#prison-crisis

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#rikers-island
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
17 hours ago

Editorial | Rikers Island closure plan becomes an island of uncertainty | amNewYork

New York City struggles to meet the 2027 deadline for closing Rikers Island due to incomplete community-based jail plans and rising inmate population.
Brooklyn
fromGothamist
2 days ago

Mayor Mamdani opens new Bellevue Hospital unit for Rikers detainees

A new $241 million unit at Bellevue Hospital will house Rikers Island detainees with serious medical needs, improving care and supporting jail closure efforts.
Brooklyn
fromCity & State NY
1 week ago

Where does each borough-based jail project stand?

Rikers Island is set to be replaced by four borough-based jails, but the project is over budget and behind schedule.
New York City
fromGothamist
2 weeks ago

Man dies in custody at Rikers Island jail, officials say

A 39-year-old man died in custody at Rikers Island, prompting calls for accountability and the urgent need to close the facility.
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago

Rikers Island inmate dies in custody at Elmhurst Hospital on Sunday | amNewYork

Another inmate died after being transferred from Rikers Island to a hospital, raising concerns about medical care and conditions at the facility.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
17 hours ago

Editorial | Rikers Island closure plan becomes an island of uncertainty | amNewYork

New York City struggles to meet the 2027 deadline for closing Rikers Island due to incomplete community-based jail plans and rising inmate population.
Brooklyn
fromGothamist
2 days ago

Mayor Mamdani opens new Bellevue Hospital unit for Rikers detainees

A new $241 million unit at Bellevue Hospital will house Rikers Island detainees with serious medical needs, improving care and supporting jail closure efforts.
Brooklyn
fromCity & State NY
1 week ago

Where does each borough-based jail project stand?

Rikers Island is set to be replaced by four borough-based jails, but the project is over budget and behind schedule.
New York City
fromGothamist
2 weeks ago

Man dies in custody at Rikers Island jail, officials say

A 39-year-old man died in custody at Rikers Island, prompting calls for accountability and the urgent need to close the facility.
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago

Rikers Island inmate dies in custody at Elmhurst Hospital on Sunday | amNewYork

Another inmate died after being transferred from Rikers Island to a hospital, raising concerns about medical care and conditions at the facility.
NYC parents
fromGothamist
11 hours ago

NY prison strike helped fuel $1.6 billion in overtime pay in 2025

New York state agencies spent over $1.6 billion on overtime in 2025, largely due to staffing issues and a corrections officer strike.
Arts
fromMission Local
16 hours ago

People We Meet: Nigel Poor's prison-life podcast is coming to S.F.

Nigel Poor collects found objects, showcasing them in her home and art studio, reflecting her artistic journey and passion for storytelling.
#nypd
fromFOX 5 New York
19 hours ago
US news

Former NYPD sergeant sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison in cooler death case

A former NYPD sergeant was sentenced to 3-9 years for manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a suspect, causing a fatal crash.
NYC politics
fromGothamist
2 days ago

Mayor Mamdani signals openness to NYPD gang database, citing reforms

Mayor Zohran Mamdani shows increased openness to the NYPD's gang database, acknowledging reforms while moving away from his previous stance to abolish it.
US news
fromFOX 5 New York
19 hours ago

Former NYPD sergeant sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison in cooler death case

A former NYPD sergeant was sentenced to 3-9 years for manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a suspect, causing a fatal crash.
NYC politics
fromGothamist
2 days ago

Mayor Mamdani signals openness to NYPD gang database, citing reforms

Mayor Zohran Mamdani shows increased openness to the NYPD's gang database, acknowledging reforms while moving away from his previous stance to abolish it.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
18 hours ago

Crime victims and bereaved families given more time to challenge lenient sentences

Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman expressed her delight at the government's decision, stating that the change is long overdue and acknowledges the years of campaigning led by bereaved families like Tracey Hanson, who sought justice following the tragic death of her son Josh.
Law
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Treat jailed drug dealers like radical extremists, says prisons watchdog

Jailed drug dealers should be isolated and managed assertively to reduce violence and chaos in prisons.
#immigration
US politics
fromFortune
12 hours ago

