The Appeal
@theappeal.org
We are a worker-run newsroom reporting on the harms of the criminal legal system.
You can support our work here: https://theappeal.org/donate/
Sign up for our newsletter: https://theappeal.org/newsletter-subscribe/
You can support our work here: https://theappeal.org/donate/
Sign up for our newsletter: https://theappeal.org/newsletter-subscribe/
Pinned
The Appeal
@theappeal.org
· Nov 14
The Appeal Joins Truthout: A New Chapter Begins
Exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions that keep all people safe.
theappeal.org
We’re thrilled to share that Truthout is taking over The Appeal’s journalism. With Truthout’s powerhouse reputation for independent, reader-funded journalism, our reporting on overpolicing and mass incarceration will continue and reach even wider audiences.
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
Everett Palmer, Jr., died after he was strapped to a restraint chair in York County's jail in 2018. A grand jury made recommendations to prevent similar deaths. Instead of implementing them, York County used the chair 1,295 times—more often any other jail in PA. theappeal.org/york-county-...
January 21, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Everett Palmer, Jr., died after he was strapped to a restraint chair in York County's jail in 2018. A grand jury made recommendations to prevent similar deaths. Instead of implementing them, York County used the chair 1,295 times—more often any other jail in PA. theappeal.org/york-county-...
In February 2021, seven men sat down to pray in a Missouri prison. Within minutes, guards put them in shackles and covered them in pepper spray.
The incident highlights the dangers Muslims face practicing their religion in prison, @khawlanakua.bsky.social reports.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
The incident highlights the dangers Muslims face practicing their religion in prison, @khawlanakua.bsky.social reports.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
Pepper-Sprayed for Praying
A 2021 incident in a Missouri prison illustrates the barriers Muslims face practicing their religion behind bars.
theappeal.org
January 21, 2026 at 3:25 PM
In February 2021, seven men sat down to pray in a Missouri prison. Within minutes, guards put them in shackles and covered them in pepper spray.
The incident highlights the dangers Muslims face practicing their religion in prison, @khawlanakua.bsky.social reports.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
The incident highlights the dangers Muslims face practicing their religion in prison, @khawlanakua.bsky.social reports.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
Reposted by The Appeal
NEW FROM ME: for @theappeal.org. After a year of:
✅ Sifting through more than 200 pages of records.
✅ Sifting through more than 3,000 court document searches.
✅ Interviewing many sources.
✅ And filing many public records requests.
My story is finally published today.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
✅ Sifting through more than 200 pages of records.
✅ Sifting through more than 3,000 court document searches.
✅ Interviewing many sources.
✅ And filing many public records requests.
My story is finally published today.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
Pepper-Sprayed for Praying
A 2021 incident in a Missouri prison illustrates the barriers Muslims face practicing their religion behind bars.
theappeal.org
January 21, 2026 at 1:57 PM
NEW FROM ME: for @theappeal.org. After a year of:
✅ Sifting through more than 200 pages of records.
✅ Sifting through more than 3,000 court document searches.
✅ Interviewing many sources.
✅ And filing many public records requests.
My story is finally published today.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
✅ Sifting through more than 200 pages of records.
✅ Sifting through more than 3,000 court document searches.
✅ Interviewing many sources.
✅ And filing many public records requests.
My story is finally published today.
theappeal.org/pepper-spray...
A record number of people died in ICE detention last year, @mludwig.bsky.social reports for @truthout.org
Six more people have died during the first three weeks of 2026 alone.
theappeal.org/ice-deaths-d...
Six more people have died during the first three weeks of 2026 alone.
theappeal.org/ice-deaths-d...
Deaths in Detention Warn of Horrors Behind ICE’s Prison Walls
At least 32 people died in ICE jails in 2025. Six more have already died in ICE custody during the first three weeks of 2026.
theappeal.org
January 21, 2026 at 12:54 AM
A record number of people died in ICE detention last year, @mludwig.bsky.social reports for @truthout.org
Six more people have died during the first three weeks of 2026 alone.
theappeal.org/ice-deaths-d...
Six more people have died during the first three weeks of 2026 alone.
theappeal.org/ice-deaths-d...
Holly Krig, for @truthout.org: “I don’t want ‘justice’ from the shooters — they have none to give. I’d rather make a demand of the death-making institutions: die, dissolve, decay.”
theappeal.org/ice-renee-go...
theappeal.org/ice-renee-go...
