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Jail Conditions

Were you, or someone you know, waiting in jail for months without an indictment? [Tell us about your experience in this form](https://airtable.com/appbsDMWyBG50OykC/pagmLkjCDCY5aG3Fc/form).
Get Involved July 21
Did You Wait Months for an Indictment in a Mississippi Jail?
The Marshall Project - Jackson wants to hear from you.
By and
A photo of a group of six middle-aged Black people in front of a building. In the front row, two people in blue, one of them a lawyer in a suit, hold signs that read, "Justice for Jennifer!" with a photo of a smiling Black woman.
Cleveland July 14
State Reverses Course, Finds Cuyahoga Jail Staff Failed to Start CPR in Wade’s Death
State inspectors said jail staff failed to provide CPR to Jennifer Wade after finding her unresponsive in her cell in February 2025.
By , and
An illustration with dark teal, red, orange and yellow tones shows a complex of multistory jail buildings. From left to right, three boxes show a jail employee with medium skin tone with a phone up to his ear, two incarcerated men with medium and medium-light skin tones fighting, and the legs of an incarcerated person on a bed in the foreground and a correctional officer with his back turned in the background.
Analysis June 25
Hundreds of Calls for Help: What 911 Logs Reveal About the Local Jail
From assaults to suicide attempts, emergency calls can be a sign of problems that jails can’t handle on their own.
By , and
A still from a bodycam shows corrections officers outside Jennifer Wade's cell. Her body is not visible. In the foreground is a person putting on rubber gloves.
Cleveland April 14
New Videos Show ‘Absolutely Egregious Care’ in 2025 Cuyahoga County Jail Death
Ohio reopens review of Jennifer Wade’s death after county officials failed to provide body cam footage.
By , and
A collage of photos and illustrations. Clockwise from top left: A photo of a Black woman holding a framed picture, of her embracing and looking toward her son, while posing for a portrait in front of her home; a photo of a man in a suit, seen from behind, standing in front of one of two doors; a photo of a beige building with narrow horizontal windows, and is partly in shadow; an illustration of a opaque hand interfacing fingers with a transparent hand and both hands being wrapped by a beaded necklace; a photo of protesters standing on the side of a road; ; an illustration of a spreadsheet, where the cells contain small drawn figures of people in teal-colored jumpsuits in different poses (sitting, standing, leaning). On the right is a menu of options: Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete Cell. Delete Cell is highlighted; and a photo of barbed wire.
Analysis December 17, 2025
We Spent a Year Covering Deaths Behind Bars. Here’s What We Learned.
Every year, thousands of people die in prisons, jails and law enforcement custody.
By
Analysis December 15, 2025
Some of the Ways We Brought the Criminal Justice System to Life Through Visuals in 2025
Through evocative illustrations and photography, we tackled themes of deplorable prison conditions, healing after gun violence and deaths in custody.
By The Marshall Project Visuals Team
A collage shows photos of a decaying detention facility road sign with lichen, shadows of people in a line, and the exterior of a tan prison facility with a barbed-wire fence.
Jackson December 5, 2025
Dozens Locked in Hinds County’s Jails Without an Indictment — Some for Over a Year
The newly appointed federal receiver has asked the county’s district attorney to move more cases, while the DA has asked the county for more money.
By
An illustration shows a man in an orange jail uniform sitting at a table with his arms crossed and head down. Part of the man appears transparent.
Jackson November 17, 2025
Why No One Knows How Many People Die in Mississippi’s Local Jails
From medical neglect to suicide, the lack of information on jail deaths can allow the same deadly problems to lead to more deaths.
By
A collage illustration with muted green and orange tones shows details of black mold on a bathroom floor, a closeup of a cockroach, a broken toilet bowl, trash, a closeup of a person covering their nose and mouth, a closeup of a person clenching their fist, and the obscured figure of a man.
Analysis October 9, 2025
No Showers, Black Mold and Clogged Toilets: America’s Jails Are Disgusting
Understaffing, outdated facilities and poor management have led to filthy conditions in jails in St. Louis, Cleveland and Hinds County, Mississippi.
By , and
A photo shows a black electronic device attached to the wrist of a person with medium skin tone.
Feature October 8, 2025
Can a Biometric Bracelet Stop People From Dying Behind Bars?
Jails across the country are trying a high-tech solution to keep prisoners safe. Will it work?
By Peter O’Dowd and Allison Hagan, Here & Now
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