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
Initiative to change Three Strikes certified for ballot
Come November, Californians will revisit one of the most controversial criminal laws of all time in the state: Three Strikes.
Bill that would widen media access to prisons advances
A bill that supporters say would make California's prison system more transparent passed its first stop on a potentially long journey.
LAPD fired less lethal rounds at rowdy Kings fans
Though Kings victory celebrations were generally pretty tame last night, one incident ended in police using foam rubber baton rounds to send celebrants scattering.
Sick and dying inmates expensive for county jails
LA had 10 jail inmates that cost the county $908,312 between October 2011 and April 2012, according to a report by the Bay Citizen.
FBI: Preliminary data show violent crime down in 2011
Initial findings from the annual Uniform Crime Report are out, and appear to contain good news: violent crime went down 4 percent in 2011 nationwide.
Arizona is the new medical marijuana 'it' state
California has long seen itself as a pioneer in medical marijuana, but with the industry in disarray, key localities like LA are not stepping up to the challenge.
Defendants will stand trial in Bryan Stow beating case
After six days of witness testimony and multiple jailhouse recordings, a judge Friday ordered Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood to stand trial.
Dodger Stadium beating suspects ordered to stand trial
Both suspects in the Bryan Stow case have been ordered to stand trial for assault and battery in the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Stow at Dodger Stadium.
Bryan Stow case: Defendant aggressive if drunk, sister says
Dorene Sanchez testified in the hearing that will decide whether her brother, Louie Sanchez, and her fiancé, Marvin Norwood, will face trial for assault and mayhem.
Witness IDs Bryan Stow beating suspects from the stand
This morning, the court heard testimony from Mary Dolores Donley, who said she was parked near the spot where Bryan Stow fell to the ground.
PEW: Long prison terms not worth the money
On Wednesday, the PEW Center on the States released a study centered around a surprising fact: states now spend $51 billion a year on corrections.
Bryan Stow's friend testifies about day of beating
Corey Maciel paused to collect himself while testifying in the preliminary hearing that will determine whether there’s enough evidence to send suspects to trial.
Police asking for help finding killer of Watts child
Angel Cortez was fatally shot while in his father's arms Monday night, near the corner of 105th and Hickory Streets in South Los Angeles.
City Council revokes permit for Skid Row hotel
The Los Angeles City Council revoked the operating permit for the Travelers Hotel. Meanwhile, the property's owners and operators vowed to sue the city.
Skid Row hotel faces shutdown over prostitution, drug claims
The Travelers has been the “ugliest wart” in a neighborhood full of warts for decades. Now it faces shutdown.
