Death Sentence: COVID-19 Cases Are Soaring in Jails & Prisons

The warnings were clear: COVID-19 would spread like wildfire in jails and prisons. It has. The top COVID-19 clusters across America are overwhelmingly jails and prisons, and efforts to reduce jail populations have stalled amid a surge in infections. Among the hardest-hit is San Quentin State Prison…

How Racism Fuels Higher Coronavirus Death Rates

While the coronavirus has indiscriminately ravaged communities across the nation, African Americans are dying at disproportionately higher rates, according to preliminary data. Those who study racial health disparities aren’t surprised, considering that African Americans suffer inordinately from ch…

[BONUS] Exclusive: San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin Talks Bail, Sentencing Reforms & COVID-19

A career public defender is now on the other side of the law. We speak to San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin about embracing reforms as district attorney of a prominent U.S. city, and combating COVID-19. News Beat is an award-winning Morey Creative Studios podcast. Producer: Michael "Ma…

Coronavirus Behind Bars: Florida Jails + Effects of Visitation Bans

As part of our continuing coronavirus coverage, we examine the threat the virus poses to correctional facilities in Florida, which acted much later than other states to enact bans on nonessential workers. In the second part of the episode, we explore how the suspension of family visitation impacts …

Coronavirus Behind Bars: Crisis In New York

On March 13, the foremost expert on healthcare in correctional settings appeared on this podcast and warned of a “perilous and looming threat” inside these facilities. Rikers Island now has more than 200 coronavirus cases and recorded its first COVID-19-related death last weekend. Advocates warn th…

When Epidemics Collide: Coronavirus, Criminal Justice & Poverty

As the coronavirus pandemic exposes long-standing inequities in the United States, advocates say marginalized communities are going to suffer the worst from the consequences of a broken economy, neglect, and a decaying social safety net. Featuring Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis (Poor People's Campaign), M…

Expert Warns Of ‘Perilous’ Coronavirus Threat In Jails & Prisons

One of the foremost experts on correctional health services warned of a “very perilous and looming threat” inside American correctional facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. [BONUS EPISODE]