'This utter lack of communication and consultation flies in the face of federal law': states push against immigration detention plans | Fortune

Immigration officials have spent $1.074 billion on warehouses for housing immigrants, facing significant opposition and scrutiny over contracts.
US politics
fromwww.berkeleyside.org
1 day ago

Alameda County leaders oppose ICE jail in former Dublin women's prison

Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously opposes converting FCI Dublin into an immigration detention facility.
NYC parents
fromJezebel
3 days ago

Detained Toddler Allegedly Experienced Months of Sexual Abuse in Federal Custody

A 3-year-old in ORR custody experienced sexual abuse, highlighting failures in the system meant to protect immigrant children.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

US judge rules against deporting man whose murder conviction was overturned after 44 years in prison

A judge may release Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian citizen, after his murder conviction was overturned, despite potential deportation by ICE.
US politics
fromFortune
12 hours ago

'This utter lack of communication and consultation flies in the face of federal law': states push against immigration detention plans | Fortune

Immigration officials have spent $1.074 billion on warehouses for housing immigrants, facing significant opposition and scrutiny over contracts.
US politics
fromwww.berkeleyside.org
1 day ago

Alameda County leaders oppose ICE jail in former Dublin women's prison

Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously opposes converting FCI Dublin into an immigration detention facility.
NYC parents
fromJezebel
3 days ago

Detained Toddler Allegedly Experienced Months of Sexual Abuse in Federal Custody

A 3-year-old in ORR custody experienced sexual abuse, highlighting failures in the system meant to protect immigrant children.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

US judge rules against deporting man whose murder conviction was overturned after 44 years in prison

A judge may release Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian citizen, after his murder conviction was overturned, despite potential deportation by ICE.
#kevin-epps
fromKqed
1 day ago
Independent films

SF Filmmaker Kevin Epps Is Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting | KQED

fromKqed
1 day ago
Independent films

SF Filmmaker Kevin Epps Is Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting | KQED

Information security
fromTheregister
1 day ago

Criminal wannabes even more dangerous than the pros

Ransomware is a significant current threat, targeting critical infrastructure and healthcare, causing immediate harm and financial losses.
fromLos Angeles Times
1 day ago

'Ketamine queen' faces prison for selling drug that killed Matthew Perry

Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
SOMA, SF
Artificial intelligence
fromThe Nation
1 day ago

We All Hate AI, but if You're Poor, It Can Really Ruin Your Life

Luxury brands are emphasizing human artistry over AI to maintain exclusivity and appeal to consumers' desire for authenticity.
NYC LGBT
fromwww.amny.com
2 days ago

NYS corrections worker and felon boyfriend indicted for pimping out child

A corrections employee and her inmate partner were indicted for running a prostitution ring, including trafficking a child.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

Dissociation: Imagination and Error in Criminal Justice

Dissociation is a normal psychological process that aids creativity but can also lead to erroneous beliefs and interpretations in various fields.
Washington DC
fromSlate Magazine
1 week ago

They Had to Clean Solitary Cells. What They Saw Forced Them to Quit.

Solitary confinement work is demoralizing and involves invasive strip searches, contributing to severe mental health issues among incarcerated individuals.
SF politics
fromTruthout
6 days ago

CA Should Send Prisoners Home Instead of Spending Millions on New Facilities

California's prison reform focuses on expensive new facilities rather than effective rehabilitation, with minimal budget allocation for actual rehabilitation programs.
Non-profit organizations
fromMission Local
5 days ago

San Quentin among 8 California prisons that could lose decades-old arts programs

The William James Association faces funding cuts, risking the continuation of arts programs in California prisons, particularly at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
NYC parents
fromwww.theguardian.com
17 hours ago

A day in the life of a 19-year-old in ICE detention: I feel that this nightmare is not going to end'

Detention at Dilley Immigration Processing Center has severely impacted Olivia, a 19-year-old asylum seeker, leading to emotional distress and sleepless nights.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 day ago

Judge Who Handcuffed Crying 13-Year-Old Girl Retiring - Above the Law

Judge Roger Benitez's actions in court raised serious ethical concerns, leading to a formal complaint and a light reprimand before his retirement.
LGBT
fromTruthout
1 week ago

