Rural Counties Turn to Prisons for Economic Salvation Rural Counties Turn to Prisons for Economic Salvation
With coal not paying the bills, West Virginia has turned to prison construction.
Apr 21, 2014 / Blog / Mychal Denzel Smith
Obama Plans to Grant Clemency to ‘Hundreds, Perhaps Thousands,’ of Nonviolent Drug Offenders Obama Plans to Grant Clemency to ‘Hundreds, Perhaps Thousands,’ of Nonviolent Drug Offenders
Obama has so far granted fewer pardons than any modern US president.
Apr 21, 2014 / Blog / Steven Hsieh
Why Is Georgia About to Pass a Law That Will Make It Easier to Send Poor People to Prison? Why Is Georgia About to Pass a Law That Will Make It Easier to Send Poor People to Prison?
After extensive lobbying, the private probation industry is poised to wield ever more power over Georgia’s debtors.
Apr 7, 2014 / Hannah Rappleye and Lisa Riordan Seville
Rick Perry Says Texas Won’t Comply With Federal Standards to Curb Prison Rape Rick Perry Says Texas Won’t Comply With Federal Standards to Curb Prison Rape
Texas consistently has some of the highest national rates of prison rape.
Apr 2, 2014 / Blog / Steven Hsieh
Why Is a Florida Man Facing Life in Prison For Lending a Friend His Car and Going to Sleep? Why Is a Florida Man Facing Life in Prison For Lending a Friend His Car and Going to Sleep?
Ryan Holle, who has no prior record, is currently serving his eleventh year of a life sentence.
Mar 24, 2014 / Charles Grodin
Officials Investigating Death of Mentally Ill Homeless Vet Who ‘Baked to Death’ in a New York City Jail Cell Officials Investigating Death of Mentally Ill Homeless Vet Who ‘Baked to Death’ in a New York City Jail Cell
Jerome Murdough was found dead in a Rikers Island jail cell after it had reached temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mar 20, 2014 / Blog / Steven Hsieh
The Town That Turned Poverty Into a Prison Sentence The Town That Turned Poverty Into a Prison Sentence
Most states shut down their debtors’ prisons more than 100 years ago; in 2005, Harpersville, Alabama, opened one back up.
Mar 14, 2014 / Feature / Hannah Rappleye and Lisa Riordan Seville
Eric Holder Pushes for Reduced Drug Sentences Eric Holder Pushes for Reduced Drug Sentences
The proposal would reduce sentences for nonviolent drug traffickers by about a year.
Mar 13, 2014 / Blog / Steven Hsieh
Rick Perry at CPAC Panel on Criminal Justice: ‘Shut Prisons Down. Save That Money.’ Rick Perry at CPAC Panel on Criminal Justice: ‘Shut Prisons Down. Save That Money.’
You won’t believe what some leading conservatives had to say about criminal justice reform this week—because they were actually right.
Mar 7, 2014 / Blog / George Zornick
Rand Paul and Eric Holder Might Actually Get Something Important Done in Washington by Working Together Rand Paul and Eric Holder Might Actually Get Something Important Done in Washington by Working Together
The unlikely allies are leading a push to reform sentencing guidelines for nonviolent drug offenders.
Mar 4, 2014 / Blog / Steven Hsieh