We Can Honor Renee Nicole Good’s Life by Abolishing Death-Making Institutions
Those of us who see ourselves in Renee Good can take this moment to deepen our solidarities with all who are policed.
theappeal.org
January 20, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Holly Krig, for @truthout.org: “I don’t want ‘justice’ from the shooters — they have none to give. I’d rather make a demand of the death-making institutions: die, dissolve, decay.”
theappeal.org/ice-renee-go...
theappeal.org/ice-renee-go...
New in partnership with @invisible.institute and @phoenixnewtimes.com: Scotty Bach left the Seattle Police Department after an investigation found that he had attended Trump's rally at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Phoenix hired him anyway: theappeal.org/phoenix-poli...
Seattle Investigated a Cop for Attending Trump’s Rally on Jan. 6. Phoenix Hired Him.
Exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions that keep all people safe.
theappeal.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:37 PM
New in partnership with @invisible.institute and @phoenixnewtimes.com: Scotty Bach left the Seattle Police Department after an investigation found that he had attended Trump's rally at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Phoenix hired him anyway: theappeal.org/phoenix-poli...
A New Jersey Supreme Court decision ruled that the controversial "Shaken Baby Syndrome" lacked scientific support, barring testimony about SBS in criminal trials. @elizabethweill.bsky.social examines the potential ripple effects of the decision across the country.
theappeal.org/new-jersey-s...
theappeal.org/new-jersey-s...
New Jersey Supreme Court Rejects ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’
The first ruling of its kind in the country could give people convicted based on SBS testimony a new shot at freedom.
theappeal.org
December 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A New Jersey Supreme Court decision ruled that the controversial "Shaken Baby Syndrome" lacked scientific support, barring testimony about SBS in criminal trials. @elizabethweill.bsky.social examines the potential ripple effects of the decision across the country.
theappeal.org/new-jersey-s...
theappeal.org/new-jersey-s...
Reposted by The Appeal
Reposted by The Appeal
There's the investigation I did for @theappeal.org that looked into the invasive surveillance tech police bought w/ state $ under the premise it'd help fight against organized retail theft. Including ALPRs, real-time crime fusion centers, and social media surveillance
theappeal.org/shoplifting-...
theappeal.org/shoplifting-...
Cops Used the Shoplifting Panic to Buy Tons of New Equipment
The “shoplifting panic” myth let cops buy facial recognition software, drones, license plate readers, surveillance tech, and more.
theappeal.org
December 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
There's the investigation I did for @theappeal.org that looked into the invasive surveillance tech police bought w/ state $ under the premise it'd help fight against organized retail theft. Including ALPRs, real-time crime fusion centers, and social media surveillance
theappeal.org/shoplifting-...
theappeal.org/shoplifting-...
Reposted by The Appeal
New Jersey’s highest court has banned testimony on Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) from the state’s courtrooms. The decision could help unravel wrongful convictions throughout the country. New for @theappeal.org @truthout.org theappeal.org/new-jersey-s...
New Jersey Supreme Court Rejects ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’
The first ruling of its kind in the country could give people convicted based on SBS testimony a new shot at freedom.
theappeal.org
December 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
New Jersey’s highest court has banned testimony on Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) from the state’s courtrooms. The decision could help unravel wrongful convictions throughout the country. New for @theappeal.org @truthout.org theappeal.org/new-jersey-s...
New from Kevin Light-Roth: Tim Ballard promoted the use of sting operations to combat sex trafficking until his own sexual misconduct allegations tore his career to shreds. Now, the families of men he helped send to prison are demanding answers: theappeal.org/net-nanny-wa...
Tim Ballard’s Reputation is in Shambles. The Americans He Helped Arrest Want Answers.
After Ballard’s fall, the people he helped arrest in Washington want to know why no one seems willing to take a second look at their cases.
theappeal.org
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
New from Kevin Light-Roth: Tim Ballard promoted the use of sting operations to combat sex trafficking until his own sexual misconduct allegations tore his career to shreds. Now, the families of men he helped send to prison are demanding answers: theappeal.org/net-nanny-wa...
Reposted by The Appeal
Welcome to Truthout, @theappeal.org! ❤️
We’re thrilled to share that Truthout is taking over The Appeal’s journalism. With Truthout’s powerhouse reputation for independent, reader-funded journalism, our reporting on overpolicing and mass incarceration will continue and reach even wider audiences.
