The Appeal

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Worker-led nonprofit exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions.

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In a ruling Tuesday, a judge identified "glaring deficiencies" in Angola prison's heat-related labor policies. Plaintiffs say they're often forced to work outside in extreme temperatures, including on the Farm Line, which is "akin to 19th century slavery." @elizabethweill.bsky.social has more:

Judge Orders Changes to Louisiana Prison Labor Program Likened to ‘19th Century Slavery’theappeal.org Incarcerated laborers on Angola's Farm Line face “substantial risk of injury or death” during extreme heat, a federal judge ruled this week, ordering corrections officials to make policy changes to “p...

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The Supreme Court just gave the greenlight for state, county and municipal criminalization of homelessness. The increased negative framing and punitive social norms toward poverty and homelessness are going to lead to more assaults and murders of unhoused people.

At least 88 unhoused people were killed in Maricopa County, AZ, between 2021-2023, and that's almost certainly an undercount, as it doesn’t include dozens of homicide victims whose housing status the county couldn’t confirm. Experts say the deaths are a microcosm of a worrying national trend.

Unhoused People are Being Killed at Alarming Ratestheappeal.org At least 88 unhoused people were killed in the Phoenix, Arizona area between 2021 and 2023. Experts say it's part of a trend.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s failure to fill critical vacancies on the state parole board "perpetuates an unacceptable status quo that denies incarcerated individuals a fair and transparent process for parole decisions," writes Anthony Dixon of the Parole Preparation Project.

Governor Hochul Leaves New York’s Parole System in Crisistheappeal.org The governor’s broken promises have perpetuated an unacceptable status quo that denies incarcerated individuals a fair and transparent process for parole decisions.

Documents obtained by @elizabethweill.bsky.social show law enforcement claiming student protesters at Cal Poly Humboldt posed a "threat of domestic violent extremism" and would likely use violence against cops ahead of a raid that led to mass arrests.

Police Warned of ‘Violent Extremism’ From Pro-Palestinian Protesters Before Campus Raidtheappeal.org Documents obtained by The Appeal show law enforcement warning of a “strong possibility” of anti-police violence by student protesters at Cal Poly Humboldt ahead of a sweep that led to mass arrests.

"I think about all the people that drive by this prison every day—right in the heart of Raleigh—who have no idea that innocent people are behind these walls. Innocent people sitting in cells on Death Row waiting to be executed."

Living Among the Innocent on Death Rowtheappeal.org There have been six people on North Carolina's death row who have been found innocent since I’ve been here.

The overall crime rate is nearly as low as it’s been in decades, but that hasn’t stopped officials from pushing draconian measures that will fuel mass incarceration and harm public safety. We have a roadmap for a better path forward, so why are we just repeating the mistakes of the past?

Politicians Push Failed ‘Tough-on-Crime’ Measures as Crime Rates Near Record Lowstheappeal.org The overall crime rate is nearly as low as it’s been in decades, but that hasn’t stopped officials from pushing draconian measures likely only to fuel mass incarceration and harm public safety. It’s t...

After his release from prison, Abraham Corona got his CDL and started trucking. He was told it was a “felon-friendly” job that paid a living wage but quickly found that he, like many formerly incarcerated people, had been given false hope.

Commercial Trucking and the Road from Prison to Poverty Wagestheappeal.org Many people get trapped in the commercial trucking industry after being persuaded to earn their CDL in prison.

Gregory Dickens, a gay man, was sentenced to death in 1993 for two killings he did not commit. In partnership with LOOKOUT Phoenix, Adam M. Rhodes & Joseph Darius Jaafari revisit his controversial sentencing, tainted by a judge who had repeatedly harassed and abused his own son for being gay.

Was Gregory Dickens Sentenced to Death Because He Was Gay?theappeal.org Gregory Dickens was sentenced to death in Arizona for driving someone to the site of a murder. But anti-LGBTQ bias likely played a role.

Prolonged outages of prison telecom services Securus and JPay left incarcerated people unable to contact their loved ones last week. One user expressed frustration online at being forced to "spend so much money on this garbage app."

Incarcerated People Lose Communications Amid Securus’s Financial Woestheappeal.org Aventiv Technologies, which owns Securus and JPay, said its prison messaging services had repeatedly gone down amid financial woes.

In Vermont, a simple yet radical approach to restorative justice called Circles of Support and Accountability helps people who’ve committed sexual crimes find stability after prison. As Steven Yoder reports, it's a model communities can replicate on their own.

Inside Vermont’s Radical Approach to Helping the Formerly Incarcerated Succeedtheappeal.org Vermont has launched "Circles of Support," in which volunteers make sure formerly incarcerated people are able to thrive after prison.

Less than five months into 2024, deaths at the Clayton County Jail in the Atlanta suburbs have already surpassed last year’s total. The local sheriff’s lack of transparency has only compounded the pain for grieving families. @elizabethweill.bsky.social reports:

Deaths Mount at Scandal-Plagued Georgia Jailtheappeal.org Less than five months into 2024, deaths at the Clayton County Jail have already surpassed last year’s total. The local sheriff’s lack of transparency has only compounded the pain for grieving families...

