Liz Monteiro has established herself as The Record (Waterloo Region)’s foremost authority on crime and justice through:
Monteiro’s reporting combines rigorous data analysis with deep community engagement, making her work essential reading for policymakers and residents alike. She maintains particular interest in solutions-oriented stories demonstrating measurable impact on recidivism rates and victim support systems.
We’ve followed Liz Monteiro’s evolution from a tenacious municipal reporter to one of Waterloo Region’s most trusted voices on crime and justice. Her career at The Record spans nearly a decade, marked by:
Monteiro’s 4,200-word investigation revealed how closed-door sessions at Kitchener City Hall impacted public accountability. Through FOIA requests and interviews with 17 former council members, she documented a 34% increase in non-public meetings since 2020. Her analysis of meeting minutes showed critical decisions about police funding and community safety initiatives being made without public input.
This groundbreaking piece combined crime statistics with victim narratives, detailing a 147% increase in ransomware attacks targeting small businesses. Monteiro collaborated with cybersecurity experts from the University of Waterloo to create an interactive map showing attack hotspots. The article’s publication led to regional council approving $1.2M in cybersecurity grants.
Monteiro spent six months embedded with the Rebound Alternative Program, producing a five-part series on restorative justice. Her analysis of court records showed a 62% reduction in repeat offenses among participants. The work features powerful interviews with program graduates now working as peer mentors.
Monteiro prioritizes stories demonstrating how local governance directly impacts community safety. Successful pitches should connect budget allocations, zoning decisions, or public health initiatives to crime prevention outcomes. Example: Her May 2024 piece on library security funding reducing opioid-related incidents near community centers.
She seeks investigations into both tech-enabled crimes and digital solutions. Pitch case studies of AI-assisted policing tools or analyses of cryptocurrency’s role in local fraud schemes. Avoid speculative tech stories without Waterloo-region implementation.
Monteiro actively covers alternatives to traditional prosecution. Ideal pitches highlight measurable outcomes from diversion programs, particularly those involving cross-sector partnerships between legal and social services.
Her work emphasizes how crime impacts specific populations differently. Pitch data-driven stories about seniors targeted by financial scams or immigrant communities navigating complex fraud schemes.
She maintains a public database of resolved cases for follow-up reporting. Pitch updates on sentencing outcomes, parole hearings, or systemic changes resulting from high-profile trials.
"True justice reporting doesn’t stop at the courtroom doors – it follows the ripple effects through neighborhoods, council chambers, and living rooms."
Kitchener City Hall Faces Scrutiny Over Transparency in Regional Council Decisions
Waterloo Region Sees Spike in Cybercrime: Local Authorities Urge Vigilance
Community-Led Initiative Reduces Youth Recidivism Rates in Cambridge
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Crime, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
