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Closing Argument
How the “Big Beautiful Bill” Will Change Criminal Justice and Immigration
News
Shackled For Days and Weeks: A Federal Report Finds Widespread Abuse in Prisons
Closing Argument
How the Supreme Court Ruled Differently in Immigration and Criminal Justice Cases
A man wearing blue pants and a white T-shirt dangles from and holds onto the threads of an American flag against a city skyline.
Life Inside July 4
What, to the American Incarcerated Person, Is Your Fourth of July?
In the spirit of Frederick Douglass’ historic speech, 20 currently and formerly incarcerated Americans explain what Independence Day means to them.
Reported by , , , , , , and

Edited by
A photo, taken from a low angle, shows the outside of a light brown tower with narrow, horizontal windows. The pale blue sky is visible above the building.
Cleveland July 3
‘I’m About to Die Here’: What a Power Outage and Heatwave Were Like in a Jail With No AC
Cuyahoga County officials say no one incarcerated in the jail needed treatment for heat illness. People inside say it was life-threatening.
By and
An aerial photograph of the Mississippi Supreme Court building, a beige, multi-story building with a pointed roof and columns.
Jackson July 2
‘Hold People Accountable’: Why Mississippi Courts Must Now Produce Public Defense Plans
The state Supreme Court wants to know how local courts provide lawyers, if any, to poor people after their arrest.
By
A white sign with the words “CoreCivic Midwest Regional Reception Center” is in front of barbed wire and a white building.
Feature July 1
Why a Prison Town That Voted for Trump Is Fighting an Immigration Detention Facility
Leavenworth, Kansas, is nearly synonymous with prisons. But when CoreCivic announced plans to detain immigrants there, residents pushed back.
By
A photograph from an angle of the South Carolina State House, a light-colored building with a triangular pediment and columns in front, and trees on a lawn with paths.
Closing Argument June 28
How ‘Coercive Control’ Is Expanding Domestic Abuse Laws in Several States
The concept takes into account nonphysical tactics abusers use to trap their partners. But some worry the new laws will hurt victims.
By
An illustration with blue and yellow tones shows the shadow of a woman with long hair over a prison door with a narrow window. A man in distress is partially visible through the window.
Life Inside June 27
Why I Blew the Whistle on Extreme Confinement on Rikers Island
Social worker Justyna Rzewinski saw people with mental illness “deadlocked” in their cells for months without sunlight, human contact — or medication.
By Justyna Rzewinski
An illustration shows the back of a judge sitting on a chair. The head is a white, hollow silhouette. A paper stack is placed in the bottom right corner.
St. Louis June 26
Judges in Missouri Can Levy Death if Juries Deadlock. Some Say the Law Is Unconstitutional.
Missouri is one of two states where a judge can hand down death when juries cannot agree unanimously on a sentence.
By
An illustration shows a closeup view of a man looking at a paper with the words “conduct report” at the top. Ripped scans of mail documents are layered on top of the illustration.
Cleveland June 23
How Ohio Prison Staff Open and Read Confidential Legal Mail
An anti-drug smuggling policy has slowed the delivery of time-sensitive court documents as prison staff read letters protected by attorney-client privilege.
By
Louisiana Rep. Delisha Boyd, a Black woman wearing glasses and a black dress, speaks into a mic while standing in front of a podium. Two Black men wearing suits stand in the background.
Closing Argument June 21
These States Are Debating Castration for Sex Crimes. Experts Call It Cruel and Pointless.
Critics say there’s no evidence that castration prevents future sex offenses. Yet several states are weighing such measures.
By
A white man wearing a gray suit and a blue shirt speaks against an orange backdrop.
Analysis June 20
He Spent Years in Federal Prisons. Now He’s Helping to Lead Them.
The Bureau of Prisons’ new deputy director’s past incarceration has drawn outrage from some officers — and support from people still inside.
By
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