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The House of the Good Shepherd in Troy, N.Y., circa 1940.

History

Collection Rensselaer County Historical Society, Troy, NY
Redemption Songs
The Parchman Band Started in the 1930s. A Modern Version Is Carrying on Tradition.
The band at the notoriously violent Mississippi State Penitentiary is back together and even playing gigs on the outside.
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Redemption Songs August 16
In the Early ’90s, the Lifers Group Tried to Warn Kids About the Perils of Prison
The incarcerated hip-hop group that emerged from the controversial ‘Scared Straight’ program set out to deglamorize the gangster rap of the moment.
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Q&A August 6
Curating Crime and Punishment: What 10 Images Reveal About American Justice
Filmmaker Lynn Novick sifted through thousands of historical images to create her upcoming documentary series on the American justice system.
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Redemption Songs July 19
‘Music From the Big House’ Frees Blues, Soul and Gospel from the Walls of Angola Prison
Standouts include a version of Lead Belly’s hit “Midnight Special” led by filmmaker Rita Chiarelli and an incarcerated band.
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A photo illustration shows thirteen book covers in rows against a light blue-colored background: “Locking Up Our Own,” “The New Jim Crow," “Slavery by Another Name,” “In Defense of Flogging,” “Let The Lord Sort Them,” “Blood In The Water,” "Until We Reckon,” “An Enquiry into the Effects of Public Punishments,” “Solitary,” “Crime and Punishment in American History,” “Locked In,” “The Rise of Big Data Policing” and “Rise of the Warrior Cop.”
Closing Argument July 4
From Public Flogging to Flock Cameras: How the U.S. Justice System Evolved Over 250 Years
As the nation celebrates two and a half centuries of independence, we put together a syllabus of some essential criminal justice reading.
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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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A photo shows the silhouette of a person with long hair, standing in front of a U.S. flag.
Closing Argument June 13
Why the Way We Understand the South Matters — Especially in Criminal Justice
In a special edition of Closing Argument, Jamiles Lartey reflects on the region as the nation’s 250th celebration approaches.
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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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Redemption Songs May 31
How Rapper G. Dep Went From Incarcerated to ‘Influential’
The Harlem MC explains how prison gave him the freedom to rap about more than material things.
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Redemption Songs May 24
Meet One of the Most Prolific Artists From Prison Music’s Golden Age
Singer, songwriter, drummer and pianist Morgan White appeared on five albums inside Texas prisons. Outside, he said no to the music industry.
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