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Cleveland
‘I’m About to Die Here’: What a Power Outage and Heatwave Were Like in a Jail With No AC
Jackson
‘Hold People Accountable’: Why Mississippi Courts Must Now Produce Public Defense Plans
Feature
Why a Prison Town That Voted for Trump Is Fighting an Immigration Detention Facility
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
A photo of a White woman with brown hair holding a phone while talking to a White man wearing a blue shirt. The man is out of focus and seen from behind.
Analysis June 17
A North Carolina County Wanted New Court to Stem Its Opioid Crisis. Then Came Trump’s Cuts.
As the Justice Department slashes funding to programs across the U.S., Wilkes County’s planned recovery court was halted before it started.
By
Q&A June 16
Have We Been Wrong About ‘Psychopaths’?
In a new book, Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen questions how courts and prisons use psychopathy diagnoses — and whether they should at all.
By
A photograph with an aerial view shows a group of eight people walking on a road as they follow several immigration officers.
Closing Argument June 14
The Feds Are Offering Migrants Cash to Self-Deport. Lawyers Call These Incentives Misleading.
The government’s offer to pay a stipend, waive fees, and let people return legally to the U.S. go against current law and court practices, immigration lawyers say.
By and
A collage shows a black-and-white photo of a domed capitol building, snippets of text from reports about the indigent defense system in Mississippi and, on the right, a silhouette of a man in a suit holding a briefcase against a grayish-blue textured background.
Jackson June 12
From Budget Chaos to Public Defenders: Mississippi Poised to Fund ‘Day 1’ Experiment
Indigent felony defendants in many counties have lacked court-appointed lawyers before indictment, even while they sat in jails for weeks or months.
By
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