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Two individuals in black suits walk through the entrance of a barbed wire fence. A tan prison is behind the fence.
Closing Argument January 27
New Execution Methods, Old Problems
What the first execution by nitrogen in the U.S. says about capital punishment.
By
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a White man, points a finger while giving a speech.
News January 25
Trans People in Florida Prisons Say Gender-Affirming Care Ban Upended Their Health Care
Nearly two dozen transgender women in prison said their access to treatment suddenly changed following the “anti-woke” law championed by Gov. DeSantis.
By
Three men in National Guard uniforms place razor wire alongside a river.
Closing Argument January 20
Texas vs. the USA: Inside the Immigration Showdown
The Southern border is now an open battle between Gov. Greg Abbott and the Biden Administration.
By
A dark brown high-rise federal prison.
Closing Argument January 6
Federal Prisons Are Over Capacity — Yet Efforts to Ease Overcrowding Are Ending
The Bureau of Prisons’ system is in trouble and needs serious upgrades on several fronts.
By
A White male police officer holds a police vest, pointing out its body camera.
Closing Argument December 16, 2023
What Bodycams Tell Us About the Challenges of Policing the Police
The cameras and other police accountability steps are popular with the public — but not always particularly effective.
By
A medical resident, who is sitting on a stool in front of a desk, gives a woman medication to terminate her pregnancy.
Closing Argument December 9, 2023
What the End of Roe Looks Like in Real Time
The ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision wind their way through state and local governments.
By
A woman, wearing a blue "March for Our Lives" shirt and black blazer, holds a sign that reads, "If my domestic abuser had a gun, I'd be dead." Standing to her left is a person holding a sign that reads, "Disarm domestic violence."
Closing Argument November 11, 2023
Supreme Court Takes on Gun Cases as State Laws Shift
The court is considering the safety of victims of domestic violence, bump stocks and more.
By
Donovan X. Ramsey, a Black man with short hair, wears a white shirt, vest and green pants, and stands in front of a newsstand.
Q&A November 6, 2023
The Untold Story of How Crack Shaped the Justice System
In a new book, a journalist wrestles with how lessons from America’s response to crack resonate in the opioid era.
By
A rectangular illustration divided into five vertical panels shows a person in a prison cell looking out a dark window, crossing numbers of years off on the wall as time passes. In the middle of the illustration, there is an image of a gavel in a small rectangle. In the third panel, a beam of light appears on the floor, and in the following panel, that beam of light gets larger, indicating an opening door. The last panel shows the person being led out of the prison cell by a prosecutor in a suit and with a briefcase.
Feature October 31, 2023
Prosecutors in These States Can Review Sentences They Deem Extreme. Few Do.
Five states now allow prosecutors to seek shorter sentences in old cases. Louisiana shows why many DAs haven’t.
By Matt Nadel and Charlie Lee
Three SWAT team members, wearing helmets, green uniforms and protective gear with the label "SHERIFF" on their backs, hold assault rifles while standing on a staircase.
Closing Argument October 28, 2023
They Shot at Police. Were They Standing Their Ground?
No-knock raids often end in tragedy — and some civilians face prosecution for shooting back.
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