Trans People Behind Bars Share How They Are Navigating the Dangers of Visibility

Transgender individuals in prison face increased violence and discrimination, exacerbated by negative media portrayals and political rhetoric.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
2 days ago

MAMDANI'S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor opens Bellevue medical outpost for Rikers detainees, saying it's a step toward closing the jail | amNewYork

Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a new medical unit at Bellevue Hospital, marking progress towards closing Rikers Island and improving care for detainees.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 days ago

Compensation for crime victims capped in 1996 not enough, say campaigners

Campaigners demand lifting a 30-year freeze on crime victim compensation, citing insufficient funds for long-term care and inflation adjustments.
#california
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
2 days ago

'Gladiator fight' cases against L.A. juvenile hall staffers are falling apart

Many criminal cases against probation officers in California are collapsing after initial indictments for allowing youth fights in juvenile halls.
Law
fromKqed
1 week ago

California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case | KQED

California will pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit over excessive force used by corrections officers on women inmates.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
2 days ago

'Gladiator fight' cases against L.A. juvenile hall staffers are falling apart

Many criminal cases against probation officers in California are collapsing after initial indictments for allowing youth fights in juvenile halls.
Law
fromKqed
1 week ago

California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case | KQED

California will pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit over excessive force used by corrections officers on women inmates.
#alcatraz
US politics
fromLos Angeles Times
6 days ago

Trump asks Congress for $152 million to start rebuilding Alcatraz prison

Trump proposed $152 million to rebuild Alcatraz as a federal prison, facing opposition from critics and local representatives.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

The Guardian view on prisons: sentencing reform has not eased the sense of crisis | Editorial

Prisons in England and Wales face a crisis with high violence, staff shortages, and inadequate reforms, necessitating urgent government action.
Social justice
fromSlate Magazine
1 week ago

The Horrifying Secret of the Child Detention Center We Shared as Detainee and Warden

The Cheltenham Youth Detention Center has a troubling history of racial segregation and a lack of memorial for children who died in custody.
Mental health
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 weeks ago

Shameless cruelty': Father held under IPP for stealing phone faces return to jail

Prisoner Thomas White faces return to jail after mental health treatment, raising concerns about his well-being and the implications of his indefinite sentence.
US politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
4 days ago

Alameda Co. resolution seeks to block former Dublin prison to be used as ICE detention facility

Alameda County is voting to prevent the former Dublin women's prison from becoming an ICE detention facility.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
6 days ago

Young adults facing life or indeterminate sentences almost doubles in a decade

The number of young adults receiving life sentences has nearly doubled in a decade, raising concerns about their mental health and future prospects.
LGBT
fromLos Angeles Times
2 weeks ago

DOJ to investigate California over housing of trans inmates at women's prisons

The DOJ is investigating California women's prisons for potential unconstitutional treatment of biological male prisoners and its impact on female inmates.
fromIndependent
5 days ago

Brenda Power: Botox behind bars and no jail terms for financial crime - radical ways to shake up our broken prison system

A detective garda who brutally assaulted his wife in front of their young children walked free from court without a custodial sentence, raising serious concerns about justice.
Law
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
3 weeks ago

As Ford government vows to keep more criminals 'behind bars,' data shows violence in jails is rising | CBC News

Ontario jail violence is escalating, with staff assaults rising to 11 per 100 inmates in 2025 from 9 in 2024, and inmate-on-inmate assaults reaching 67 per 100 inmates, driven by overcrowding and chronic staff shortages.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Prison guard and gang jailed over contraband plot

Jason Thompson, a guard at HMP Isis, was suspended as the Metropolitan Police investigated his involvement in smuggling drugs and contraband into the prison. He was sentenced to four years and six months for conspiracy and misconduct.
UK news
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago

Criminal case against man shot by cops during mental health crisis will move forward | amNewYork

A Queens man shot by police during a mental health crisis faces criminal charges despite calls for dismissal from his mother and community members.
Brooklyn
fromGothamist
3 weeks ago

Screen the guards: Albany ponders prison bills

New York proposes random full-body scanner screening for corrections officers entering state prisons to reduce contraband, while also allowing visitor re-evaluation instead of immediate rejection when scanners detect suspected contraband.
#criminal-justice-reform
California
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Newsom changed California prisons. What will the justice system look like after he leaves?

