Elizabeth Brico Elizabeth Brico Elizabeth Brico is a freelance writer whose work often focuses on drug policy reform and the child welfare system. Her writing has appeared in Vice, Vox, Filter Mag, and the Columbia Journalism Review, among others. She is also a 2019 Reimagining Communities fellow with the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, and a 2019 journalism fellow with Talk Poverty. Follow her on Twitter @elizabethbrico
Criminal Justice Reform Should Decriminalize Addiction, Advocates Say Efforts to address the harms of police violence and incarceration must consider the drug war, activists and treatment professionals note, including the punitive models of treatment. Elizabeth Brico
Virtual Hearings Have Created A ‘Caste System’ In America’s Courts Precautions meant to minimize the spread of COVID-19—like remote hearings by video conferencing—have drastically changed the way people experience the judicial process, leaving some at a distinct disadvantage. Elizabeth Brico
Fatal Overdose Deaths Soar In Communities Across The Country Amid COVID-19 Pandemic In Cook County, Illinois, suspected or confirmed fatal overdose deaths doubled over last year in the first five months of this year. Elizabeth Brico
Lack Of Access To Clean Water Is Putting Homeless People At Risk Even As Cities Reopen Amid COVID-19 Health officials say hand washing is key to avoiding the novel coronavirus, but millions of homeless people continue to have little or no access to hygiene stations. Elizabeth Brico
COVID-19 Exposes Stark Inequalities Across U.S. As Thousands Struggle Daily To Find Food ‘It’s not only poor people standing in food lines, or going to food pantries and soup kitchens. Now you have the middle class and businesses that are suffering, too,’ one organizer said. Elizabeth Brico
Methadone Rules Requiring In-Person Visits Are Putting Patients At Risk Of Coronavirus For many people across the U.S. who need methadone treatment, sheltering in place during the coronavirus outbreak is impossible. Elizabeth Brico
Coronavirus Raises Questions On How To Meet Court-Ordered Obligations Many programs for people on parole, probation, or supervision take place in group settings—the exact opposite of what public health officials are recommending in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Elizabeth Brico
How the Media Can Stigmatize Parents and Separate Families Stories that uncritically blame child welfare agencies for the deaths of children at the hands of their parents can contribute to increases in child removals—with devastating consequences for families. Elizabeth Brico
Inspired By Her Own Experiences, Baltimore Woman Publishes Magazine Giving Voice To The Incarcerated Tia Hamilton’s State v. Us focuses closely on the criminal legal system, especially as it applies to people of color, who are statistically overrepresented in the carceral system. Elizabeth Brico
How Child Services Punishes Mothers With Substance Use Disorder—And Their Children Rather than separating families, child ‘welfare’ agencies should help families get access to the care they need. Elizabeth Brico
