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Jails

A photo collage displays a jail, a brick building surrounded by wire fences, men in jail uniforms holding a burning fabric by a broken window, a demolition excavator, a badge that reads “City of St. Louis Division of Corrections” and a text clipping.
St. Louis April 21
St. Louis Jail Is a ‘Potential Powder Keg’
A facility built for progress reflects ‘decades of neglect’ and the city’s deepest struggles, from mental illness to systemic dysfunction.
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[Use this form](https://airtable.com/appR7SW9BhPZGdXp9/pagoMplkqm6bNwKLQ/form) to tell us about your experience when someone died in custody.
Get Involved April 10
Did Your Family Member Die in Prison or Jail? What Happened Next?
Your insights help inform The Marshall Project’s reporting on what families go through when someone dies in custody.
By The Marshall Project
An illustration shows two people with a medium-dark skin tone pulling a model of a detention facility from opposite ends. Only their hands and arms are visible. One person is wearing a brown sheriff’s uniform while the other is wearing a beige suit.
Jackson March 26
A Court May Soon Control the Hinds County Jail. Here’s What May Happen Next.
When death and violence plagued the jail, the federal courts stepped in. We talked with an expert about what to expect from a receivership.
By
An officer in a navy uniform holds a walkie talkie while walking through a hall. There is an open gate in the foreground. Two people in orange uniforms with towels are walking in the background.
Closing Argument February 15
How Trump Is Trying to Expand the Already Colossal U.S. Prison System
The administration’s efforts — from mass deportation to harsher punishments for some crimes — rely on access to more prison and jail cells.
By
The Mississippi River is visible in the foreground of a photo, with the Gateway Arch in the center. Buildings are in the background, and a blue sky with clouds is visible.
Get Involved February 11
Got a Story About the Justice System in St. Louis? We’re All Ears
Your input helps us decide what issues The Marshall Project - St. Louis should dig into next.
By
A man stands in silhouette in front of glass doors of a video visitation area at the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department.
Cleveland December 17, 2024
You Can See Who Is in Many Ohio Jails With a Few Clicks — Just Not in Cuyahoga County
The sheriff’s department lags behind other agencies by failing to offer a website to help the public quickly learn who’s inside its notorious county jail.
By , The Marshall Project, Nora McKeown, Spectrum News 1
An illustration shows a person wearing a black head cover and an orange, long-sleeved shirt. The person is reading a letter at a desk with stacks of envelopes on it. A collage of letters showing different styles of penmanship are in the background.
Feature December 16, 2024
What I Learned From a Year of Reading Letters From Prisoners
The Marshall Project receives nearly 3,000 letters a year from people behind bars. Each one tells a different story about the system’s harms.
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A man wearing a blue uniform sits on a metal folding chair in a small room.
Closing Argument December 14, 2024
How Inhumane Prison and Jail Conditions Prompt Calls for Federal Takeovers
Some state and local lockups are facing federal intervention due to problems ranging from filthy cells to violent abuse.
By
Belzley, a White man with gray hair and a goatee, wears a blue button-down shirt and khakis, and stands behind a large drum kit.
Feature December 4, 2024
After Jail Deaths and No Justice, This Kentucky Lawyer Tried to Make a Difference
A tough legal precedent had kept his clients from their day in court, so Greg Belzley decided there was only one thing to do — try to change the law.
By Ryan Kost
A sectioned off area inside the Cuyahoga County Justice Complex labeled “Sheriff’s Department Perimeter Patrol” has computers and chairs. A man in a long-sleeved button-down shirt and dark-colored pants walks towards the left, behind the sectioned off area.
Cleveland November 21, 2024
Cuyahoga County Jail Will Now Do More Than Show People the Door
Reentry changes come in response to The Marshall Project - Cleveland investigation that showed people leaving jail got little help to avoid returning.
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