Kansas criminal justice

A Wyandotte County judge agreed with criticisms of the death penalty, but he said the case was invalid because both defendants no longer face capital punishment.

A proposed state constitutional amendment would require Kansas Supreme Court justices to be elected rather than appointed by the governor.

28-year-old Natalie Zarate spent two decades working towards becoming a citizen after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally as a child. Except now she worries that the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to crack down on immigration and end birthright citizenship could endanger her and her family.

Republicans in the Kansas Legislature are pushing a resolution that would put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot in August 2026, that would require Kansas Supreme Court justices to be elected by the popular vote.

Kansas is facing a crisis when it comes to defending accused criminals who cannot afford their own attorneys. A shrinking number of rural attorneys is making it harder. If the problem is not addressed there is a risk that courts will throw out criminal cases.

The Kansas Legislature didn’t approve money for additional public defenders, but it did support pay raises.

Legislators have discussed multiple proposals to change the state’s reliance on fines and fees. Some want the state to make even broader changes.

Bills on drug sentencing, probation and marijuana possession stalled in the Kansas Legislature this year. Instead, lawmakers continue to consider...

Kansas prisons spend almost four times as much on overtime pay as they did six years ago. The state paid out more than $8.2 million on overtime in...

An appeal filed by a Kansas man on death row has caught the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court and could change how Kansas and other states prosecute...