Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs aim to reduce criminal involvement and connect people to care.

Tough on crime prosecutors are going after criminals they say are using California’s mental health system as a “get out of ...

Press releases are posted on Independent.com as a free community service. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 16, 2026 – The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is joining the California District ...

Machete in hand, Gamaliel Camarena sliced the back of a man who managed to escape by ducking into a donut shop and barring the door. When Camarena couldn’t get at his victim, he then hacked away at a ...