inmates

Roads are blocked near Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania on Wednesday as authorities continue searching for Danelo Cavalcante, who escaped last week.

National

There are several manhunts underway this week. But don't panic, an expert says

2:23pm September 07, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Authorities in Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C. and London are searching for people who escaped from prison in recent days. Here's why these events are more common than you think — and what you can do.

NC inmate safety, juvenile justice changes begin Wednesday

3:53pm December 01, 2021

by Associated Press

Some North Carolina laws that took effect on Wednesday are designed to protect expectant mothers behind bars, keep more elementary school-age children accused of misdeeds out of court and force pol

The IRS distributed the second round of stimulus money to eligible inmates using debit cards, which state prisons are unable to process. Correctional officials have communicated the problem to the federal agency, but it's unclear what steps the IRS will t

National

Stimulus Debit Cards Unusable For Prison Inmates In At Least Four States

8:01am February 06, 2021

by Jimmy Jenkins

The debit cards can't be processed in prisons so inmates can't deposit their payments. The IRS has acknowledged the problem, but hasn't offered an immediate solution.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan takes his mask off as he arrives for a press conference to address COVID-19 concerns in Annapolis, the state capital, on Tuesday.

National

Maryland Governor Orders Early Release Of Inmates To Stem Spread Of Coronavirus

12:10pm November 19, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

Inmates must test negative for COVID-19 before their release. No one convicted of a sexual offense or crime of violence is eligible. The move is to protect both prisoners and prison employees.

National

'I Just Start Cutting.' Self-Harm Incidents Surge In Arizona Prisons

7:03am August 12, 2020

by Jimmy Jenkins

The number of inmates who deliberately harm themselves in Arizona prisons has increased by more than 300% since 2015. Advocates say it points to a lack of proper mental health treatment.

Queue Listen Now

Plainfield Correctional Facility, an Indiana state prison southwest of Indianapolis, listed 89 cases of test-confirmed COVID-19 among inmates and four deaths from the illness, as of Thursday.

Health & Safety

Crowded Prisons Are Festering 'Petri Dishes' For Coronavirus, Observers Warn

11:06am May 01, 2020

by Jake Harper

Indiana prisoners say they can't protect themselves from the virus, as the governor resists calls to reduce overcrowding. "Scared for our lives," says an inmate.

The progressive advocacy group FWD.US recommends Arizona release at least 10,000 inmates, or one-quarter of the prison population, to make a significant impact in stopping the spread of the virus.

National

'A Ticking Time Bomb': Advocates Warn COVID-19 Is Spreading Rapidly Behind Bars

11:27am April 28, 2020

The spread of coronavirus behind bars is likely much more rampant than what's known right now. In prisons, jails and immigration detention centers, limited testing already shows widespread infection.

Queue Listen Now

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department van enters the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles on April 1, 2020. California is planning to release as many as 3,500 inmates who were due to be paroled in the next two months as it tries to free sp

National

Advocates: Inmates Released Early Due To Pandemic Need Help To Safely Shelter

4:44pm April 09, 2020

by Eric Westervelt

In California, former inmates released early to help reduce coronavirus risks behind bars lack support when they get out, say advocates, who want better, organized help to address the crisis.

National

Second Federal Inmate Dies From COVID-19

5:26pm April 01, 2020

by Rosemary Westwood

On March 31, the Federal Bureau of Prisons began a systemwide 14-day quarantine for inmates to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

A picture of a cell at the state prison in Florence, Ariz., where attorneys for the Prison Law Office and ACLU found what they called "squalid" and "filthy" conditions on a recent tour.

National

Prisons And Jails Change Policies To Address Coronavirus Threat Behind Bars

5:00am March 23, 2020

by Jimmy Jenkins

Some prisons are waiving fees for hygiene supplies and county jails are releasing certain inmates early to combat the potential threat posed by the Covid-19 virus.