The Marshall Project

The Marshall Project - 2025-04-02T12:49:08-04:00

Why Some Doctors Are Pushing to End Routine Drug Testing During Childbirth - 2025-04-02T06:00:00-04:00
Hospitals routinely report parents to child welfare authorities based on error-prone drug tests. Some hospitals are changing policy as a result.

These States Have Investigated Miscarriages and Stillbirths as Crimes - 2025-04-02T06:00:00-04:00
A recent arrest in Georgia highlights the criminal suspicion that surrounds pregnancy loss in several states, experts say.

Trump’s Union Order Endangers Federal Prison Officers, Labor Leaders Say - 2025-03-31T17:20:00-04:00
Supporters of the union, which represents 30,000 prison employees, fear the move will worsen an ongoing staffing crisis.

How States Are Undoing Criminal Justice Reforms - 2025-03-29T12:00:00-04:00
Louisiana, New York and other states are rolling back reforms — and efforts to reduce excessive sentencing or expand parole are smaller in scope.

Anatomy of a Prison Death - 2025-03-28T06:00:00-04:00
It’s stressful when anyone dies on your wing, especially when no one ever tells you what happened.

Judge Celebrezze Now Admits to Allegations of Case Steering in Lucrative Divorce Cases - 2025-03-27T18:00:01-04:00
Cuyahoga County judge’s shift puts her seat in jeopardy as a disciplinary hearing and FBI investigation loom, following Marshall Project reporting.

A Court May Soon Control the Hinds County Jail. Here’s What May Happen Next. - 2025-03-26T06:00:00-04:00
When death and violence plagued the jail, the federal courts stepped in. We talked with an expert about what to expect from a receivership.

Trump vs. The Courts: Presidential Attacks Open New Front in Long Battle - 2025-03-22T12:00:00-04:00
Both parties have tried to undermine the courts at times in the past. But Trump’s attacks are in some ways unprecedented.

Mississippi’s No-Knock Raids Have Led to Death and Injury. Dozens of Warrants Lacked Clear Justification. - 2025-03-20T06:00:00-04:00
Some local courts have backed off approving no-knocks, but there are still no statewide limits on these dangerous types of raids.

Ohio Is Lifting Old Driver’s License Suspensions for Unpaid Fines. Here’s What to Know. - 2025-03-20T06:00:00-04:00
The state will automatically cancel certain suspensions. Letters will be mailed to eligible drivers, sharing steps for getting licenses back.

Search Mississippi Criminal Justice Bills as They Move Through the Legislature - 2025-03-18T17:18:00-04:00
Use our interactive bill tracker to stay informed on changes to courts, policing, prisons and more.

The Marshall Project Wins NPPA Award for ‘Inside Story’ Investigations - 2025-03-17T11:02:00-04:00
“Inside Story” is an innovative video series that brings critical accountability and investigative journalism to prisons, jails and beyond.

How Trump’s Targeting of Immigrants With Legal Status Departs From the Norm - 2025-03-15T12:00:00-04:00
Mahmoud Khalil is just one of many people with legal or protected status detained and facing deportation.

Trump Is Backing Away From Police Reform. Here’s What That Means for 12 Places. - 2025-03-12T06:00:00-04:00
The administration appears set to end federal oversight of police, including agencies that have committed systemic civil rights violations.

Strength Behind Bars - 2025-03-11T06:00:00-04:00
News Inside Issue 19 honors women navigating the correctional system.

At My Texas Prison, Solitary Confinement All But Guarantees Sexual Exploitation by Guards - 2025-03-10T06:00:00-04:00
Prison journalist Kwaneta Harris on “the hole” at Lane Murray Unit: “It is not uncommon for guards to withhold food unless we take our shirts off.”

The Big Business of Bad Prison Food - 2025-03-08T12:00:00-05:00
A market analysis said the food service industry in U.S. prisons and jails is worth billions — and is forecasted to grow.

