Tag Archives: DOJ

Criminal Justice—Exploring Alternatives to Prison

The federal prison population has grown from about 25,000 in 1980 to approximately 193,000 in August 2016. This expansion comes with substantial associated costs: housing, food, security, and medical care for each prisoner can cost $66 to $101 per day, … Continue reading

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FBI Face Recognition Technology

In movies and television shows, law enforcement agencies use automated face recognition to find suspects and solve crimes. Does it work that way in real life? Not quite—as Diana Maurer, a director in our Homeland Security and Justice team, explains … Continue reading

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Medical Examiners for Sexual Assault Cases (podcast)

Forensic medical examiners are among the first people that victims of sexual assault should see. These examiners can assess and treat a victim’s medical needs and collect evidence that could be used in legal proceedings. Studies have shown that more … Continue reading

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Addressing Sexual Abuse in Youth Sports Programs

Enrolling your child in a local soccer or other sports club is often a rite of passage, not to mention a great way for kids to meet friends and get some exercise. While many youth athletes have positive interactions with … Continue reading

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Tracking Criminals with GPS

What are satellites tracking? They’re probably just helping you find the closest coffee shop, track your latest workout, or arrive safely on your next flight. But for people under house arrest, on probation, or out on parole, GPS is increasingly … Continue reading

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Getting in the Weeds with Marijuana Legalization

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to pass ballot initiatives legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes under state law. The initiatives allowed for personal possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for those at least 21 years … Continue reading

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The Ins and Outs of Being Behind Bars

It doesn’t matter if orange is the new black right now—prisons will remain great fodder for television and film. Yet, what you see on the screen doesn’t always match reality. To help sort fact from fiction, today’s WatchBlog shares some … Continue reading

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What Happens to FBI Whistleblower Retaliation Complaints?

Whistleblowers play a key role in saving taxpayer money and reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government. But what happens when one faces retaliation for blowing the whistle? Today’s WatchBlog explores what we found happens to whistleblowers at … Continue reading

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GAO’s Homeland Security and Justice Team

GAO’s workforce is organized largely by subject area, with most employees working in 1 of 14 mission teams, many of which we have highlighted on the WatchBlog. Today we’ll be putting the spotlight on the Homeland Security & Justice (HSJ) … Continue reading

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Podcast on Preventing Sexual Abuse by School Personnel

Sexual abuse by school personnel is a matter of particular concern because of the trust placed in school employees. Listen to our podcast with Director Kay Brown on GAO’s recent report on federal, state and school district efforts to prevent … Continue reading

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