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Criminal Justice

Overcorrection

Crisis in California Jails

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Overcorrection

California Sent $8 Billion to Counties to Improve Jails and Services but Failed to Track the Money, Says Auditor

The audit, requested following a surge of jail deaths reported on by The Sacramento Bee and ProPublica, found that county and state officials failed to adequately account for billions in spending.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee,

Local Reporting Network

Overcorrection

California Takes a First Step Toward Improving Its Failing County Jails

After an investigation by McClatchy and ProPublica, a state oversight agency is proposing tougher scrutiny and consequences for dangerous conditions in California’s county jails.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

Local Reporting Network

Overcorrection

California Governor’s Budget Makes Stronger Jail Oversight a Priority

After an investigation by McClatchy and ProPublica, Gov. Gavin Newsom submitted a budget that would give more authority to the board that oversees jails.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee,

Local Reporting Network

12 stories published since 2019

How to Navigate California County Jails: A Guide for Inmates and Their Loved Ones

by Beena Raghavendran,

California’s Jails Are in a Deadly Crisis. Here’s How Experts Suggest Fixing Them.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

California Gave Billions in Taxpayer Dollars to Improve Jails. But That’s Not How These Sheriffs Are Spending It.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

We Investigated the Crisis in California’s Jails. Now, the Governor Calls for More Oversight.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

“They Want to Be Treated Like Men and Women, Not as a Subhuman”

by ProPublica,

A Jail Increased Extreme Isolation to Stop Suicides. More People Killed Themselves.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

A Year After an Inmate Was Choked to Death in Jail, a Murder Charge but Few Details

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

Deadly Delays in Jail Construction Cost Lives and Dollars Across California

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

There Has Been an Explosion of Homicides in California’s County Jails. Here’s Why.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

Cruel and Unusual: A Guide to California’s Broken Prisons and the Fight to Fix Them

by Sacramento Bee and ProPublica,

California Tried to Fix Its Prisons. Now County Jails Are More Deadly.

by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

What Do You Know About County Jails in California? Talk to Us.

by Beena Raghavendran, ProPublica, Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

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Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

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Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

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Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

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