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Prison Health

An illustration shows a shirtless person sweating as they sit on top of their bed. The person is inside a cell, with a sink on the right.
St. Louis September 8
What It’s Like Enduring a Heat Wave in a Missouri Prison
Lawyers requested swift cooling measures in a prison with no A/C. One man shares the dangerous conditions inside while people await a judge’s ruling.
By , The Marshall Project, and Jeremy Hann
A Black medical ward assistant in a white uniform looks through an open door.
Closing Argument September 6
For People Mentally Unfit For Trial, Waits For Treatment Get Longer
U.S. defendants must be able to understand the charges against them — but many who can’t remain behind bars waiting for mental health treatment.
By
A Black man in a tan prison uniform stands in front of a black and white wall, holding a phone to his ear. A U.S. flag and two signs are on the wall. One sign reads, "Break the silence!" in English and Spanish. The second sign details that calls will subject to recording and listening.
Closing Argument August 30
From Surveillance to Robot Guards: How AI Could Reshape Prison Life
Critics worry about opaque data collection, privacy violations and the technology’s bias spreading in jails and prisons.
By
A male doctor, wearing a white lab coat and tan slacks, stands in front of a barred hallway.
Closing Argument August 9
How Trump’s Medicaid Cuts Will Slash Health Coverage for People Leaving Prison
The massive cuts will hit the formerly incarcerated hard — and that could increase crime, experts warn.
By
A pregnant woman wearing an orange prison uniform places her hand on her belly.
Closing Argument May 10
Why We Still Don’t Have Enough Solid Data on Pregnancy in Prison
A new report sheds light on pregnant people behind bars, but misses their lived experience.
By
An illustration shows two correction officers holding down an incarcerated man wearing an orange jumpsuit while nurses stand outside in the hallway.
Feature May 1
When Prison Nurses Must Choose Between Loyalty to Abusive Guards and Devotion to Patients
In dozens of cases, medical personnel in New York prisons were accused of covering up beatings — some under pressure — and rarely faced punishment.
By and
An incarcerated person wearing food preparation gloves adds French fries to a food tray that contains a hamburger and a small bag of baby carrots.
Closing Argument March 8
The Big Business of Bad Prison Food
A market analysis said the food service industry in U.S. prisons and jails is worth billions — and is forecasted to grow.
By
President Donald Trump, a White man wearing a dark suit, gestures with his hands out while sitting at a desk with a presidential seal on it. On the left, a man holds a stack of executive orders. In front of the president, photographers take pictures of him.
Analysis January 23
Trump’s Order Takes Aim at Transgender People in Prison
Few trans people receive gender-affirming housing and care in the federal prison system. This executive order would make it even harder.
By
A collage of, clockwise from top left: a photo of a woman with two children in their home; drawings of the faces of judicial candidates in circles with the text “Judicial Election Guide” in the center; an illustration of a surveillance device with a projection of a car coming out of a camera; drawings of four trans people, and above them an audio waveform; a collage of pictures, a gun, a police baton and helmet for The Marshall Project's story on the Black Shield organization; and a drawing of a school chair, with the words “The Hardest Case for Mercy” around it.
Analysis December 16, 2024
Some of Our Best Work for 2024
Online, in print, and on radio and TV, we delved into prison health care, political views of people behind bars, arrests of women who miscarry and more.
By
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a White man in a navy suit and red tie, speaks into a microphone while standing at a podium with the seal of Florida. Flags of the United States and the state of Florida are in the background.
News December 10, 2024
New Florida Prison Policy on Trans Health Care ‘Like Conversion Therapy’
With new restrictions on gender-affirming care, prisons confiscate underwear from trans people and compel them to cut their hair.
By
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