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Resources for Public Safety Reporting

This resource bank was designed to support journalists in the many newsrooms across the country who are moving away from episodic crime coverage in favor of a more robust public safety beat. Below you will find dozens of sources of information about traditionally overlooked public safety issues, like wage theft, housing discrimination, air and water pollution, price fixing, building code violations, tax evasion, and crimes committed by prison guards, prosecutors, and police. Each is tagged by resource type (reports, press releases, databases, etc...), agency/organization type (governmental, non-profit, etc...), and coverage area (national, state, etc...). 

Issue Resource Resource Type Agency/Org Agency/Org Type Coverage Area
Workplace Violations 10(j) Injunctions
Searchable database National Labor Relations Board Governmental National
Housing Violations Austin 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Austin Governmental Austin, TX
Housing Violations Baltimore City Open Violation Notices
Searchable database Baltimore City Governmental Baltimore, MD
Environmental Hazards Blood Lead Surveillance Data 
Searchable database The Center for Disease Control Governmental National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Board of Corrections Reports
Reports New York City Government Governmental New York City
Housing Violations Boston 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Boston Governmental Boston, MA
Corporate Crime CA Reports and statistics
Reports Department of Industrial Relations Governmental California
Wage Theft CA Wage Claim Search
Searchable database Department of Industrial Relations Governmental California
Environmental Hazards | Workplace Violations Chemical Exposure Health Data
Searchable database U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Housing Violations Chicago 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Chicago Governmental Chicago, IL
Housing Violations Cincinnati 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Cincinnati Governmental Cincinnati, OH
Housing Violations Cincinnati Code Enforcement Data
Searchable database City of Cincinnati Governmental Cincinnati, OH
Housing Violations Civil Justice Data Commons
Searchable database Georgetown University Justice Lab Non-Profit National
Wage Theft Community Protection Division
Contact information District Attorney Governmental Boulder, CO
Wage Theft Compliance Action Data
Individual-level data set U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Governmental National
Environmental Hazards Consumer Safety News Releases
Press releases US Consumer Product Safety Commission Governmental National
Housing Violations Contact Information for Local Public Housing Agencies
Searchable database Department of Housing and Urban Development Governmental National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Correctional Association of New York Press Releases
Press releases Correctional Association of New York Governmental New York State
Wage Theft D.C. Wage Theft Lawsuits
Press releases Office of the Attorney General Governmental Washington, DC
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Detention Facilities Oversight Board
Contact information | Meeting minutes | Press releases St. Louis Government Governmental St. Louis, Missouri
Workplace Violations EBSA Enforcement Data
Individual-level data set U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration Governmental National
Workplace Violations Enforcement Cases with Initial Penalties of $40,000 or Above
Searchable database U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Environmental Hazards Environmental Justice Screening & Mapping Tool
Interactive mapping tool Environmental Protection Agency Governmental National
Environmental Hazards Environmental Working Group Tap Water Database
Articles | Contact information | Searchable database Environmental Working Group Non-Profit National
Corporate Crime | Environmental Hazards EPA Civil Cases & Settlements
Searchable database The Environmental Protection Agency Governmental National
Environmental Hazards EPA Enforcement & Compliance History
Searchable database The Environmental Protection Agency Governmental National
Workplace Violations Equal Opportunity Employment Commission News
Press releases US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission Governmental National
Workplace Violations Establishment Search
Searchable database U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Workplace Violations Establishment Specific Injury and Illness Data
Individual-level data set U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Workplace Violations Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries
Searchable database U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Workplace Violations Fatality Inspection Data
Searchable database U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Governmental Fraud Filings & Financial Information of Public Companies & Funds
Searchable database US Securities and Exchange Commission Governmental National
Environmental Hazards Georgia Drinking Water 
Contact information | Data | Press releases Georgia Division of Environmental Protection Governmental Georgia
Workplace Violations Graphs & Data
Data tables National Labor Relations Board Governmental National
Housing Violations Housing Justice League Tenant Associations
Contact information Housing Justice League Non-Profit Atlanta, GA
Housing Violations Houston 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Houston Governmental Houston, TX
Environmental Hazards Humane Handling Data
Searchable database USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service Governmental National
Wage Theft Illegal Worker Misclassification: Payroll Fraud in the District’s Construction Industry 
Reports Office of the Attorney General Governmental Washington, DC
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Jail Oversight Board
Contact information | Press releases Alleghany County Government Governmental Alleghany County, PA
Housing Violations Kansas City 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Kansas City Governmental Kansas City, MO
Environmental Hazards Meat, Poultry, & Egg Contaminants
Searchable database US Department of Agriculture Governmental National
Housing Violations Miami 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Miami Governmental Miami, FL
Environmental Hazards Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy
