Georgetown University launched a research hub tasked with investigating the deaths of minors who perished in juvenile facilities nationwide in the last 150 years, an effort that will initially focus on the graves of Black boys who died in Maryland state custody. https://wapo.st/3MstO9v

Proud to serve as the new Chair of the Int’l Experts Network on Prison Oversight and Human Rights for the International Corrections and Prisons Assn (ICPA). Presenting in Istanbul, Turkey at the Annual Conference. @pjil.bsky.social @utexaslaw.bsky.social

Four deaths in two weeks: What’s behind the surge in violence at one Texas prison www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investi...

The Progressive Scandinavian Prison Model Comes to an Idaho Prison.

Important explainer about investigations of deaths behind bars in Ohio.

No shackles, no cuffs: Texas death row loosens solitary confinement for first time in years. Kudos to @tdcj.bsky.social for this new initiative. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investi...

If you want to know more abt this issue, check out the Proceedings from last year’s Deaths in Custody conference organized by the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab @pjil.bsky.social : pjil.lbj.utexas.edu/events/death...

To learn more about correctional oversight, consider @micheledeitch.bsky.social's wonderful resource: prisonoversight.org

I was on @TexasStandard today talking about two bad juv justice bills working their way through #TXLege. One bill would send more young kids to adult prisons; the other cuts off advocates’ access to juv facilities. They roll back 18 yrs of reforms. www.texasstandard.org/stories/texa...

I guess the pendulum has swung from “Little Scandinavia” to “Little El Salvador”… wapo.st/3F26ID7

Even if they rarely lead to consequences for staff, outside investigations into deaths in jails often still document information that families need to pursue wrongful death lawsuits or uncover evidence that contradicts jailers’ account of what happened. boltsmag.org/texas-j...

“Without an independent investigation, the public and policymakers would never know that the so-called ‘natural death’ was attributable to something jail staff did or didn’t do, and there would be no guidance as to how such deaths could be prevented in the future.”—Michele Deitch

Just because a jail death is “natural” doesn’t mean “there is nothing to see here,” as some jail officials would have you believe. EVERY jail death should be independently investigated.

"The State Commission on Correction looks really good on paper, but it doesn't do most of the things that it says it does." --Michele Deitch, #PrisonandJailInnovationLab As Deaths Mount in New York Jails & Prisons, Advocates Rally for Oversight @nysfocus.bksy.social nysfocus.com/2025/03/29/s...

Galveston Sheriff trying to be the next Sheriff Joe, apparently. www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/new...

Four people have died in the Shelby Co Jail in the last two weeks. That's nothing new for this facility and its leadership. In 2023, we explored this topic with @micheledeitch.bsky.social, a leading expert on in-custody deaths, in Ep. 54 of The Permanent Record. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

One reason why bills to create #prisonoversight are getting so popular? As I said to @stateline.org, "Legislators have become much more aware of what they don't know...They're totally reliant on corrections officials to tell them what's going on inside the facilities." stateline.org/2025/01/13/p...

"Correctional oversight will take center stage in this year’s legislative sessions, driven by mounting scrutiny of worsening prison and jail conditions and the growing adoption of independent oversight bodies across the country." Great piece with insightful commentary by @micheledeitch.bsky.social

I was on @npr.org this morning, talking about lockdowns in prisons. The holidays are an especially tough time for people in prison & their families, & lockdowns make things even worse. Thanks @carriejohnson.bsky.social for caring. @PJInnovationLab @TheLBJSchool www.npr.org/2024/12/24/n...

Check out this incredible deep dive investigation by @jrogalskikhou.bsky.social into excessive force & use of dangerous head strikes in the #HarrisCounty Jail. The videos & details are horrifying—watch the 30-min documentary. @PJInnovationLab @TheLBJSchool www.khou.com/article/news...

Extended lockdowns in prisons are now commonplace due to understaffing. As I say here: “People are not in that situation because of disciplinary reasons. They’re in there for the convenience & management of the institution.” stateline.org/2024/12/03/p...

If you missed the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab's recent "Deaths in Custody" conference, you can access the program & all the recordings at this link. This event included a "who's who" of US experts in the field--don't miss it! pjil.lbj.utexas.edu/deaths-custo...