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Use of Force

Five jail staff surround a man restrained in a wheelchair, with his head covered in a mesh hood.
Feature February 15
Spit Hoods Can Be Deadly. Police Keep Using Them Anyway.
Police cite studies saying the mesh bags are safe. But experts say the studies are flawed — and deaths in custody raise troubling questions.
By
Reginald Dean, a Black man, stands in front of a Dollar General store at night.
Feature March 14
Aggressive Policing in Memphis Goes Far Beyond the Scorpion Unit
Data shows Memphis police arrested more people – mostly Black men – than other Tennessee cities.
By , and Marc Perrusquia
A portrait of a White man smiling and wearing a tank top is mounted inside of a picture frame.
Inside Story February 23, 2023
Police Shootings in Rural America
We investigate police shootings in rural areas and speak with music executive Jason Flom about his work with people who were wrongfully convicted.
By and
A robot operates in the middle of a street. A police officer walks behind it, while holding an extension cord reel connected to the robot. In the background, two police cars block the street from ongoing traffic.
Closing Argument December 10, 2022
What San Francisco’s Killer Robots Debate Tells Us About Policing
Among unanswered questions: How will the courts treat cases that involve police robots?
By
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, 2022
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
A photo collage shows Bobby Everson in a tan prison outfit in front of abstract paintings, an image of the U.S. penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois, and a handwritten letter.
Feature May 31, 2022
How the Newest Federal Prison Became One of the Deadliest
Fatal beatings. A “torture room.” Pairs of men held around the clock in tiny cells, tempers rising. “They’re literally afraid for their lives,” one lawyer said.
By , The Marshall Project and Joseph Shapiro, NPR
The U.S. penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois.
Analysis May 31, 2022
Five Things to Know About One of the Deadliest Federal Prisons
Key takeaways from our investigation into deaths and abuse at a U.S. penitentiary.
By
New York police officers are lined up inside an auditorium.
News March 30, 2022
Biden Struck Out on Police Reform. Is Trump’s Remaining Policy Enough?
With Biden halting a proposed policing order, Trump’s modest changes are the most significant federal policing moves since George Floyd’s murder.
By
Analysis December 21, 2021
Some of Our Best Work of 2021
From police use of force to life without parole to troubling prison conditions, our reporters told groundbreaking stories this year.
By
Feature December 2, 2021
She Was Having a Seizure. Police Shocked Her With a Taser.
How an Alabama teen sought justice after a violent police encounter upended her life.
By and
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