Criminal Justice
The Bogus Murder Confession That Changed How I Investigate Family Violence
A Texas prosecutor revisits the domestic abuse case he'll never forget.
What I’ve Learned as a Jail Doctor
The exam room was set up so the inmate sat between me and the bright red panic button.
When Someone You Love Dies in Police Custody and They Blame 'Excited Delirium'
Many cops are taught that some people lose it, gain superhuman strength, and die. But is the condition real?
How I Break Prison Rules to Keep in Touch with My Family
Trying to maintain contact with my loved ones turns into a maze of skipped meals, smuggled cell phones, and a whole lot of pain.
The Danger of Being a Sex Worker Whose Clients Are High
"I've played with someone's limp coke dick for an hour before. It sucked but... I needed the cash."
Why I Hated Being a Cop
I'm no regular cop hater: I was crippled in the line of duty, with the boot they cut off me at the hospital to prove it.
The War on Drugs Isn't Even Working in Prison
Frequent urine tests, controversial scanners, and false positives make for a dark scene.
A Black Man Described by a Juror as an N-Word Is Scheduled to Get Executed Tonight
Kenneth Fults pleaded guilty and is set to die Tuesday. But eight years after the intellectually disabled man was sentenced, a white juror showed his true self.
A Prosecutor’s Regret: How I Sentenced Someone to Life in Prison for Selling Drugs
We caught him selling a small amount of crack: only 57 grams.
My Regrets As a Juror Who Sent a Man to Death Row
If I could have done anything, it would have been to deadlock the jury—but I didn't have the personal strength to do it.
Men of Color on What It's Like Getting Busted for Weed in Today's New York City
The NYPD has softened the penalties for possessing pot, but law enforcement still hits young men of color harder than everyone else.
Friday Night Hip-Hop on Rikers Island
Hanging out with teenage inmates as they make beats and write rhymes inside the notorious New York City jail.