Apr 02 Watch 7:21 New Mexico inmates connect with Ernest Hemingway’s life and work By Jeffrey Brown A new documentary series by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick called "Hemingway" premieres Monday on PBS. It's about one of America’s most famous and influential writers. In New Mexico, an unusual audience is watching, reading, and writing along. Jeffrey Brown… Continue watching
Mar 31 People leaving prison have a hard time getting jobs. The pandemic has made things worse By Justin Stabley In the best of economic times, formerly incarcerated people face an uphill battle to find full-time employment, facing administrative hurdles, social stigma and emotional health issues from their time in prison. Continue reading
Mar 28 Watch 7:57 The ‘disproportionate, inequitable justice’ of non-unanimous jury verdicts By PBS NewsHour For more on the issue of split-verdict juries from our signature segment, wrongful convictions, and the inequities in the American criminal justice system, New Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams joined Hari Sreenivasan to discuss, including what happens to those… Continue watching
Mar 28 Watch 9:00 Convictions by non-unanimous juries were banned in 2020. What happens to those imprisoned by them? By Tom Casciato The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1972 that non-unanimous juries—those that convict a defendant with a split decision—are a violation of the 6th Amendment. But a loophole, until recently, allowed two states to maintain the practice. Special Correspondent Tom Casciato… Continue watching
Mar 05 Watch 5:46 Minneapolis on edge as the trial in the police killing of George Floyd approaches By Fred de Sam Lazaro, Sam Lane The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is set to begin soon. Chauvin is accused of murder in last May’s killing of George Floyd -- a death that set off nationwide unrest. As special correspondent Fred de Sam… Continue watching
Feb 26 How to help someone coming out of the criminal justice system By Casey Kuhn When someone leaves prison, there is a high likelihood they will be either arrested or put back in detention. Non-profits, corrections offices and legal aid groups are trying to lower that high rate of recidivism by mitigating the struggle of… Continue reading
Feb 16 Watch 8:32 How obtaining identification can complicate the road from prison By William Brangham, Mike Fritz, Gretchen Frazee For men and women coming out of prison every year, one of the first steps to re-entering society can be one of the most difficult: simply getting a valid ID. William Brangham reports on the many hurdles returning citizens often… Continue watching
Jan 29 How driver’s license suspensions in New Mexico drive people deeper into debt By Elizabeth Flock It is common in the U.S. for drivers to lose a license for reckless driving or driving while under the influence. In New Mexico, which has one of the highest poverty and unemployment rates in the country, licenses may also… Continue reading
Jan 28 Why kids need special support when a parent is locked up By Sam Lane, Cat Wise CHICAGO – Ray Robinson was 8 years old when he was first detained by police. He grew up mostly on the south side of Chicago, surrounded by poverty, drugs and gang violence. Robinson’s parents “did the best they could,” but… Continue reading
Jan 27 Watch 7:23 Mothers leaving prison encounter uphill battle as they try reconnecting with family By Amna Nawaz, Mike Fritz, Gretchen Frazee Research has found that prisoners who maintain close contact with their family members while incarcerated have lower recidivism rates. But for formerly incarcerated mothers, rebuilding relationships with their children can be incredibly challenging after they serve time behind bars. Amna… Continue watching