Raven Rakia

Nearly half of all arrests in the state are drug or alcohol related, compared to just 29 percent nationally.

The city comptroller, state lawmakers, and advocates call on the state to end its use of fines and fees in the legal system.

A 10-year-old was charged with assault for throwing a ball at a classmate. The case was dropped, but its effect is still felt.

Heather Marlowe, now an activist, says neglected kits are a reflection of who and what police prioritize.

A new effort to reduce arrests and summonses is criticized as continuing to criminalize homelessness.

Advocates say Anthony Aceves’s death conforms with long-standing issues in the second-largest jail system in California.

Though little is known about how Layleen Polanco died, advocates say her story highlights New York City’s flawed approach to criminal justice.

Advocates and attorneys say Jackie Lacey’s rhetoric doesn’t match her actions.

The DeKalb County Jail, now at the center of protests, has a long history of problems and a legacy of housing people for unpaid fines.

A newly amended class-action lawsuit accuses the Cuyahoga County jail of neglect and mistreatment.

Sierra Castle alleges she faced discrimination and harassment after being placed in a men’s holding cell in the Cobb County, Georgia, jail.

A wave of hunger strikes hit Alabama prisons as DOJ released a report calling the facilities “unconstitutional.”

Activists say the sheriff is trying to add jail beds under the guise of mental health treatment.

Richard Cannon was making gains after being released from prison. Then one arrest changed the course of his life.

Darcel Clark’s approach to overdose deaths continue the criminalization of drug users and put her on the wrong side of history, advocates say.

Family members are frantic after 330 prisoners are transferred to Pennsylvania.

Corcoran state prison has a history of abuse that includes forcing prisoners into ‘gladiator fights.’

The Department of Justice is leaving Shelby County, but discrimination against Black children in court continues, a federal monitor says.

Most prison strikes are met with retaliation and abuse, but one recent work stoppage is starting to pay off.

Cherie Townsend is suing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after she says they falsely imprisoned her for murder and destroyed her reputation.

New York City has reduced its jail population, but those who remain are staying longer.

Meanwhile, the abysmal medical care that helped spark the riot persists.

Advocates noted that bail gives prosecutors leverage to get guilty pleas from people who can’t afford to buy their way out of jail.

People caught vaping marijuana oil face the same charge as for low-level heroin possession.

A lawsuit accuses Illinois of cutting off LGBTQ prisoners’ lifeline to supporters.

Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins seeks a fourth term as critics blast him for a record that includes poor jail conditions, in-custody suicides, and the deaths of two young people at the hands of his deputies.

Dismal police accountability has made communities vulnerable to private vendors.

Few of the prisons trying to stem flow of contraband Suboxone offer substantial opioid treatment programs.

A lawsuit brought by a Compton resident detailing an alleged beating by deputies is just one of nearly three dozen federal civil rights lawsuits alleging brutality and racial bias at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The company is being paid $4 million a year to open and scan prisoners’ mail into a searchable database.

The exceptions to the policy change could actually worsen the racial disparities in marijuana-related arrests, defense attorneys told The Appeal.

An imprisoned organizer with Jailhouse Lawyers Speak said prison officials are trying to identify those leading the strike.

Now in its second week, a strike staged by prisoners over poor conditions, low wages, and other issues is resulting in consequences, including harsh conduct reports and placements in solitary confinement.

Prisoners are striking to end death by incarceration, prison slavery and poor living conditions.

Daniel Pantaleo remains with the NYPD four years after Garner’s death.

Several candidates are vying to become Milwaukee Sheriff in the wake of Sheriff David Clarke’s resignation last fall. But will they truly spurn his legacy of jail deaths and cooperation with ICE?

Activists say a once-radical campaign has been co-opted.

Last month, a Montana prosecutor made a major move to criminalize pregnant women. Big Horn County Attorney Gerald “Jay” Harris announced he would seek civil restraining orders against pregnant women who use drugs or alcohol. Under these court orders, pregnant women can be monitored for such conduct by law enforcement. If they are found in […]

In Oklahoma last month, the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office charged a 13-year-old boy with first-degree murder after an October play date ended with him hitting his two friends (ages 8 and 10) with a crossbow arrow, killing one. According to NewsOK, the arrow went through the 10-year-old, killing him, and punctured the 8-year-old in the arm. The 13-year-old boy told authorities that the incident was an accident. However, the 8-year-old who was hit told investigators that the 13-year-old was angry at his friends.

In Oklahoma last month, the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office charged a 13-year-old boy with first-degree murder after an October play date ended with him hitting his two friends (ages 8 and 10) with a crossbow arrow, killing one. According to NewsOK, the arrow went through the 10-year-old, killing him, and punctured the 8-year-old in the […]