A parishwide coalition for sentencing reform begins with a shared understanding of the problem: excessive imprisonment affects whole communities, not only…
Drug possession arrests are often presented as neutral records of law enforcement activity. A closer look shows that an arrest figure reflects much more than…
For families with a loved one behind bars, a simple phone call can feel like a luxury. Across the United States, telecommunications companies have long charged…
Pretrial detention is often treated as the safest response when someone is charged but has not been found guilty. In practice, keeping people in custody before…
A person does not stop being a parent, partner, sibling or friend when they are detained. Yet restrictive jail visitation policies can treat family contact as…
When a person experiencing psychosis, suicidal thoughts, severe depression or a drug-related mental health crisis encounters police, the next few hours can…
A criminal record can follow a person long after a sentence, parole order or court matter has ended. In Australia, it may appear during a rental application…
Leaving the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison does not automatically mean returning to ordinary life. A person may walk out with little money, no stable place to…
Cash bail is often described as a way to make sure an accused person returns to court. In practice, it can become a financial barrier that separates people who…
Public money used in a jail can be difficult to follow. A single line in a parish budget may cover staffing, food, transport, medical care, maintenance,…