When there’s a bad shooting by police, local prosecutors seldom take action. Federal prosecutors can step in, but they rarely do. Why? And even when they do, why do they lose these cases so often?

Mark Kappelhoff is clinical professor of law at the University of Minnesota, and served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

Find more at criminalinjusticepodcast.com.

For too long, the police "warrior" culture has relied on the use of force as its ultimate tool. But one high-ranking veteran officer and his colleagues have re-imagined police work: they give everyone unconditional respect. And it works.

Capt. Charles "Chip" Huth is a commander in the Central Patrol Division of the Kansas City (MO) Police Department, and the co-author of Unleashing the Power of Unconditional Respect: Transforming Law Enforcement and Police Training (2010).

Find more at criminalinjusticepodcast.com.

Racial bias in the criminal justice system isn't just about old-school bigots. The real problem is unconscious bias in the minds of most of us, including police. How does this impact life-and-death police work?

Melba Pearson is Assistant District Attorney in Miami-Dade, Florida, and President of the National Black Prosecutors Association.

Find more at criminalinjusticepodcast.com.

Sometimes a local law enforcement agency is so dysfunctional that the federal government has to get involved. What does a top-to-bottom overhaul of an entire police department look like?

Sam Walker is Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska, and a leading expert on police accountability. 

Find more at criminalinjusticepodcast.com.