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Christie Thompson is a staff writer. Her work has been published by outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, ProPublica, and The Atlantic. She was the recipient of the 2016 George Polk Award for Justice Reporting and a 2022 Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Phone 212-803-5259
Email cthompson@themarshallproject.org
Twitter @cm_thompson3
A collage illustration shows pieces of two handwritten letters with large print reading “URGENT” and “This is an emergency issue – please help.” A typed letter from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prisons details the findings of an investigation into allegations of staff misconduct. Underneath these letters are images including the Thomson prison, handcuffs and a keyboard.
Feature November 15
A Warden Tried to Fix an Abusive Prison. He Faced Death Threats.
He was tasked with ending abuse at a federal penitentiary, but he says his own officers and the Bureau of Prisons stood in the way.
By , , The Marshall Project and Joseph Shapiro, NPR
An aerial view of a U.S. penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois. A white water tower, with the word "Thomson" painted on it is in the foreground, next to a grove of trees.
News July 6
‘This is Major Trauma’: New Accounts of Abuse at Federal Prison Prompt Calls for Investigations
More than 120 prisoners held at a special unit in Thomson Penitentiary reported mistreatment, lawyers’ committee report says.
By , The Marshall Project and Joseph Shapiro, NPR
Feature June 28
The Never-Ending Murder Case: How Mental Competency Laws Can Trap People With Dementia
As more Americans are diagnosed with the chronic disease, some find themselves in legal limbo.
By
Clockwise from top left: Donald Trump, a White man wearing a dark blue suit and red tie, sits in court with a few other people; Freddy Medina, a man with medium-toned skin; Ariel Beltran, a man with medium-toned skin; Greg Mingo, a Black man; and Khalil Cumberbatch, a man with medium-toned skin.
Analysis April 4
Most New Yorkers Don’t Get the Trump Treatment at Arraignment
The 31,000 people arraigned for felonies in New York each year have very different experiences in court than the former president.
By The Marshall Project
Caroline Ouko, a Black woman, and Leon Ochieng, and Ben Crump, two Black men, stand before a podium. Ouko and Ochieng have their eyes closed and have emotional expressions on their faces.
Analysis March 24
What Irvo Otieno’s Killing Tells Us about Mental Healthcare in the U.S.
The system can end up prosecuting patients and relying on police — with sometimes fatal results.
By
A woman signs “I love you” in American sign language toward a deaf person in prison. Between them is a stream of “DOC”-branded paperwork, letters and money that signify how deaf people in prison without access to video calls and video relay services also lose access to information and communication with loved ones.
News March 21
‘Prison Within a Prison’: New Mandate Offers Lifeline for Deaf People in Custody
The new rule, which goes in effect in January 2024, applies to phone companies serving prisons, jails and detention facilities nationwide.
By
A White woman in a pink jail uniform stands against a brick wall as she makes a phone call.
Closing Argument February 25
Fighting the High Cost of Prison Phone Calls
Tired of exorbitant phone bills, prisoners and their families are pushing to lower costs.
By
A tan guard tower and prison yard at an Illinois facility. There are wire fences and buildings in the background.
News February 14
After Several Deaths, Feds to Close Violent Prison Unit in Illinois
In 2022, The Marshall Project and NPR revealed deadly, dangerous and cramped conditions.
By , The Marshall Project and Joseph Shapiro, NPR
Three standing police officers surround a sitting passenger in a subway car. The passenger sits hunched over, with their hand on their head.
Closing Argument December 17, 2022
Mental Health Care is Broken. Is Police Hospitalizing More People the Answer?
In New York City and other areas across the country some leaders are pushing to forcefully commit more people.
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
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