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Portland Police Chief Penny Harrington, center, in 1986 with her husband, Officer Bruce Gary Harrington, and her sister, police Capt. Roberta Webber.

Women

Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian
Closing Argument
How Hospitals Helped Erode Reproductive Rights
Criminal prosecutions sparked by hospital drug testing helped advance the legal concept that the fetus had interests the state could protect.
By
A photo shows a large crowd of demonstrators. One person is holding a sign that reads, "Keep our country free of drugs."
Two items are arranged on a white surface: a copy of a sonogram and a printout of positive drug test results.
Feature February 13
Having a Baby? 5 Tips to Avoid Problems From Flawed Drug Testing at the Hospital
Hospitals routinely use unreliable drug tests at childbirth, and many parents are reported to child welfare agencies and the police. Here’s what you can do.
By and
A photo shows a Black woman, with red hair and a white sweater, wiping the face of her young daughter while she sits on top of a kitchen table. Her eldest daughter, wearing pink hair ribbons and a blue Care Bears shirt, stands next to her while she looks at a phone placed on the table.
Feature February 10
Tens of Thousands of Mothers Were Flagged to Police Over Flawed Drug Tests at Childbirth
The Marshall Project found more than 70,000 cases referred to law enforcement over allegations of substance use during pregnancy — and that’s a significant undercount.
By and
An illustration shows three people on patient beds inside a dark room, with the orange sky visible through the window. On the right side, there are dark silhouettes of dialysis machines and tubes with puddles of water on the floor.
Feature December 16, 2025
Women Are Sent to This Federal Prison for Dialysis. They Say It’s Killing Them.
Patients at Carswell medical prison in Texas describe unsanitary conditions, missed treatments and substandard care.
By Kaley Johnson
A photo shows a close-up of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge hanging from the waist of a federal agent. The agent, who is wearing a blue suit, a silver bracelet and a watch, holds their hands together.
Closing Argument November 22, 2025
How ICE Is Making It Harder for Immigrants to Escape Domestic Violence
Increased enforcement and Trump’s policy changes are causing some people to remain in abusive relationships rather than risk deportation, experts say.
By
A woman sits in silhouette in front of a large glass window. She's inside an office, sitting on a chair and hunched over with her hands folded on her lap.
Closing Argument August 14, 2025
Drug Overdoses Are Skyrocketing Among Mothers. Why Is Rehab Unavailable?
In her new book, ‘Rehab: An American Scandal,’ Shoshana Walter explores how the giant substance treatment industry keeps failing many people desperate for help.
By
A photograph from an angle of the South Carolina State House, a light-colored building with a triangular pediment and columns in front, and trees on a lawn with paths.
Closing Argument June 28, 2025
How ‘Coercive Control’ Is Expanding Domestic Abuse Laws in Several States
The concept takes into account nonphysical tactics abusers use to trap their partners. But some worry the new laws will hurt victims.
By
Three items are arranged on a white surface: a salad in a white bowl, a copy of a sonogram, and a printout of a false positive drug test result.
Feature June 9, 2025
From New York to Arizona, More States Consider Curbing Drug Testing at Childbirth
Some bills followed an investigation by The Marshall Project and Reveal that exposed the harms of widespread drug testing of pregnant patients.
By
A photograph of the Georgia State Capitol building.
Closing Argument April 12, 2025
The Bipartisan Push to Rethink Long Sentences for Abuse Survivors
A Georgia bill offers a model for other states looking to protect people who are accused or convicted of crimes stemming from their abuse.
By
A White female doctor, wearing glasses, a gray jacket and blue scrubs, sits at her desk. Papers of children's hand drawings hang on the wall.
Feature April 2, 2025
Why Some Doctors Are Pushing to End Routine Drug Testing During Childbirth
Hospitals routinely report parents to child welfare authorities based on error-prone drug tests. Some hospitals are changing policy as a result.
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