Stories from the high-incarceration states of the South.
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.
Feature
June 29
During the pandemic, prison officials could have prevented sickness and death by releasing those who were most vulnerable to coronavirus and least likely to reoffend — older incarcerated people.
Coronavirus
June 24
The Marshall Project and The Associated Press collected data on COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons every week. See how the virus affected correctional facilities near you.