Walter Smith Randolph
Investigative EditorWalter Smith Randolph is Connecticut Public’s Investigative Editor. In 2021, Walter launched The Accountability Project, CT Public’s investigative reporting initiative. Since then, the team’s reporting has led to policy changes across the state. Additionally, The Accountability Project’s work has been honored with a National Edward R. Murrow award from RTDNA, two regional Murrow awards, a national Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists, three regional EMMY nominations and a dozen CT SPJ awards.
Walter also serves as Vice President-Broadcast of the National Association of Black Journalists. He previously served three years as NABJ’s Treasurer. Walter is also an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University and serves on the board of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government.
Before CT Public, Walter spent a decade reporting at tv stations in Cincinnati (WKRC/CBS), Kalamazoo-Grand Rapids, Michigan (WWMT/CBS), Flint, Michigan (WEYI/NBC), and Elmira-Ithaca, New York (WENY/ABC). Walter’s reporting has led to resignations and reform in school districts, police departments, and courthouses. His reporting in Flint helped uncover the water crisis and led to his first EMMY nomination.
A graduate of Villanova University and the CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, Walter is also a proud member of Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
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The state has hired a team of independent investigators to look into “any potential improprieties by state employees.” -
All summer long, we heard about spiking crime rates, stolen cars and a failed juvenile justice system, but what do the numbers show? And what do those who actually work with juvenile offenders think is happening? Has the pandemic had any affect on the juvenile justice system? -
How did the pandemic change crime and punishment for Connecticut youth? -
In the final installment of The Accountability Project's series Juveniles, Joyrides & Justice, we examine proposed solutions to car thefts and police pursuits. -
Gov. Ned Lamont called for the state to be tougher on juvenile crime and announced plans to speed up cases in the juvenile court system. -
In Part 3 of our investigative series, "Juveniles, Joyrides & Justice," we examine youth recidivism rates, which data show have not suffered — even for high-risk young offenders who have been allowed to stay home and get treatment. -
Connecticut’s juvenile justice system and car thefts were the hot political topics over the summer. Media outlets picked up the story and largely showed white victims in the suburbs with minority suspects in Connecticut’s cities. Local critics cried foul over the coverage, asking for context. In Part 2 of our investigative series, Juveniles, Joyrides & Justice, two people with eyes on Connecticut’s political world give their take. -
There's been a spike in car thefts in Connecticut, but the numbers don’t actually show that children are to blame for the rise, and violent car thefts remain rare. Thefts might also be subsiding as schools, community programs and courts reopen. -
The Lamont administration will pay nearly $150,000 each month to a vendor to primarily monitor COVID testing results for the 5,838 state employees who have declined to get the vaccine. -
State Republican leaders are calling on Gov. Ned Lamont’s office to release survey results surrounding air quality and ventilation in schools.