California's criminal justice system has shifted toward rehabilitation under Governor Newsom, with fewer incarcerated people and expanded rehabilitation programs, raising questions about the next governor's direction.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

This Is Why Criminal Justice Needs Number Nerds - Above the Law

Data-driven evidence, not ideology, should guide criminal justice reform through incentive-based systems and rigorous testing of policies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

The criminal legal system punishes instability through policy choices rather than crime, with public defenders facing systemic barriers while seeking justice and reform.
California
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Newsom changed California prisons. What will the justice system look like after he leaves?

California's criminal justice system has shifted toward rehabilitation under Governor Newsom, with fewer incarcerated people and expanded rehabilitation programs, raising questions about the next governor's direction.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

This Is Why Criminal Justice Needs Number Nerds - Above the Law

Data-driven evidence, not ideology, should guide criminal justice reform through incentive-based systems and rigorous testing of policies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

The criminal legal system punishes instability through policy choices rather than crime, with public defenders facing systemic barriers while seeking justice and reform.
#prison-reform
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Plan to scrap most short jail terms comes into effect

Most offenders facing up to a year in jail in England and Wales will now likely receive suspended sentences under new reforms.
US news
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

A Criminal-Justice Activist's Baffling Crime

Prison-reform activist Alexander Friedmann was arrested for secretly smuggling weapons and tools into Nashville's new jail during construction, despite his prominent reputation in criminal-justice reform circles.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Plan to scrap most short jail terms comes into effect

Most offenders facing up to a year in jail in England and Wales will now likely receive suspended sentences under new reforms.
US news
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

A Criminal-Justice Activist's Baffling Crime

Prison-reform activist Alexander Friedmann was arrested for secretly smuggling weapons and tools into Nashville's new jail during construction, despite his prominent reputation in criminal-justice reform circles.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Nick Reiner in solitary: No visitors, alone with his dark thoughts'

Following Reiner's arrest in the murder of his parents, who were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood mansion on Dec. 14, people have looked back on those red-carpet photos and say that he looked a bit detached from everyone else and even from the reality of the moment.
Film
fromTruthout
1 month ago

These Women Exposed Prison Sexual Abuse. Now ICE Wants to Deport Them.

At Dublin, she had been sexually harassed and verbally abused by an officer, physically assaulted by another, witnessed other officers sexually abusing women, and been subjected to retaliation. Before her arrest, Cristal had been a long-time permanent resident of the U.S. Her conviction for drugs invalidated her green card, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a final removal order based on her felony conviction.
NYC LGBT
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Justice system in crisis, victims' advocate says

London's victims' commissioner reports the criminal justice system is in crisis, with victims experiencing traumatic delays and losing trust in police and courts.
fromGothamist
3 weeks ago

NYC is looking to hire a 'jails czar' to help close Rikers

The high-ranking role comes with a $180,000 to $230,000 salary, the listing states, and "will serve as a trusted advisor to the mayor, first deputy mayor, and the administration's senior leadership on all matters related to the closing of Rikers."
New York City
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Tens of thousands of prisoners in England and Wales at risk of cell fires

The government abandoned its pledge to make all prison cells fire-safe by end of 2027, leaving tens of thousands of prisoners at risk despite knowing for nearly two decades that a quarter of prison places are unsafe.
Law
from48 hills
3 weeks ago

Lurie wants to be tough on crime-but won't pay for the impacts on defendants - 48 hills

Increased arrests and prosecutions in San Francisco are costly, leading to understaffed public defense and potential legal ethics violations.
#prison-violence
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Governors warn of increasing violence of nothing-to-lose' inmates attacking notorious prisoners

Prisoners serving lengthy or whole-life sentences in high-security prisons increasingly attack notorious inmates because they face no additional punishment and gain status through violence.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Governors warn of increasing violence of nothing-to-lose' inmates attacking notorious prisoners

