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A condemned inmate is led out of his cell on death row at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, California in 2016.

California

Eric Risberg/Associated Press
News Inside
Bodies of Evidence
Lyrics, medical records and menopause — News Inside Issue 23 looks at what gets used against us, and what gets ignored.
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A magazine called News Inside set against a grainy gray backdrop. Light refracted through prison bars shines onto the magazine.
An illustration with a pale yellow background shows, at center, a man in an orange prison uniform pulling on a string that is connected to a postage stamp, which is then connected to the bottom of a prison cell door, and then connected to a letter on the floor, which is connected to another prison cell door. From left to right, there is a calendar with most of the days of the month crossed off; a document envelope and some documents behind it; a prison official shredding a document; and an incarcerated person with his hands shackled to a slab while a correctional officer holds his left hand down. Scattered around the illustration are gray and blue blocks, and over the entire illustration, there is a grid made up of thin light blue lines.
Feature July 13
In Federal Prisons, Some Guards Use Fear and Violence to Stifle Complaints
Prisoners in federal facilities must file most grievances with the guards — a system they say exposes them to retaliation, including physical abuse.
By and Joseph Shapiro
Redemption Songs June 21
Ear Hustle’s Antwan Banks Williams Goes Deep on ‘Like Father, Like Son’
Two years after the podcast’s co-creator’s dad died, he used hip-hop to celebrate their bond.
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Redemption Songs June 7
The San Quentin Prison Album That Should Have Been a Classic
Ike White’s “Changin’ Times” spans soul, rock, pop and jazz. On its 50th anniversary, it’s finally getting its due.
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A person, wearing a blue-and-white striped shirt and black pants, walks past a building with a sign that reads "Montana Bail Bonds."
Closing Argument May 9
Did the California Supreme Court Just Remake the State’s Bail System?
A new ruling affirms the right to pretrial release, and says prosecutors must show specific cause to keep someone in jail.
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A photo shows the open slot of a prison gate, where two prison guards are standing in the middle of a corridor.
Closing Argument May 2
Immigrants Behind Bars Often Find ICE Waiting After Their Prison Sentences
Many state prison systems work with ICE. California, for example, has handed over 18,000 prisoners since 2015.
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Redemption Songs April 5
Police Used Mac Dre’s Music Against Him. In Jail, He Used the Phone to Get Revenge.
In his signature trickster style, the Vallejo, California, rapper recorded an album on jail phones — and even called out cops by name.
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Young Thug, a Black rapper wearing a white shirt and striped pants, holds a mic as he performs in a crowd during a concert.
Closing Argument March 28
His Rap Lyrics Helped Send Him to Death Row. Travis Scott and T.I. Are Trying to Stop His Execution.
The rappers argue that James Broadnax’s case exemplifies a larger problem in American courtrooms: The use of rap lyrics as evidence.
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An elderly man, wearing glasses and a blue prison uniform, is reading a newspaper. He sits in his wheelchair, which is next to a couple of bunk beds within his prison cell block.
Closing Argument March 21
Mercy or Money: How to Grapple With a Rapidly Aging Prison Population
Research shows people often “age out” of crime, and health care costs are ballooning. But still, many states oppose releasing elderly prisoners.
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A photo shows cars driving in a blur past a Flock camera, which is situated at the top of a pole. There is a square plate at the top of the pole. Behind the camera are some trees and a building.
Closing Argument March 7
The Troubling Personal Side of Public Surveillance
Law enforcement cameras are popping up everywhere, but many agencies have little safeguards to prevent abuse by individual officers.
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