The Idaho State Police have entered a new agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows state officers to assist in deporting individuals who have completed criminal sentences and lack legal immigration status. Under the federal 287(g) program, Idaho will bypass the standard release process and instead transport these individuals directly from state…
Earlier in 2025, Idaho legislators passed a bill allowing the death penalty in cases of aggravated lewd conduct involving children under the age of 12, despite a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that such punishments for non-homicide crimes are unconstitutional. The law, set to take effect in July, introduces a new offense—aggravated lewd conduct under…
In a significant but narrow ruling, an Idaho state judge slightly broadened access to abortion in the state by clarifying that a woman doesn’t have to be on the brink of death to qualify for an abortion under Idaho’s near-total ban. Judge Jason D. Scott ruled that doctors can legally perform an abortion if they…
The use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations has long been considered a hallmark of modern forensics, offering a powerful tool for linking suspects to crime scenes. However, the growing reliance on touch-transfer DNA—genetic material left behind on surfaces and objects through casual contact—has raised significant concerns within the forensic community. While it can help…
A new immigration bill in Idaho, House Bill 83, is set to move to the House floor after approval from the State Affairs Committee. This bill, devised to regulate unauthorized immigration, classifies a first offense as a misdemeanor and a second offense as a felony. Proponents claim law enforcement would only be allowed to enforce…