India Claudy

Oct 14, 2023 | prisonjournalismproject.org | Elena Townsend-Lerdo |India Claudy

Dying in prison is becoming more common for people without a death penalty or life sentence. Prison Journalism Project’s special project on aging in prison highlighted that fact earlier this year. And recent data have continued to underscore the growing trend. According to the University of California, Los Angeles, Law Behind Bars Data Project, more than 6,000 incarcerated people died in prison in 2020, largely due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Oct 10, 2023 | prisonjournalismproject.org | Elena Townsend-Lerdo |India Claudy

Prison Journalism Project trains incarcerated writers to become journalists and publishes their stories. Subscribe to Inside Story to receive exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our best stories, as well as author profiles and other insights. Health hazards are everywhere in prison — even in something as essential as drinking water.

Oct 4, 2023 | prisonjournalismproject.org | Elena Townsend-Lerdo |India Claudy

Prison Journalism Project trains incarcerated writers to become journalists and publishes their stories. Subscribe to Inside Story to receive exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our best stories, as well as author profiles and other insights. When it comes to contracting COVID-19, U.S. prisons, jails and detention centers are among the most dangerous places to be. Incarcerated individuals are infected with COVID-19 at a rate five times higher than the average.

Aug 29, 2023 | prisonjournalismproject.org | Elena Townsend-Lerdo |India Claudy

The upcoming school year is a big one for prison education. As of July 1, more than 760,000 incarcerated people are eligible for free college paid for by the federal Pell Grant program. This change comes after Congress voted in 2020 to lift the ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated people.  Education behind bars has long been promoted as a way to increase employment opportunities post-release and provide social mobility for families.

Aug 2, 2023 | prisonjournalismproject.org | Elena Townsend-Lerdo |India Claudy

Summer is here, and that means record-high temperatures, wildfires and the beginning of hurricane season on the Atlantic coast. While many Americans seek refuge indoors with shade and air conditioning, others do not have those luxuries — or those choices. For incarcerated people, these extreme weather events can make prison life unbearable and, in some cases, lethal.