Amanda Watford

Amanda Watford

[email protected]

Amanda Watford (née Hernández) covers criminal justice for Stateline. Amanda has reported for both national and local outlets, including ABC News, USA Today and NBC4 Washington. She graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in journalism and information science. She holds a deep passion for all things data journalism, and enjoys designing interactive news applications and visualizations. Amanda is also a proud member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

The feds have embraced medical marijuana. Now what?
Stateline

The feds have embraced medical marijuana. Now what?

May 29, 2026
Amanda Watford
The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent decision to downgrade the drug classification for medical cannabis will help medical marijuana businesses. Companies will be able to claim some federal tax benefits. New research can start up at state universities. But the...
Preliminary FBI data shows a sharp drop in violent crime
Stateline

Preliminary FBI data shows a sharp drop in violent crime

May 20, 2026
Amanda Watford
U.S. violent crime fell sharply in 2025, according to preliminary federal data , with murders dropping an estimated 18.1% — a decline that could push the national homicide rate to its lowest level on record if the figures hold. The...
Those potholes in your street reveal a money problem for cities and states
Stateline

Those potholes in your street reveal a money problem for cities and states

May 19, 2026
Amanda Watford
Across the country, potholes are more than a seasonal nuisance. They are a visible symptom of aging roads and bridges that many state and local governments say they cannot afford to fully maintain. From local streets in small towns to...
Free prison, jail calls linked to lower costs, better outcomes in new report
Stateline

Free prison, jail calls linked to lower costs, better outcomes in new report

May 13, 2026
Amanda Watford
A growing number of incarcerated people across the country now have access to free phone calls and other communication services, a shift some advocates say is strengthening family connections, improving prison conditions and easing reentry after release. A new report...
More states weigh new rules for pregnant, postpartum women in custody
Stateline

More states weigh new rules for pregnant, postpartum women in custody

May 11, 2026
Amanda Watford
A growing number of states are reexamining how the criminal legal system treats pregnant and postpartum women behind bars. This year, legislators in at least five states, including Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia, have considered legislation that would...
When the helpers ‘feel helpless’: First responders get a boost in mental health support
Stateline

When the helpers ‘feel helpless’: First responders get a boost in mental health support

May 05, 2026
Amanda Watford
Ty Wooten didn’t realize the weight of answering his first 911 call — until more than a decade later. A woman had dialed 911 to report that her husband had shot himself in front of her and their 7-year-old son...
Americans’ views on crime often diverge from actual crime trends, report says
Stateline

Americans’ views on crime often diverge from actual crime trends, report says

May 04, 2026
Amanda Watford
Americans’ views on crime often don’t match reality — and a new report suggests those perceptions are shaped as much by personal experiences and economic conditions as by crime itself. The analysis, released by the nonprofit think tank Council on...
State barriers limit access to compensation for gun violence survivors, report says
Stateline

State barriers limit access to compensation for gun violence survivors, report says

Apr 27, 2026
Amanda Watford
While federal efforts to strengthen victim compensation are underway, states play a critical role in determining whether survivors of gun violence can actually access that support, according to a new report from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit gun research...
Fatal police violence may have declined for the first time in years
Stateline

Fatal police violence may have declined for the first time in years

Apr 01, 2026
Amanda Watford
For the first time in years, there are early signs that police killings in the United States may be declining — after deaths reached a record high in 2024 and amid intensified scrutiny of law enforcement tactics nationwide. The findings...
New federal data reinforces nationwide drop in crime since pandemic peak
Stateline

New federal data reinforces nationwide drop in crime since pandemic peak

Mar 30, 2026
Amanda Watford
Crime in the United States continued to fall in 2024, according to two new federal reports from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, with declines in both violent and property offenses even as some states had higher-than-average crime rates. Crime...
Gas prices rise again as some states consider tax holidays
Stateline

Gas prices rise again as some states consider tax holidays

Mar 25, 2026
Amanda Watford
Gas prices are climbing again across the United States — with little clarity on where prices are headed next — spurring proposals for state gas tax holidays in the hopes of offering drivers some relief. The national average hit $3.96...
State lawmakers push to expand laws allowing guns on college campuses
Stateline

State lawmakers push to expand laws allowing guns on college campuses

Mar 17, 2026
Amanda Watford
In at least six statehouses this year, lawmakers are revisiting a long-running debate over whether guns should be allowed on college campuses. Republican lawmakers in Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming have introduced bills that would allow...