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A Black man in a blue sweater, blue mask and black pants speaks into several mics from different TV news stations. A group of protesters stand in front of the Rikers Island jail complex entrance in the background, holding signs that read: "The Fortune Society: Building People, Not Prisons" and "Humanity and Dignity for Those Detained at Rikers!!!"
Closing Argument August 5
Federal Judge Eyes a ‘Last Resort’ Fix for New York City’s Jails
Record deaths at Rikers Island may lead to a federal takeover as criticism mounts.
By Beth Schwartzapfel
A group of Supreme Court justices sitting at a raised bench while an attorney speaks at a podium.
News April 14
Some Are Jailed in Mississippi for Months Without a Lawyer. A Court Just Barred That.
The Mississippi Supreme Court moved to end the “dead zone” before indictment in a notoriously dysfunctional public defender system.
By Caleb Bedillion and Taylor Vance
A woman signs “I love you” in American sign language toward a deaf person in prison. Between them is a stream of “DOC”-branded paperwork, letters and money that signify how deaf people in prison without access to video calls and video relay services also lose access to information and communication with loved ones.
News March 21
‘Prison Within a Prison’: New Mandate Offers Lifeline for Deaf People in Custody
The new rule, which goes in effect in January 2024, applies to phone companies serving prisons, jails and detention facilities nationwide.
By Christie Thompson
A White woman in a pink jail uniform stands against a brick wall as she makes a phone call.
Closing Argument February 25
Fighting the High Cost of Prison Phone Calls
Tired of exorbitant phone bills, prisoners and their families are pushing to lower costs.
By Christie Thompson
A man in a white prison uniform with the label "Alabama Dept of Corrections" on his back stands near his bunk bed. There are multiple bunk beds lined up in the foreground.
Closing Argument February 18
How ‘Cruel and Not Unusual’ Conditions Persist in Many Lockups
Insight from a discussion with journalists, formerly incarcerated people and experts.
By Jamiles Lartey
Analysis December 22, 2022
Some of Our Best Work of 2022
From coverage of prison violence and abuses in a juvenile lockup to investigations by our new Cleveland team, our reporters told stories that made a difference.
By Terri Troncale
A white bus drives in front of a sign that says "Department of Correction: Rikers Island."
News November 28, 2022
A Rikers Officer Had Sex With a Detainee. It Took 7 Years to Fire Him.
The officer also asked the woman to cover up that another Rikers guard sexually assaulted her.
By Reuven Blau and Keri Blakinger
Three men in blue uniforms sleep on the floor, as one sits on a chair nearby.
News November 4, 2022
Why So Many Jails Are in a ‘State of Complete Meltdown’
Overcrowding, violence and abuse proliferate at jails across the country, as staffing problems make long-simmering problems worse.
By Keri Blakinger
The entrance to a New York correctional facility, with the sign “Vernon C. Bain Center” on a tall wired fence with barbed wires.
Life Inside November 4, 2022
When It Comes to Voting in Jail, the Devil Is in the Details
Most people in New York City jails are eligible to vote. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for them to register or cast their absentee ballots. That’s where volunteers come in.
By Alexandra Arriaga
A White woman covers her face with both hands as she cries during a court hearing. A Black woman on the right consoles her with her hand on her back.
Closing Argument September 24, 2022
‘A Moral Disgrace’: How The U.S. Stopped Counting Deaths Behind Bars
The Department of Justice is failing miserably at collecting data on deaths. Experts say that makes it hard to identify the worst prisons and jails.
By Jamiles Lartey
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