Searchable database | Water testing resources State of Michigan Governmental National
Environmental Hazards Millions Served by Water Systems Detecting Lead
Searchable map National Resource Defense Council Non-Profit National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Monthly Outcome Reports
Reports Washington State Office of the Corrections Omsbudsman Governmental Washington
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Monthly Reports
Reports Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission Governmental Hawaii
Workplace Violations MSHA Enforcement Data
Individual-level data set U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Environmental Hazards Multisystem Water Safety Data
Searchable database The Environmental Protection Agency Governmental National
Housing Violations Nashville 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of Nashville Governmental Nashville, TN
Environmental Hazards Nevada Lead Compliance Data
Contact information | Searchable database Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Governmental Nevada
Housing Violations New York City Eviction Crisis Monitor
Searchable database Right to Counsel NYC Coalition Non-Profit NYC
Corporate Crime NY White Collar Crime
Press releases District Attorney Governmental New York County, NY
Housing Violations NYC 311 Service Request Database
Searchable database City of New York Governmental NYC
Housing Violations NYC Eviction Tracker
Searchable database New York City Council Governmental NYC
Housing Violations NYC Housing Maintenance Code Violations
Searchable database City of New York Governmental NYC
Workplace Violations OFCCP Compliance Evaluation and Complaint Investigation Data
Individual-level data set U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Governmental National
Housing Violations Oklahoma Eviction Tracker 
Searchable database Open Justice Oklahoma Non-Profit Oklahoma
Workplace Violations OSHA Enforcement Data
Individual-level data set U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Pennsylvania Prison Society News and Resources
Press releases | Searchable database Pennsylvania Prison Society Non-Profit Pennsylvania
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Police Scorecard
Reports Police Scorecard.org Non-Profit National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Police Shootings Database
Searchable database The Washington Post Non-Profit National
Environmental Hazards Press Releases
Press releases National Labor Relations Board Governmental National
Workplace Violations Recent Charges and Petitions Filings
Searchable database National Labor Relations Board Governmental National
Housing Violations Recent Press Releases on Federal Housing Policy Change
Press releases Department of Housing and Urban Development Governmental National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Reports
Reports Texas Commission on Jail Standards Governmental Texas
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials Reports and Inspections
Reports | Searchable database New Jersey Office of the Corrections Omsbudsperson Governmental New Jersey
Housing Violations San Francisco Eviction Tracker
Searchable database City and County of San Fransisco Governmental San Fransisco, CA
Housing Violations San Francisco Housing & Building Violations
Searchable database City and County of San Fransisco Governmental San Fransisco, CA
Consumer Fraud Scam Tracker
Searchable database Better Business Bureau Non-Profit National
Housing Violations Seattle Building & Property Complaints 
Searchable database City of Seattle Governmental Seattle, WA
Workplace Violations Severe Injury Reports
Individual-level data set U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Governmental National
Governmental Fraud | Workplace Violations State Consumer Protection Offices
Contact information USA.Gov Governmental National
Workplace Violations State Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities
Data tables U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Governmental National
Environmental Hazards Summary of Criminal Prosecutions
Searchable database US Environmental Protection Agency Governmental National
Housing Violations Tenants Together 
Contact information | Press releases California Non-Profit California
Housing Violations Tenants Union Washington State 
Contact information The Tenants Union Non-Profit Washington State
Housing Violations The Cost of Eviction Calculator
Calculator | Searchable database Innovation for Justice Non-Profit National
Environmental Hazards The Lead Map
Searchable map | Water testing resources Tap Score Non-Profit National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials The US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General
Press releases US Department of Justice Governmental National
Crimes Committed by Police, Prosecutors, and Other Criminal Legal Officials The US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General
Reports US Department of Justice Governmental National
Housing Violations Tracking Tenant Unions
Contact information Autonomous Tenants Union Network Non-Profit National
Environmental Hazards Violation Tracker
Searchable database Good Jobs First Non-Profit National
Workplace Violations Virtual Newsroom
Press releases U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Governmental National
Wage Theft Wage Theft Division
Contact information District Attorney Governmental Travis County, TX
Wage Theft Wage Theft Division
Contact information District Attorney Governmental Los Angeles County, CA
Wage Theft Wage Theft Prevention and Enforcement Commission
Contact information Department of Finance and Mangement Governmental Columbus, OH
Wage Theft Wage Theft Unit
Contact information City Attorney Governmental Denver, CO
Wage Theft Wage Violations & Penalties
Searchable database US Department of Labor Governmental National
Housing Violations Weekly Eviction Tracker
Searchable database Eviction Lab Non-Profit CT, DE, MN, IN, MO, NM, PA, RI, VA, WI
Workplace Violations Worker Issues
Contact information Office of the Attorney General Governmental Rhode Island
Workplace Violations Worker News Updates
Press releases The American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Union National
Workplace Violations Workplace Injuries, Illnesses, & Fatalities
Searchable database US Bureau of Labor Statistics Governmental National
Workplace Violations Workplace Justice Division
Contact information District Attorney Governmental San Diego County, CA