Stories from the high-incarceration states of the South.
Life Inside
September 23
After cops beat my father to death, I wreaked havoc on my community.Three decades later, I wonder what my story would have been if he had lived.
Feature
September 22
Criminal charges against paramedics in Elijah McClain’s death raise questions about when emergency medical responders should be held accountable for fatalities in police custody.
News and Awards
September 15
National Press Club Award recognizes overall body of investigative reporting, citing impact of “Mauled,” coverage of Mississippi prisons and more.
Death Sentences
September 7
As a Texas man sues for his pastor to touch him during his execution, a guide to rights for the condemned.
Inside Out
September 2
Officials claim programs provide skills, but critics say there’s little evidence.
Feature
August 19
The Kentucky State Police fatally shot 41 people from 2015 through 2020, more than any other law enforcement agency in the state.
Feature
August 13
In rural communities, fatal police shootings have occurred at high rates, without the attention (and protests) that urban shootings have drawn.
Inside Out
August 12
Prison suicides have been rising for years. Experts fear the pandemic has made it worse.
Life Inside
July 29
This spring, a judge ruled that the healthcare at the Louisiana State Penitentiary violated prisoners’ Eighth Amendment rights. Lois Ratcliff tells the horrifying story of her son Farrell’s decline and death.
Death Sentences
July 16
The case of Rodney Reed — whose innocence claims were championed by the reality TV star — raises questions about celebrities’ role in the criminal justice system.