former Md. corrections officer pleads guilty to racketeering conspiracy charge 10/17/2020 10:13am • A former correctional officer at a maximum-security prison in Jessup, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering conspiracy charge, the United States Attorney's Office announced Friday. Chanel Pierce, 27, of Pikesville pleaded guilty to a charge of federal racketeering conspiracy in c Arlington man gets 15 years for coercion and sexual abuse of a child 10/17/2020 01:32am • An Arlington, Virginia, man was sentenced in federal court to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. Court documents say that Jose Parra-Camargo, 45, coerced and enticed a girl in the Richmond area for sex several times in 2016 and 2017 over the app Kik. Parra-Camargo told Montgomery Co. police see different types of crime committed during pandemic 10/16/2020 10:49pm • In Montgomery County, Maryland, there was a sharp drop in crime calls when the coronavirus pandemic started. Then, police began seeing changes in the types of calls compared to a typical year. "Most of our crime categories are down, other than homicide, and our aggravated assaults are up, as well Fairfax Co. prosecutor explains decision against murder charges in Bijan Ghaisar case 10/16/2020 11:29am • After an almost three year investigation and cries for justice in the 2017 shooting of unarmed driver Bijan Ghaisar, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano said Thursday's indictments of two U.S. Park Police officers for manslaughter and reckless use of a firearm fit the crimes in the Twin sisters seek charges in brother's 2002 Montgomery County killing 10/14/2020 10:50pm • Twin sisters have gone to Montgomery County, Maryland, District Court to seek murder charges against three people they believe are responsible for the death of their brother 18 years ago. The family of Tylandis Cortez Washington is frustrated that years of police investigations have failed to pro Poll shows Marylanders on board with police reform 10/12/2020 05:21am • This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. As Maryland legislative committees craft comprehensive police reform packages for the 2021 General Assembly session, they appear to have s The Hunt: ISIS fighters brought to US to face justice 10/07/2020 07:12pm • Two ISIS fighters appeared in a Virginia court Wednesday to face charges related to the deaths of four American citizens. In this week's edition of "The Hunt with WTOP national security correspondent J.J. Green", G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, talked a Howard County Council votes to end ICE contract, faces veto from executive 10/06/2020 03:07pm • Supporters of a bill to end Howard County's contract with ICE in front of the George Howard building in Ellicott City Monday night. Photo by Horus Alas. This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscr