Check out some of our best reporting about Oregon from the last year: https://www.investigatewest.org/2025-investigative-reporting-on-oregon/

Cuts to the national Prison Rape Elimination Act Resource Center mean less support to states like Idaho for training, guidance and grants for preventing and responding to prison sexual abuse https://www.investigatewest.org/idahos-efforts-to-confront-prison-sexual-abuse-hampered-by-trump-cuts/

Check out some of our best reporting about Idaho this year: https://www.investigatewest.org/best-of-2025-investigative-reporting-idaho/

A WA plastic surgeon said in 2023 that his patients aren't required to sign NDAs, but former patients told us they signed agreements barring them from writing negative online reviews. https://www.investigatewest.org/despite-laws-against-it-some-cosmetic-surgeons-are-still-banning-negative-reviews/

Check out some of our best reporting about Washington this year: www.investigatewest.org/best-of-2025...

A novel program walks incarcerated Oregonians through developing a resume and cover letter, interviewing, and finding job opportunities. Its funding is set to run out soon. Don’t miss our new collaboration with @investigatewest.bsky.social:

A partnership between labor development boards and Oregon state agencies provides career services to incarcerated adults as they prepare for their release. Its future funding is uncertain. Read more in our new collaboration with @investigatewest.bsky.social:

As Idaho reckons with revelations of widespread sexual abuse by women’s prison staff, the Trump administration has cut off support meant to help states combat that kind of abuse. By @wbryen.bsky.social - www.investigatewest.org/idahos-effor...

Oregon has a rare program that helps people get jobs when they leave prison. It's made a big difference. But budget cuts are threatening to end the program, & lawmakers are failing to act to fix it. NEW, check it out: boltsmag.org/oregon-priso...

NEW in Bolts: Oregon has a novel program for providing one-on-one career coaching and job support for people after release. Budget cuts are threatening the program. Our latest collaboration with @investigatewest.bsky.social:

A novel Oregon program provided one-on-one career coaching, job fairs and support for people about to leave prison. But the program could shut down next year because of the state's budget woes. Read the story, a collab w/ @boltsmag.org - www.investigatewest.org/budget-cuts-...

On Google Reviews, a Spokane plastic surgeon has a rating of 4.8 out of 5. But that appears to be an artificial facade: some patients had to sign NDAs, in violation of a 2016 federal law. Read more from @danielwalters.bsky.social - www.investigatewest.org/despite-laws...

One Idaho atty said she planned to represent two men sent to Las Vegas for detention, but they were deported before she could get in touch again. Attorneys in Oregon have flagged similar concerns in a recent lawsuit.

Idaho's governor said the state's partnership with ICE is geared at transporting "dangerous" criminals, but 6 people taken to ICE custody had no convictions. The state wasn't verifying that people had criminal records until after local news exposed the issue. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-immigr...

Reports reveal a troubling pattern: Black, Native, and Latino youth are still far more likely to be sent to adult court, receive harsher sentences, and carry the long-term consequences into adulthood. From our friends at @investigatewest.bsky.social www.underscore.news/justice/most...

Some advocates would like to ban the practice of charging children as adults altogether, except in cases of aggravated murder. It’s a tough sell, with stiff opposition from law enforcement groups, though prosecutors aren’t totally dismissing the idea. https://ow.ly/hLzf50XHeyP

Many people who were detained in an Idaho immigration raid were sent to detention facilities in other states - making it harder for their families and lawyers to help them fight their detention. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-immigr...

From our friends at @investigatewest.bsky.social New research shows white youth in Washington are far more likely to get second-chance diversion programs while Native American and Black children are offered those opportunities the least. Read full story below www.underscore.news/justice/nati...

More than 80% of children charged as adults in state court are not white, data shows. Some Washington lawmakers would like to pass a law that would retroactively remove "juvenile points" that can lengthen sentences, but such proposals face stiff opposition. www.investigatewest.org/most-childre...

Board of Correction Chairman Dodds Hayden said InvestigateWest’s reporting warrants a clear message to prison staff that improper conduct won’t be tolerated — “a really loud, repeated message to get us back on track.” www.investigatewest.org/idaho-prison...

In 2011, WA school district called high school English teacher Curtis Johnston to a meeting over rumors he was in a romantic relationship with a student. The purpose of the meeting, according to school records: “To protect Curtis and the District.” https://ow.ly/WWlG50XANV1

A lawsuit filed by a former patient and employee makes alarming claims against the cosmetic surgeon, including that he let an unlicensed staffer help with a surgery, reused implants, sexually harassed staff and performed surgery drunk. www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...

In some of Washington’s largest counties, the gaps are startling. In Pierce County, Native American youths charged with a misdemeanor who had a prior offense are 50% less likely to be diverted than white youths. https://ow.ly/B3MC50XANj2

A lawsuit filed by Oregon, Washington and several other states called changes to the federal Continuum of Care program a "death blow" to their homeless services. https://www.investigatewest.org/oregon-wa-sue-trump-administration-over-overhaul-to-federal-homeless-housing-grant-program/

The decision comes after InvestigateWest reported on shoddy probes into many prison sexual abuse complaints. IDOC director Bree Derrick said an investigation into a prison delivery man was reopened after reviewing “a handful” of messages www.investigatewest.org/idaho-prison...

Oregon, WA lawsuit challenges Trump administration overhaul to federal homeless housing grant program www.investigatewest.org/oregon-wa-su...

Years after Oregon opened up Medicaid to doulas and lactation workers, many birth workers say their inability to get paid remains one of the most persistent obstacles to providing care to low-income families. www.investigatewest.org/oregon-promi...

#ICYMI Official stats show 39 people died in Washington prisons last year, a number that rose during the pandemic. The details of those deaths remain murky, and the full stories often emerge only after grieving family members demand records and answers from the state. https://ow.ly/wa9R50XxBRj

Washington mandates that young people facing their first, low-level charge be offered alternatives to jail. But after that, it’s largely up to prosecutors to decide - and that's the stage when the racial disparities for Indigenous youth get even worse. https://ow.ly/gpON50XuXyU

Our investigation revealed how sexual abuse in Idaho women's prisons goes largely unchecked, from camera blind spots that allowed guards to rape women to ignored complaints and sloppy investigations. Here are seven reforms the state could implement: www.investigatewest.org/how-idaho-co...

A report finds Native American and Black youths are the least likely to be offered a path out of the justice system, while white children are most likely to be offered a break. The racial disparities get wider when a youth has a prior offense. www.investigatewest.org/native-ameri...

HUD now requires unhoused people get treatment or enroll in other services if they want federally-funded permanent housing. Oregon providers say that conflicts with the state's funding requirements - forcing them to choose between federal or state dollars www.investigatewest.org/oregon-homel...

“The feds are saying one thing and the state is saying another thing, and that doesn’t work for me, the service provider, to be in compliance,” said Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell. “I’m out of compliance with one government or the other.” www.investigatewest.org/oregon-homel...

OR | Pregnant Oregonians need more addiction and mental health support — but the state’s network is fragile #NBHAPIndustryNews https://www.investigatewest.org/pregnant-oregonians-need-more-addiction-and-mental-health-support-but-the-states-network-is-fragile/

A chapter of the National Organization for Women urged Idaho Gov. Brad and DOC Director Bree Derrick to “immediately ensure the safety of the women in its custody” and called for stricter background checks and stronger accountability for abusive prison staff. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-leader...

41% of Oregon maternal deaths between 2018 and 2021 involved mental health or substance use as a driving factor. While experts say these deaths are likely preventable, the programs to help parents navigating pregnancy and addiction are fragile. www.investigatewest.org/pregnant-ore...

The first formerly incarcerated lawmaker in WA had her convictions vacated in 2023, and she said it felt like being freed from an "invisible prison." This year, emails show, she supported cuts to legal aid groups that help others do the same. www.investigatewest.org/make-it-make...

Even before being convicted of a crime, Indigenous youth in Washington state are 6.4 times more likely to be kept in detention than white children. www.investigatewest.org/native-ameri...

Gov. Brad Little said in a statement that he's asked the Board of Corrections to look into complaints of sexual abuse uncovered by our reporting. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-leader...

In a letter to Gov. Little, @now4idaho.bsky.social condemned the state’s “shameful” failure to protect women from sexual abuse by prison staff & called for an independent investigation & "immediate" action - prompted by @investigatewest.bsky.social reporting. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-leader...

"In Idaho prisons, more than two dozen women say guards prey on them with little fear of consequences — and those who speak up are often punished." The U.S. is a leader in women's incarceration, and behind bars, women are anything but safe. 🧵

For example: last summer, seven women accused Idaho prison staff of sexual abuse, but criminal probes didn't happen in four of those cases, and police only contacted 1 of the 7 alleged perpetrators. www.investigatewest.org/case-closed-...

39 people died in WA prisons last year, a number that rose during the pandemic. At least three other prisoners died of infections during FY 2024, one of whom was 45 years old. Read this story by @brandonblock.bsky.social - www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...

When an alleged domestic abuser in Washington state is ordered to surrender their guns, state law lays out a process to ensure guns are actually turned over. It's straightforward in theory - but people lie. www.investigatewest.org/many-wa-coun...

Idaho incarcerates more women per capita than any other state, driven largely by harsh drug charges with mandatory minimum sentences. The law barring prison staff from sexual contact with inmates has no mandatory minimum - most offenders avoid prison. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-law-ch...

Alex Kuhnhausen developed a bacterial infection while in solitary confinement. The repeated failures that followed offer a rare look at how decisions made by prison officials can turn treatable ailments deadly, @brandonblock.bsky.social reports. www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...

Washington state requires certain alleged domestic abusers to surrender their guns, but many counties lack mechanisms to actually verify if guns are turned over, relying on the honor system instead. www.investigatewest.org/many-wa-coun...

Mercer Island School District said it is investigating former English teacher Curtis Johnston hours after InvestigateWest reported how the district had previously dismissed allegations that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a student in 2011 www.investigatewest.org/investigatio...

The teacher was called to an Aug. 2011 personnel meeting over the allegations. The goal, according to school district records: "To protect Curtis and the District." bit.ly/43uI0Ev

Read the story: www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...