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Three police officers in riot gear walk down a slope outdoors.
Closing Argument January 21
How Police Unions Try to Tilt the Scales on Oversight Boards
As more cities set up police watchdogs, some officers’ unions seek new ways to try to weaken them.
By Jamiles Lartey
A hotdog with a tortilla, a cup of mush and a raw potato.
News January 20
‘Pig Slop’ No More? Texas Prisons Detail Plan To Improve Food
The move follows our investigation revealing meals of raw potatoes, moldy bread.
By Keri Blakinger
An illustration shows a man shouting behind the window of a prison cell, while smoke and fire billows out of it. The window forms the eyepiece of a set of blinders being worn by a prison guard. Static is shown coming out of a walkie talkie worn by the prison guard.
News January 9
After Deadly Prison Fires, Will the Texas Legislature Fund Safety Fixes?
Our investigations spotlighted rampant violations, like thousands of broken fire alarms and smoke detectors.
By Keri Blakinger
A woman wearing glasses and with long brown hair in a ponytail stands in front of wooden crosses and flowers.
Feature December 6
How Texas Failed To Prevent One of the Nation’s Deadliest Prison Escapes
“Staff complacency” allowed a man to break out of a prison bus — and kill a family.
By Keri Blakinger and John Tedesco
A man looks down with his arms behind his back, as he is being handcuffed by a police officer at the top of a jet bridge walkway. An officer to the right reads from a piece of paper.
Closing Argument December 3
Battles Brew Over the Power to Choose Who to Prosecute
The long-standing principle of prosecutorial discretion is under fire — another symptom of our nation’s fractured politics.
By Jamiles Lartey
A Polaroid is on a black table. It shows Armando Navejas, a medium light-skinned man with a mustache, standing with his wife Josephine, a medium light-skinned woman.
Feature November 22
As Police Arrest More Seniors, Those With Dementia Face Deadly Consequences
Many cities are changing how they respond to mental health calls, but less attention has been paid to the unique risks for people with Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
By Christie Thompson
The entrance to a Texas prison facility, a gray rectangular building with a detached teal shaded structure in front of it. A black car is parked to the right. There are wired fences and buildings in the background.
Closing Argument September 10
Why Record Heat Can Be Deadlier in Prisons
Corrections officials across most of the nation have not prepared for warmer summers and record heat waves.
By Jamiles Lartey
A group of about 15 people stand in line with their backs facing the camera, in front of a bus.
Closing Argument September 3
Thousands of Migrants Are Now Pawns in Immigration Politics
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s policy of busing migrants to other states has ignited heated political debate. People are caught in the middle.
By Jamiles Lartey
A brick sign that reads "Louisiana State Penitentiary" and "Secretary James LeBlanc" located in front of the prison's entrance.
Closing Argument August 13
Confronting America’s ‘Cruel and Unusual’ Juvenile Detention Crisis
From Texas and Louisiana to communities in Iowa and Michigan, the way youth are being detained is prompting calls for change.
By Jamiles Lartey
A woman with medium-dark skin tone stands during a protest, raising her fist and holding a sign that says, "I can't breathe." Hundreds of individuals also are raising their fists in the background.
Closing Argument August 6
How Policing Has — and Hasn’t — Changed Since George Floyd
More than two years after millions took to the streets to protest police violence, the problem persists. That doesn’t mean nothing has changed.
By Jamiles Lartey
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