She’s Waited Decades for David Wood’s Execution. Now, Evidence Casts Doubt on His Guilt. - 2025-03-07T06:00:08-05:00
The case of a victim’s mother and one of the longest-serving death row prisoners shows how capital appeals can seem both endless and rushed.

How to Investigate Prison Staffing Trends in Your State - 2025-03-05T13:20:00-05:00
Our toolkit helps you report on how the widespread, long-term trend of declining prison staff affects both safety behind bars and state budgets.

Sheriff: Bodycam Footage From Cuyahoga County Deputies Will Now Come Out Within 7 Days - 2025-03-04T06:00:00-05:00
Policy shift follows a Marshall Project - Cleveland and News 5 Cleveland investigation into the October shooting of a teen by a deputy.

Law And Disorder: Police Oversight and Training Confront A Changing landscape - 2025-03-01T12:00:00-05:00
The future of police accountability remains uncertain as misconduct persists and focus shifts from reforms.

‘Sing Sing’ Actor Jon-Adrian ‘JJ’ Velazquez Reflects on the Power of Prison Theater - 2025-02-28T06:00:02-05:00
JJ Velazquez served nearly 24 years for a murder he didn’t commit. A unique prison arts program transformed him into an actor and activist.

‘Fear for Their Lives’: Trans Women Federal Prisoners Told They Will Be Housed With Men - 2025-02-25T16:10:00-05:00
After a minor change in a judge’s order, the Trump administration arranged to move over a dozen transgender women to men’s facilities.

He Refused to Become a Jailhouse Snitch. Can He Stop David Wood’s Execution? - 2025-02-25T06:00:00-05:00
Texas plans to execute Wood in March. George Hall claims police wanted him to say that Wood confessed six Texas murders to him in prison.

Carroll Bogert Steps Down as President of The Marshall Project - 2025-02-25T06:00:00-05:00
Under her tenure, the organization saw robust growth, developed news products for incarcerated audiences, and expanded into three cities.

How a Guards’ Strike Plunged New York Prisons Into Turmoil and Why the Timing Is Curious - 2025-02-22T12:00:00-05:00
Correctional officers complain of unsafe conditions, but critics say the protests were meant to deflect attention from ‘a moment of reckoning.’

FBI Subpoena Targets How Cuyahoga County Judge Leslie Celebrezze Steered Work to Friend - 2025-02-18T15:20:00-05:00
The grand jury subpoena also focuses on Mark Dottore’s company, which has earned more than $500,000 in fees from the court since 2017.

How Trump Is Trying to Expand the Already Colossal U.S. Prison System - 2025-02-15T12:00:00-05:00
The administration’s efforts — from mass deportation to harsher punishments for some crimes — rely on access to more prison and jail cells.

Prison Wedding Rules: No Cake, No Lace, But Lots of Love - 2025-02-14T06:00:00-05:00
St. Louis activist Khanika Harper found the perfect way to marry her passion for justice with the power of love: She became a prison wedding officiant.

Got a Story About the Justice System in St. Louis? We’re All Ears - 2025-02-11T06:00:00-05:00
Your input helps us decide what issues The Marshall Project - St. Louis should dig into next.

The Marshall Project Announces St. Louis Local News Team - 2025-02-11T06:00:00-05:00
This will be our third local news team; this one will produce investigative, data and engagement journalism to serve audiences across Missouri.

Trump’s Executive Order Sows Confusion for Transgender Federal Prisoners - 2025-02-11T06:00:00-05:00
Without guidance from the Bureau of Prisons, trans people are “told one thing from one staff person and a totally different thing from another.”

How Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Blurs the Lines Between Reality, Rumor and Theater - 2025-02-08T12:00:00-05:00
ICE arrests, including “collateral arrests,” are up — and often in front of cameras. But experts say the data is incomplete — and hoaxes abound.

