Jails and Prisons

Former NFL football star O.J. Simpson appears for his parole hearing at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nevada, on Thursday, July 20, 2017.

O.J.’s Parole: A Fitting End to the ‘Fifth Quarter’ O.J.’s Parole: A Fitting End to the ‘Fifth Quarter’

The decision to parole O.J. Simpson will rankle some, but it was correct and just.

Jul 20, 2017 / Dave Zirin

Rikers closing in NYC

It Will Take Tenacity and Guts to Shutter One of the Country’s Most Notorious Jails It Will Take Tenacity and Guts to Shutter One of the Country’s Most Notorious Jails

Is New York Mayor Bill de Blasio up to the challenge of closing Rikers Island?

Jul 5, 2017 / Cities Rising / Jarrett Murphy

Fearless Cities Barcelona

These Cities Might Just Save the Country These Cities Might Just Save the Country

Dispatches from the Urban Resistance, from Atlantic City to Miami Beach.

Jun 30, 2017 / Cities Rising / Jimmy Tobias

Lisa, Laquanda, Machelle, and Kenya Were Sentenced as Children to Die in Prison

Lisa, Laquanda, Machelle, and Kenya Were Sentenced as Children to Die in Prison Lisa, Laquanda, Machelle, and Kenya Were Sentenced as Children to Die in Prison

Decades later, a Supreme Court ruling could give them their freedom.

Jun 21, 2017 / Feature / Danielle Wolffe

The Troubled Resentencing of America’s Juvenile Lifers

The Troubled Resentencing of America’s Juvenile Lifers The Troubled Resentencing of America’s Juvenile Lifers

When SCOTUS outlawed mandatory juvenile life without parole, advocates celebrated—but the outcome has been anything but fair.

Jun 21, 2017 / Feature / Jessica Pishko

Twitter logo and silhouettes

The White House Assembles Its Defense The White House Assembles Its Defense

Though they’re thinking a war room might help To avoid all these stinging defeats, It seems clear that the aide they should add Is a special assistant for tweets.

Jun 1, 2017 / Column / Calvin Trillin

David Clarke salute

Sheriff David Clarke Is Determined to Suspend Habeas Corpus and Shred the Bill of Rights Sheriff David Clarke Is Determined to Suspend Habeas Corpus and Shred the Bill of Rights

The right-wing extremist’s disregard for the Constitution is well documented, and now he’s reportedly joining Trump’s DHS.

May 18, 2017 / John Nichols

Rikers: An American Jail Documentary

A New Film About Rikers Lets Inmates Describe the Jail’s Brutality in Their Own Words A New Film About Rikers Lets Inmates Describe the Jail’s Brutality in Their Own Words

Rikers: An American Jail is coming out just as debate over how to close the notorious facility is reaching a fever pitch.

May 17, 2017 / Ed Rampell

Rikers closing in NYC

How Closing a Jail Could Make New York City Stronger How Closing a Jail Could Make New York City Stronger

The plans for shuttering the infamous Rikers Island complex could be a boon for communities across the city.

May 17, 2017 / Cities Rising / Michelle Chen

jeff sessions mandatory minimum

Welcome to the ‘War On Drugs,’ Redux Welcome to the ‘War On Drugs,’ Redux

Punishing low-level drug offenders is back in style. Thanks a lot, Jeff Sessions.

May 12, 2017 / Collier Meyerson

x