Justice Reform

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance announced that his office is changing its plea guidelines for marijuana arrests to lighten penalties for first- and second-time offenders, effective Tuesday.

NYPD and city officials are scheduled to announce Tuesday a continuing drop in violent crimes, notably homicides and shootings, to record lows.

While Mayor Bill de Blasio fends off criticism over his timeline to close Rikers Island, his administration appears no closer to finding a new corrections chief, with some critics worrying he will push the decision until after the November election.

The city’s top cop recently overturned a guilty verdict against an officer in a department misconduct trial. Then the NYPD and the Civilian Complaint Review Board — citing a state law protecting police disciplinary records — wouldn’t say what the...