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Prison Guard(s)

An illustration shows a closeup view of a man looking at a paper with the words “conduct report” at the top. Ripped scans of mail documents are layered on top of the illustration.
Cleveland June 23
How Ohio Prison Staff Open and Read Confidential Legal Mail
An anti-drug smuggling policy has slowed the delivery of time-sensitive court documents as prison staff read letters protected by attorney-client privilege.
By
Michael McCallion, a man with light-toned skin and short dark brown hair, wears an orange plaid long-sleeved shirt and jeans while standing near a lake.
News June 2
No Camera, No Case? A New York Trial Shows It’s Hard to Prove Prison Abuse Without Video
Michael McCallion waited years to confront in court the officers he said attacked him in prison. The guards denied the assault ever happened.
By
An illustration shows two correction officers holding down an incarcerated man wearing an orange jumpsuit while nurses stand outside in the hallway.
Feature May 1
When Prison Nurses Must Choose Between Loyalty to Abusive Guards and Devotion to Patients
In dozens of cases, medical personnel in New York prisons were accused of covering up beatings — some under pressure — and rarely faced punishment.
By and
An illustration shows an infirmary room with a hospital bed with orange blood splattered on it; a chair, a desk with a computer on it; a sink and a countertop; and broken glass on the floor.
Feature April 30
In Some New York Prisons, Infirmaries Are Dens of Hidden Violence
After guards beat Robert Brooks to death in December, The Marshall Project found dozens more allegations of abuse in medical rooms lacking cameras.
By and
A group of people participate in a protest outside with signs advocating for federal workers' rights and public service recognition. One prominent sign in the center reads "FED WORKERS...HOLD THE LINE!" while others hold blue signs with phrases like "Public Service is a Badge of Honor!" and "Justice Takes Action: Standing Up for Our Rights!"
News March 31
Trump’s Union Order Endangers Federal Prison Officers, Labor Leaders Say
Supporters of the union, which represents 30,000 prison employees, fear the move will worsen an ongoing staffing crisis.
By and
In the foreground, four people wearing winter coats hold up signs reading "Enough is Enough, Strike!" as it snows. A group of people stand behind them.
Closing Argument February 22
How a Guards’ Strike Plunged New York Prisons Into Turmoil and Why the Timing Is Curious
Correctional officers complain of unsafe conditions, but critics say the protests were meant to deflect attention from ‘a moment of reckoning.’
By
A Black Woman, wearing a silver cap and gray jacket, holds a sign that reads "Justice for Robert Brooks" during a protest. Protesters holding signs stand behind her.
Closing Argument January 14
Why Firing the Prison Guards Involved in Robert Brooks’ Death Is Neither Quick Nor Easy
Our investigation in 2023 exposed how New York’s discipline system failed to hold abusive guards to account.
By and
An illustration shows a group of tiny figures of correctional officers in light blue shirts and dark blue pants interacting in small groups with incarcerated people in orange prison uniforms. Some of the officers are kicking, punching, or threatening incarcerated people. A larger group of tiny figures of correctional officers and incarcerated people surround the center group but are grayed out.
News February 9, 2024
Bill Would Change How New York Disciplines Abusive Prison Guards
A 2023 investigation by The Marshall Project exposed how the prison department failed to fire officers it accused of abuse.
By and
Analysis December 20, 2023
Some of Our Best Work of 2023
In podcasts, broadcasts and narrative stories, we examined prison conditions, prosecutions of pregnant women, Dungeons & Dragons on death row, and more.
By
A collage illustration shows pieces of two handwritten letters with large print reading “URGENT” and “This is an emergency issue – please help.” A typed letter from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prisons details the findings of an investigation into allegations of staff misconduct. Underneath these letters are images including the Thomson prison, handcuffs and a keyboard.
Feature November 15, 2023
A Warden Tried to Fix an Abusive Prison. He Faced Death Threats.
He was tasked with ending abuse at a federal penitentiary, but he says his own officers and the Bureau of Prisons stood in the way.
By , , The Marshall Project and Joseph Shapiro, NPR
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