The Appeal

At The Appeal, we create unique journalism centered around criminal justice, aiming to inform the public and hold authorities responsible. Our attention is primarily on the key factors contributing to mass incarceration, especially at the state and local levels. With almost 25% of Americans having a criminal record, and state facilities housing 87% of those incarcerated, our work sheds light on the real effects of common criminal justice practices. We utilize our extensive knowledge to highlight the human side of these issues.

National

English

Online/Digital

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#548936

United States

#129897

Law and Government/Legal

#700

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

After Self-Immolations at Red Onion Prison, Virginia Prisoners Allege Crackdown

1 week ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

At least six people at Red Onion intentionally lit themselves on fire last year. Now, prisoners say staff are forcing people to comply—or cutting their electricity. Besides an overhead light, Sidney Bowman says he hasn’t had electricity in his cell at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison for roughly three months.
Trump’s DOJ Seeks Death Penalty Against Luigi Mangione

3 weeks ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

Attorney General Pamela Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing health insurance executive Brian Thompson. The U.S. Department of Justice said the “murder was an act of political violence.”On Dec. 4, a gunman shot and killed Thompson as he was on his way to an investors meeting in Manhattan. At the time of his death, his annual compensation package was worth over $10 million. On Dec. 9, Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania.
DOJ Seeks Five-Year Minimum Sentences for Tesla Property Damage

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Ethan Corey |Meg O’Connor

This is a breaking news story and may be updated. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced on Tuesday that the Department of Justice has filed charges against people who allegedly damaged Tesla property. Tesla is Elon Musk’s car company. The DOJ did not immediately respond to requests for further information. Bondi did not say how many people had been charged or what they had been charged with.
Trans Prisoners Say Trump’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care Could Be Deadly

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

For the last nine years, Alishea Sophia Kingdom, a transgender woman, has received hormone therapy. In January, prison staff abruptly stopped her medication, causing her to become hopeless and suicidal. “The distress of losing my care has caused me to experience anxiety, panic attacks, and mood swings, and I have been unable to sleep,” she said in a statement.
Trans Prisoners Sue to Block Trump Order Banning Gender-Affirming Care

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

On Friday, three transgender federal prisoners filed a class-action lawsuit against President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other federal prison officials for denying them access to life-saving medical care. On Jan.
Palestinian Activist Detained at Louisiana ICE Facility With History of Deaths and Abuse

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Ethan Corey

Inspections have found repeated violations of federal standards at GEO Group’s Central Louisiana ICE Processing Facility. Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist arrested in New York City over the weekend, is being detained at one of the most dangerous immigration jails in the country.
‘Orange Crush’ Officers Sexually Humiliated, Abused Men in Illinois Prisons, Lawsuit Says

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

More than a decade ago, Illinois correctional officers allegedly attacked, sexually humiliated, and tortured hundreds of prisoners. At the end of March, a lawsuit filed on the victims’ behalf is finally scheduled to go to trial. In 2015, the Uptown People’s Law Center and other attorneys filed a class action suit against Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) officials and members of the state’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT)—known as “Orange Crush” due to their uniform’s colors.
Private Prison Exec Calls Mass Deportation Plans ‘Unprecedented Opportunity’

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

GEO Group Chairman George Zoley said the company stands to gain up to $1 billion in additional revenue from detaining and surveilling undocumented immigrants. On today’s quarterly earnings call, for-profit prison operator GEO Group’s new CEO announced that this is an “unprecedented time in our company’s history.” “We believe the scale of the opportunity before our company is unlike any we’ve previously experienced,” J.
Virginia Prison Uses Threats, Bribes to Address Self-Harm

2 months ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

After half a dozen men at Red Onion State Prison set themselves on fire, the Virginia Department of Corrections asked incarcerated people to sign an agreement that offers incentives—such as a fish fry, free commissary bags, and group recreation—if they don’t harm themselves, says a local civil liberties group.
Trump’s New Attorney General Directs Prosecutors to Pursue Harshest Sentences Possible

2 months ago | theappeal.org | Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg |Ethan Corey

In memos released this week, Pam Bondi rolled back Biden-era reforms and called for a crackdown on immigrants and college students. On Wednesday, newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a flurry of memos that seek to advance President Trump’s oppressive, racist, and violent agenda. The memos can be found here, and we’ve highlighted some common themes below.