Prisoners serving lengthy or whole-life sentences in high-security prisons increasingly attack notorious inmates because they face no additional punishment and gain status through violence.
New York Islanders
fromThe Marshall Project
1 month ago

Hopes Rise for Troubled Rikers Jail Closure, but Mamdani Faces Hurdles

Mayor Zohran Mamdani must deliver closure of Rikers by a legal deadline amid delays, activist pressure, oversight requirements, and construction of replacement jails.
#prison-education
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

The Man Who Broke Into Jail

Lieutenant Thomas Conrad was standing in a control room in Nashville's new central jail when he noticed something off with one of the key rings hanging on the wall. It was midday on December 30, 2019, and in two weeks the still empty jail would take in about seven hundred inmates. While contractors were finishing their work, Conrad, a senior correctional officer with the Davidson County Sheriff's Office, was organizing equipment: handheld radios, handcuffs, and keys.
US news
#in-custody-death-review
Women
fromTruthout
1 month ago

Incarcerated Women Featured in True Crime Media Face Flood of Sexual Harassment

True crime media exposes incarcerated women to dehumanizing attention, attracting misogynistic men and enabling abusive contact from strangers and prison staff.
fromwww.amny.com
2 months ago

Op-Ed | Do rehabilitation programs in prison help, both legally and personally? amNewYork

RDAP is a voluntary program that lasts between nine and 12 months (ordinarily, it requires roughly 38 weeks to complete in five-day workweeks, three-hour-a-day segments). The 500-hour program strives to educate inmates on the dangers of addiction. Most importantly, relapse prevention is stressed with the goal of helping inmates during post-release stay clean and sober to avoid reoffending. Congress appropriates more than $100 million annually for RDAP.
Public health
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Opinion: California promised accountability for inmate deaths in jails. A year later, no results.

California's jail death review law preserves sheriff control, lacks enforcement authority, permits redactions, and produced no completed reviews within its first year.
Social justice
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Opinion: A California diversion program saved her from prison and dying young

Community-based diversion with behavioral health, job training, and supports can break cycles of trauma and incarceration and enable educational and professional recovery.
#ipp-sentences
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

For those with addiction, going into and coming out of prison can be a minefield.

The Alaska Department of Corrections does not provide comprehensive access to this life saving medication. "I'm gonna give you a little pinch," Spencer said, sliding the needle into a fold of skin on the patient's belly for the subcutaneous injection. Alaska's not an outlier. Despite the fact that those recently released from incarceration are some of the most vulnerable to dying from drug overdose, addiction experts say that many jails and prisons around the country don't provide medication treatment.
Public health
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

9 inmate deaths already this year bring renewed scrutiny of L.A. County jail conditions

Nine people have died inside L.A. County jails so far this year, an alarming number for the Sheriff's Department as it continues to face a lawsuit from the state over the conditions in local lockups. Sheriff's Department officials said they are continuing to make changes, hoping to reduce the number of in-custody deaths and care for an inmate population that is increasingly struggling with medical and mental health issues.
California
US politics
fromLos Angeles Times
2 months ago

U.S. senators tour California City Detention Center, decry conditions and inadequate medical care

Medical care and living conditions at California City Detention Facility are inadequate, with moldy food, foul drinking water, and growing detainee populations amid ICE expansion.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Three inmates dead after possible riot' at Georgia state prison

Several major inmate fights at a Davisboro, Georgia state prison left three inmates dead and about a dozen injured, with 13 transported for medical treatment.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago

50,000 prisoners to be freed early in bid to tackle overcrowded jails

An emergency early-release scheme freed 48,931 prisoners in England and Wales by September 2025, allowing release after 40% of fixed-term sentences to ease overcrowding.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Record number of offenders being recalled to prison in England and Wales

Record offender recalls have surged; many deliberately breach licence terms to return and traffic drugs while early-release rules and overcrowding reduce support and housing.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago

Prisons unable to keep up with crisis of drones delivering drugs, report finds

Drones and underinvestment in prison security have enabled widespread delivery of drugs and contraband, undermining safety, health, and rehabilitation.
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