‘Friendly Signs’ Documentary Follows One Man’s Quest to Create Community for Deaf Prisoners - 2025-02-07T06:00:00-05:00
Director Rahsaan “New York” Thomas explores the impact of Tommy Wickerd’s sign language class at San Quentin and the challenges of prison filmmaking.

Under Pressure, Cuyahoga County Releases Video of Teen’s Shooting by Deputy - 2025-02-05T20:00:00-05:00
After four months, the county provided body cam footage, and is weighing policy changes amid a Marshall Project and News 5 Cleveland investigation.

Why This Physician Testifies in Favor of the Firing Squad - 2025-02-04T06:00:00-05:00
James Williams is an ER doctor, a hunter, a gunshot victim — and the go-to expert for death row prisoners seeking an alternative to lethal injection.

How the U.S. Turned Away From the Death Penalty and Toward ‘Death by Incarceration’ - 2025-02-01T12:00:00-05:00
The number of people imprisoned for life continues to climb, even as the overall prison population declines.

Journalists: How to Report on Deaths in Jails and Prisons - 2025-01-31T06:00:00-05:00
When you get a tip about a death or multiple deaths in your local jail or prison, there are concrete steps you can take to start investigating.

Katrice Hardy Named CEO of The Marshall Project - 2025-01-28T15:45:42-05:00
The industry veteran will lead both the newsroom and business operations.

The Trans Woman Who Sued the Federal Prisons (and Won) Settles Her Remaining Cases - 2025-01-24T06:00:00-05:00
Days before Trump’s inauguration, the Bureau of Prisons agreed to pay Grace Pinson $95,000 to drop more than a dozen pending lawsuits.

How Trump’s Immigration Orders Represent a Seismic Shift on Enforcement - 2025-01-23T15:00:00-05:00
The president’s actions move the federal government toward his promised hardline position. But some executive orders will face court challenges.

Trump’s Order Takes Aim at Transgender People in Prison - 2025-01-23T13:28:00-05:00
Few trans people receive gender-affirming housing and care in the federal prison system. This executive order would make it even harder.

‘Nobody’s Trying to Help Him’: Deaths in Cuyahoga County Jail Intensify Scrutiny - 2025-01-23T06:00:00-05:00
Videos depicting two men’s final moments, and the response by guards, raise alarms at the embattled jail where at least 24 people have died since 2018.

What Will Trump’s Executive Order on Private Prisons Really Do? - 2025-01-22T18:30:00-05:00
The order reverses Biden’s ban on private prison contracts with the Justice Department. Private immigrant detention never stopped and is expected to grow.

Trump’s New Order to Expand the Death Penalty Misses Key Details - 2025-01-22T18:05:00-05:00
The order shows the president’s desire for more executions. But it’s unclear how the administration will carry out its plans, legal experts say.

Why Firing the Prison Guards Involved in Robert Brooks’ Death Is Neither Quick Nor Easy - 2025-01-14T06:00:00-05:00
Our investigation in 2023 exposed how New York’s discipline system failed to hold abusive guards to account.

Incarcerated Firefighters Do Risky, Low-Pay Work. Many Say It’s The Best Job Behind Bars. - 2025-01-11T12:00:00-05:00
More than 900 prison firefighters were responding to the crisis in Los Angeles — but their pay is low and the ethics of their choice are complicated.

‘Was This Fair?’ People Behind Bars React to Trump’s Sentencing - 2025-01-10T17:00:00-05:00
The president-elect avoided punishment for his 34 felony convictions, highlighting how the legal system often treats the wealthy and powerful.

The Marshall Project: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 2024 - 2025-01-10T06:00:00-05:00
As our organization grows larger and more diverse, we work to expand the language we use to tell our story.

Motherhood Made Me Even More of a Prison and Police Abolitionist - 2025-01-10T06:00:00-05:00
In this excerpt from “We Grow the World Together: Parenting Toward Abolition,” co-editor Maya Schenwar names an unexpected source of wisdom: children.