Rina Palta Crime and Safety Reporter
Rina Palta is a Crime and Safety Reporter for KPCC.
Rina spent the past few years reporting on California's prisons, jails, and law enforcement agencies, focusing on how crime and the criminal justice system impact communities. She comes to Southern California from the Bay Area, where she launched the Informant, a digital collaboration between NPR and KALW. Her reporting there on juvenile justice earned a PASS Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.
Palta is a graduate of Haverford College and UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. In her spare time, she's a world-class eater and aspiring surfer.
Stories by Rina Palta
California 'ahead of schedule' at reducing prison population
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says they're ahead of schedule in reducing the state's prison population.
LA Unified fires teacher accused of giving students pot
Los Angeles Unified announced Tuesday they've fired an employee who allegedly smoked weed to and from a baseball game with 14-16-year-old students.
Boyle Heights car theft binge appears to be winding down
Despite otherwise average-to-low crime rates this year, the Hollenbeck division, which includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and El Sereno, is in the midst of an inexplicable car theft binge.
Why gangs are like both honeybees and lions
UCLA researchers have come up with a way of plotting street gang territories: a "mathematical model used to determine the hunting range of animals in the wild."
Assault charges for men involved in I-5 road rage video
Two men in the famous I-5 road-rage-caught-on-tape incident have been formally charged and a little more info is available from the District Attorney's office.
Sheriff's deputy sentenced in drug burrito jailhouse sting
Henry Marin, a former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, was sentenced Monday to two years in jail for trying to smuggle heroin into jail in a burrito.
No automatic life without parole for juveniles
The Supreme Court has ruled that almost all people convicted of crimes as juveniles should be allowed a chance at parole.
LA Sheriff's department looking for a few good women
The goal is to reach 20 percent female staffing levels at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Bryan Stow beating suspects plead not guilty
The trial could be lengthy.
Two men in custody in apparent road rage fight video
The California Highway Patrol says that two men involved in the viral video of an apparent road-rage-inspired fight on the I-5 last week are in custody.
El Monte man died after altercation with police
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has released information on 37-year-old Khoa Anh Le, who died June 14 after an altercation with El Monte Police.
Apparent road-rage fight on I-5 caught on video
A video released Tuesday by LiveLeaks appears to show a road-rage incident, turned fight, turned beating, on the I-5 north.
Police release 911 tape from Rodney King death
Rialto Police have released a tape of the 911 call Cynthia Kelley placed after her fiance, Rodney King apparently fell into his backyard pool and drowned.
For 1st time, US Senate takes up prison solitary confinement
The hearing came just a day after inmates at the federal supermax prison filed a class action lawsuit.
Family of Abdul Arian, killed by LAPD, sues for $120 million
The family's attorney, Jeffrey Galen, said it was the worst case of excessive force he's seen in his 25-year career and that more accountability is needed.
