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

CoreCivic CEO: Trump Administration Plans Will ‘Supercharge’ the Private Prison Industry

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

This week’s private prison earnings calls make clear that Trump’s racist reign of terror has been great for business. “I would like to share how excited I am for and deeply proud of our team here at CoreCivic,” the company CEO, Damon T. Hininger, told investors on today’s call. “Our team has always been mission and outcomes-focused, but this is such a significant moment of time in our company’s history.
Home Page - The Appeal

1 week ago | theappeal.org

The Appeal is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to exposing how the U.S. criminal legal system fails to keep people safe and perpetuates harm.
Trump DOJ Stops Collecting Crime Data on Trans People

1 week ago | theappeal.org | Ethan Corey

Trans people are more than four times as likely to experience violent crime. Behind bars, incarcerated trans Americans experience sexual violence at more than 12 times the rate of other imprisoned people, according to U.S. Department of Justice survey data. Despite these statistics, the federal government will no longer collect data about the gender identity of people who experience violent crime or sexual misconduct.
Texas Jail Staff Laughed as Army Vet Choked and Died, Lawsuit Says

2 weeks ago | theappeal.org | Tana Ganeva

According to a wrongful death lawsuit, staff at the Angelina County Jail stood by as 33-year-old Glenn Smallwood vomited and died in front of them. On the night of June 16, 2023, police officers in Lufkin, Texas, approached 33-year-old Glenn Smallwood. He was shirtless, on his hands and knees, and appeared to be scratching at something on the sidewalk.
Trump DOJ Defunds National Prison Rape Prevention Center

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

A letter obtained exclusively by The Appeal says Trump’s Department of Justice has cut all funding to the Prison Rape Elimination Act Resource Center. The Department of Justice has terminated all funding for the National Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Resource Center, according to a letter exclusively obtained by The Appeal from the National PREA Resource Center. The cuts take effect immediately.
After Self-Immolations at Red Onion Prison, Virginia Prisoners Allege Crackdown

1 month 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.
ICE’s New Deputy Director Helped Oversee Louisiana’s Homeless Sweeps

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Delaney Nolan

As U.S. homelessness rates reach record highs, President Donald Trump has pledged to ban street camping, relocate unhoused people to privately-managed “tent cities,” and arrest anyone caught violating the new laws. But while Trump’s threats certainly sound draconian, they’re not exactly novel.
Shoplifting Panic Let Police Buy New Military and Surveillance Gear

1 month ago | theappeal.org | Joey Scott

The “shoplifting panic” myth let cops buy facial recognition software, drones, license plate readers, surveillance tech, and more.
Trump’s DOJ Seeks Death Penalty Against Luigi Mangione

1 month 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.