The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "drug courts" ...
-
What Killed Brian Lykins
CBS 60 Minutes II reports on dangers of tissue transplants. The story focuses on the case of Brian Lykins, a healthy 23-old, who has died from a routine knee surgery after a gangrene-like infection. The main finding: the infection was caused by contaminated tissue supplied by Cryolife, a company that had known of dangers of contamination for at least four years and had settled previous cases of deaths out of court.
Tags: doctors; Food and Drug administration (FDA); tissue processing; health; safety; TAPE; TRANSCRIPT
-
Baby Deaths
WBFF investigates how Social Services fails to protect children in Baltimore. The story reveals that in the vast majority of baby death cases Social Services caseworkers were aware of the problems in the families where children died. "Many times, Social services had returned the child to the home where he/she was killed."
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; court records; manslaughter; homicides; neglect; abuse; drug addicts; FOI
-
Who's driving the bus?
WITI found that because of a gaping hole in state law, murderers, sex offenders, drug dealers, and other convicted felons are legally driving Wisconsin school buses.
Tags: Department of Transportation; Wisconsin Supreme Court; bus drivers; criminal background; Milwaukee Public Schools; TAPE; TV; TRANSCRIPT; CAR
-
"A Hard Hit," "Living in Exile," "Trick of the Trade," "Between Rock and a Hard Place," "Trial and Tribulations"
Westword investigates crime in Colorado in a series of stories. The first profiles "Eric Scott, a former street kid turned mid-level marijuana dealer who ran a de facto homeless shelter out of his home. " The second article looks at a fierce crusade to prosecute violators of firearm laws. The third story reports on street prostitution along Colfax Boulevard in central Denver. The fourth story investigates crack cocaine trade in Denver's notorious Five Points district. The fifth story reports on a former Afghan Army officer who was charged with sexual assault.
Tags: drugs; gun control; Columbine shooting; police; courts; law enforcement
-
Teens Who Kill
The Sun investigates increase in juvenile crime in San Bernardino County. The main findings: teen arrest rate is double the state average, and more and more high-profile murders have been committed by youngsters. "The stories document the impact of family dysfunction, drugs and poverty in turning kids into killers," according to The Sun contest questionnaire.
Tags: police; law enforcement; juvenile justice; courts; gangs; shootings; youth violence
-
How Companies Stall Generics and Keep Themselves Healthy
The New York Times examined court records and other public documents in Washington and other states and interviewed regulators and drug company executives with a particular focus on Hytrin. The review showed how efforts to extend a profitable drub's monopoly, as much as the pursuit of scientific discoveries, drive decisions in one of the world's most lucrative, and secretive, industries.
Tags: generics; pharmaceuticals; drug; generic drugs
-
Juvenile Justice
Tulsa World reports on how Oklahoma juvenile criminals are evaluated, treated and returned to society. The findings are based on public records, court databases and "unprecedented access to the juvenile court and treatment process," the authors report. One story describes a highly successful program, called STARS, for troubled youth. Another part of the series looks at the process of establishing a juvenile sex offender registry. Branstetter and Morgan conclude that " a brush with the law usually is enough to redirect a teenager in trouble."
Tags: CAR; crime; sex offenders; children; teenagers; probation; law enforcement; police; judges; prosecutors; drugs; alcohol abuse
-
Justice Not served
WITI-TV reports on a breakdown in Milwaukee County's criminal justice system, which has allowed thousands of convicted criminals to escape their court-ordered punishments in the last decade. The investigation began when WITI reporters came across a number of court files that were missing the so-called "fine and cost commitment," an important part of the paperwork. Clerical errors and staffing shortages caused for the county to lose millions of dollars in uncollected fine revenue. County officials have been aware of the problem for years but did nothing to fix it. Meanwhile, thousands of drunk drivers, drug dealers, and even attempted murderers served no jail time.
Tags: courts; judges; crime; police; drunk driving; arrests; computers; software; court filing system
-
Kids In Prison
A Miami Herald investigation on the effects of Florida's tough law addressing juvenile crime shows "a punishment system gone awry." The series examines how, rather than deterring juvenile crime, the state's policies seem to be encouraging it. "Instead of targeting violent criminals, the crackdown is falling hardest on nonviolent offenders - those convicted of burglary, theft and drug charges," the Miami Herald reports. The investigation is based on the analysis of databases of inmates, assaults against youth offenders in Florida's adult prisons, and recidivism records. The data shows that, after being released from prison, most young offenders become hardened criminals.
Tags: CAR; crime; FOI requests; corrections; children; teenagers; assaults; courts; judges
-
East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Drug Court Program
The Advocate reports on how federal grants have been recklessly spent by the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Justice Court on high executive salaries. The stories reveal that the Straight and Narrow Drug Treatment Center, one of about 30 drug courts in the state, has failed to effectively supervise the drug-addicted children who graduated from the program. The investigation finds that the key players behind the faulty drug treatment programs - including two judges, an attorney and his roommate - are entangled in bizarre legal accusations of sexual harassment and racially motivated attacks.
Tags: courts; minorities; racial problems; drugs; federal funds; drug addicts; sexual harassment; public records; conflicts of interests