How we report
Where facts come from
Every story starts with a source pack: agency press releases, court filings, public missing person records, and reporting from established local news outlets. We don’t build stories from rumors or social media posts.
Every fact in a story is tied to a source. The sources are listed and numbered at the bottom of each story, so you can read them yourself. When a link might disappear, we save an archived copy and link to that too.
How we write about people who are accused
Someone charged with a crime is “accused” or “charged with” it until a court convicts them. If charges are dropped or a jury acquits, we say so near the top of the story.
We only name people in a role that official records or court filings give them. If police never called someone a suspect, we don’t either. We never hint that a person who wasn’t charged did it.
When we give an opinion, we label it as ours and show the facts it’s based on.
What we won’t publish
- Crime scene photos.
- Private photos of victims, unless their family gives permission.
- The names of minors accused of crimes, unless they were charged as adults and named by the court.
- The names of sexual assault victims, unless they chose to speak publicly.
- Mugshots of people who weren’t convicted, unless the agency released the photo and it’s directly part of the news.
Stories that describe violence against a child or sexual violence carry a content note at the top.
How we fix mistakes
If we get something wrong, we fix the story, add a dated note to its update log, and list the fix on our corrections page. We don’t quietly change facts.
When a case changes, like new charges, dropped charges or an overturned conviction, we update the story within a week.
Family members can ask for a correction or for a photo to be removed. We answer those requests personally.
How we use tools
We use AI tools to help organize research and draft from the sources we collect. A person checks every fact against its source before a story goes up, and cuts anything that can’t be checked.
Who to contact
To report a mistake or suggest a case, use the suggestion form. If you have information about a crime, don’t send it to us. Call the agency handling the case, or 911 if someone is in danger.