Governor to Place Moratorium on Death Penalty in California

DON THOMPSON / The Associated Press Mar 12, 2019 Gavin Newsom calls it discriminatory and "a failure" in announcing his order to halt executions, a reprieve for 737 condemned inmates. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Prisoners Fighting Fires Are Being Denied Justice

Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan Sep 12, 2018 Joining the professional firefighting crews on the front lines of the massive California wildfires are thousands of prisoners, brought out of their jails to engage in this dangerous work, all for a dollar an hour or less. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

‘A Pipeline Straight to Jail’

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Jun 26, 2017 This repost of a 2015 column tells the story of Boris Franklin, who was caught up in a system that destroys millions of Americans, often people of color. He is now a free man and studying at Rutgers. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

At Least Seven States Have Prison Inmates Working in Governors’ Mansions and Capitol Buildings

By Celisa Calacal / AlterNet Jun 25, 2017 The 13th Amendment provides a loophole that allows for the legality of unpaid prison labor, which is sometimes called "modern-day slavery." Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Report: Shift in Sentencing Guidelines Will Mean Freedom for 6,000 U.S. Inmates

Staff / Truthdig Oct 7, 2015 In a move that will hopefully lead to further concrete steps to target America's mass incarceration problem, the U.S. Justice Department is getting ready to release some 6,000 inmates from federal prisons, according to The New York Times. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Across the Nation, States Charge Inmates for Prison Costs

Thor Benson / Truthdig Jun 11, 2015 The fees incurred aren't just for the major expenses, but also for clothing, blankets, toilet paper and towels. One study found that many former inmates ended up dealing with collections agencies or even back in lockup for failure to pay the debts. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Report: 48 Dead Due to Alleged Poisoning in Venezuelan Jail

Donald Kaufman / Truthdig Dec 12, 2014 The exact cause of the inmates' deaths has been the subject of conflicting reports. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Locking Kids Up, Letting Them Down

Thor Benson / Truthdig Oct 8, 2014 At-risk youth in the United States are being locked up without a key. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Prison Fire Kills More Than 300 in Honduras

Staff / Truthdig Feb 15, 2012 One inmate's reported death wish led to the immolation of more than 300 people at a Honduran prison after the apparent instigator set fire to his mattress on Wednesday in the town of Comayagua, where some 356 others were still missing after the blaze, according to The Associated Press. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

No High Ground for New York’s Inmates

Staff / Truthdig Aug 27, 2011 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Friday that the approximately 12,000 prisoners being held on low-lying Rikers Island will not be evacuated to escape Hurricane Irene. (more) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

L.A. Jails to Get Ray-Gun Technology

Staff / Truthdig Aug 27, 2010 Los Angeles jails may become the new frontier for science-fiction weaponry after the Sheriff's Department unveiled plans to use heat-beam ray guns in one county jail, zapping unruly inmates with a beam that “makes them feel as though they are burning.” Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gitmo Guard Reunites With Ex-Inmates via Facebook

Staff / Truthdig Jan 13, 2010 Six years after their release from the Guantánamo Bay prison, former inmates and British citizens Ruhal Ahmed and Shafiq Rasul met up in London with an American soldier, Brandon Neely, who had been one of their guards during their two-year detention at Gitmo. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )