Wander off. Older people are increasingly running into problems with the police. Our analysis found that arrests of people over 65 grew by nearly 30% between 2000 and 2020 — at a time when overall arrests were falling sharply. Police are often called to track down a loved one with dementia, but their interactions can escalate when the person is confused or can’t follow an officer’s instructions. Many police departments have developed policies for mental health calls; not many give guidance on responding to people with dementia. Christie Thompson has our fascinating and heart-breaking story, published in partnership with USA Today.

Seven years. That’s how long it took the New York City Department of Corrections to fire a corrections officer accused of carrying on a months-long sexual liaison with a woman detained at Rikers Island. Though the woman initially described the interaction as consensual, such relationships are banned, and experts say the power balance makes them inherently coercive. And in this case, the officer was also accused of pressuring the victim to cover up her rape by another Rikers guard. The detainee, who asked not to be named, hailed the firing despite the years-long delay. “I’m a nobody, but somebody actually believed my words,” she told us. The Marshall Project’s Keri Blakinger, in partnership with Reuven Blau at The City, has our story.

Driving while Black. Black residents of Cleveland’s East Side have been saying for years that driving through the White suburb of Bratenahl was a bad idea. Our data shows they were painfully right. At least 60% of the drivers cited for traffic violations since 2020 were Black, according to an investigation from The Marshall Project-Cleveland. And the village of Bratenahl is about 75% White. The Marshall Project’s Mark Puente, Cid Standifer, and Stan Donaldson Jr. have more on this story, co-launched with News 5 Cleveland.

P.S. If you forgot to make a gift on Giving Tuesday, don’t worry! You can still donate today to have your gift matched — and receive one of our stylish, members-only tote bags.

With my best wishes,

Carroll