Upon closer inspection, "many forms of property crime can be seen as a natural byproduct of rapacious capitalism, much like pollution," writes F.T. Green. Read more about how corporations have manufactured a panic that benefits their bottom line while fueling the carceral state.

How Corporations Enable Property Crime—And Use it to Fuel a Self-Serving Panictheappeal.org Upon closer examination, many of the most widely covered property crime phenomena can be better understood as the predictable result of a callous corporate push for profits.

Our Spring membership campaign is launching this week and we're aiming to sign up 200 new monthly and one-time donors. If you've never given before, all new one-time donations will be matched, so now is the best time. We can't exist without your support! theappeal.org/donate/?camp...

Donatetheappeal.org Support journalism that exposes the harms of the criminal legal system and elevates solutions that keep all people safe.

Studies show that “negative public perceptions” of police contribute to low recruitment. But as Lauren Bonds of the National Police Accountability Project writes, stripping away transparency and accountability measures will only deepen distrust and lead to more bad press for cops.

Police Blame Accountability for Low Recruitment. But It’s Their Only Hope.theappeal.org Police recruitment is dropping. Cops blame police accountability measures. But less police oversight only leads to bad press and less trust.

Read two more Mother's Day pieces from incarcerated writers: Marissa Potts writes about the agony of losing a child to an abusive partner—and being punished for it. Kwaneta Harris reflects on 17 years of missed Mother's Days and the role she now plays as a prison mom to other incarcerated women.

‘Mother’s Day Will Never Be the Same.’theappeal.org Mother’s Day will never be the same. Two years after Elena’s death, I try to understand why I was given a child just to lose her.

"I experienced my first childbirth while I was incarcerated in a county jail. When the police officers told me that the hospital would allow me only 72 hours with my child, I felt a wave of determination. I knew in my soul that I had to fight for that smell and touch of my baby."

‘I Refuse to Celebrate Mother’s Day Until We Are Together Again.’theappeal.org I will first become eligible for parole when she is nine years old. I refuse to celebrate Mother’s Day until we are together again.

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Yup. theappeal.org/corporations...

When residents of Leyden, Mass., started investigating their former police chief, they didn’t know it would end with criminal charges—and a successful push to reform the town’s government. Dusty Christensen reports in this collaboration with The Shoestring.

Police Corruption Scandal Shakes Up Small-Town Massachusettstheappeal.org When residents of Leyden, Massachusetts, started investigating their former police chief, they didn't know it would end with criminal charges—and a successful push to reform the town's government.

The recently enacted Secure D.C. bill ignores demands from District residents while giving handouts to an unelected prosecutor desperate to consolidate power. Patrice Sulton of DC Justice Lab explains how the legislative process boxed out the community and gave more power to law enforcement.

D.C.’s Misguided Crime Bill Delivers for Law Enforcement, Not the Communitytheappeal.org The recently enacted Secure D.C. bill ignores demands from District residents while giving handouts to an unelected prosecutor desperate to consolidate power.

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The charged “hate crimes” this article reports are in Louisiana, where the hate crime statute literally includes cops as a protected category legis.la.gov/Legis/LawPri...

Many protesters are facing serious charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, committing “hate crimes” against law enforcement, and resisting an officer with force—the latter of which could land a person in prison for one to three years. theappeal.org/prosecutors-...

We Tracked 2,200 Pro-Palestinian Campus Arrests. Here’s How Prosecutors Are Responding.theappeal.org The Appeal asked more than 80 prosecutors if they will file charges against pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters on college encampments.

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I hope folks remember this next time people start agitating for stronger hate crimes laws. The people who are a part of the system will decide if, when, and how those laws are enforced - and the system will (almost) always favor the advantaged over the disadvantaged.

Check out our map linked here to get all the latest details on the arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters nationwide. theappeal.org/prosecutors-...

There have been 2,500 arrests at campuses nationwide now. 113 prosecutors across the country are responsible for charging protesters. We asked every one if they plan to prosecute or dismiss charges against protesters. Here are their answers: theappeal.org/prosecutors-...

We Tracked 2,500 Pro-Palestinian Campus Arrests. Here’s How Prosecutors Are Responding.theappeal.org The Appeal asked more than 110 prosecutors if they will file charges against pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters on college encampments.

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In the face of a manufactured "property crime panic," F.T. Green examines how corporations enable the very theft to which they're falling victim. But rather than take responsibility, they're pushing for state-funded responses to protect their interests.

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This is honestly a connection I never made before myself, but now seems blisteringly obvious

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good customer service is the best theft deterrent so, naturally, every retailer under the sun is continually reducing payroll hours

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“many forms of property crime can be seen as a natural byproduct of rapacious capitalism, much like pollution”

Latest overview of campus protests: • 2,200+ arrests • Arrests are in the jurisdiction of 110 prosecutors nationwide • 34 prosecutors told us how they'll handle criminal charges • 24 prosecutors are running for reelection or higher office theappeal.org/prosecutors-...