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
The Appeal Joins Truthout: A New Chapter Begins
Exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions that keep all people safe.
theappeal.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Welcome to Truthout, @theappeal.org! ❤️
We’re thrilled to share that Truthout is taking over The Appeal’s journalism. With Truthout’s powerhouse reputation for independent, reader-funded journalism, our reporting on overpolicing and mass incarceration will continue and reach even wider audiences.
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
The Appeal Joins Truthout: A New Chapter Begins
Exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions that keep all people safe.
theappeal.org
November 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM
We’re thrilled to share that Truthout is taking over The Appeal’s journalism. With Truthout’s powerhouse reputation for independent, reader-funded journalism, our reporting on overpolicing and mass incarceration will continue and reach even wider audiences.
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
theappeal.org/news_awards/...
ICYMI: Last fall, @jewstein3000.bsky.social reported a deep dive into Maryland's troubled Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Last month, an official investigation by the Maryland AG uncovered at least 36 people killed by police whose deaths were misclassified. theappeal.org/maryland-ocm...
How Deep is the Scandal at Maryland’s Medical Examiner Office?
The state launched an investigation after the former chief medical examiner's biased testimony in the George Floyd murder trial. Now, an Appeal analysis finds major flaws in the probe's design.
theappeal.org
June 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
ICYMI: Last fall, @jewstein3000.bsky.social reported a deep dive into Maryland's troubled Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Last month, an official investigation by the Maryland AG uncovered at least 36 people killed by police whose deaths were misclassified. theappeal.org/maryland-ocm...
Reposted by The Appeal
For @theappeal.org, authors @chriswblackwell.bsky.social +
@sarahlsax.bsky.social detail how prison strip searches serve as weapons of humiliation rather than security measures.
theappeal.org/strip-search...
@sarahlsax.bsky.social detail how prison strip searches serve as weapons of humiliation rather than security measures.
theappeal.org/strip-search...
Strip Searches Have a Racist, Dehumanizing Legacy
Strip searches serve as weapons of humiliation rather than security measures
theappeal.org
June 4, 2025 at 2:14 PM
For @theappeal.org, authors @chriswblackwell.bsky.social +
@sarahlsax.bsky.social detail how prison strip searches serve as weapons of humiliation rather than security measures.
theappeal.org/strip-search...
@sarahlsax.bsky.social detail how prison strip searches serve as weapons of humiliation rather than security measures.
theappeal.org/strip-search...
Efforts to criminalize trans people and the medical care many trans people rely on continue to escalate at the state and federal levels. Adam M. Rhodes takes a look at what trans people, their loved ones, and medical providers can do to protect themselves: theappeal.org/trans-legal-...
Trump’s War on Trans People: A Legal Survival Guide
State and federal governments have moved to criminalize trans people, parents of trans children, and healthcare providers.
theappeal.org
May 22, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Efforts to criminalize trans people and the medical care many trans people rely on continue to escalate at the state and federal levels. Adam M. Rhodes takes a look at what trans people, their loved ones, and medical providers can do to protect themselves: theappeal.org/trans-legal-...
This new op-ed from @joshpage.bsky.social, Anna Hall, and Anna Simonton argues that Minnesota needs more than bail reform—building a safe and just pretrial system requires a ground-up transformation. theappeal.org/minnesota-ba...
Beyond Bail Reform: Minnesota’s Vision for Pretrial Transformation
Creating a safe and just pretrial system in Minnesota requires more than small tweaks—we need a ground-up transformation.
theappeal.org
May 21, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This new op-ed from @joshpage.bsky.social, Anna Hall, and Anna Simonton argues that Minnesota needs more than bail reform—building a safe and just pretrial system requires a ground-up transformation. theappeal.org/minnesota-ba...
🚨 Our newsroom is in crisis. Without urgent donations, The Appeal may not be able to keep publishing.
May 15, 2025 at 7:36 PM
🚨 Our newsroom is in crisis. Without urgent donations, The Appeal may not be able to keep publishing.
Reposted by The Appeal
D. Razor Babb, Emily Nonko, and Nina Zweig report with @theappeal.org:
www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio... /7
www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio... /7
"If You Want to Live, Don't Drink the Water"
www.typeinvestigations.org
May 15, 2025 at 5:17 PM
D. Razor Babb, Emily Nonko, and Nina Zweig report with @theappeal.org:
www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio... /7
www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio... /7
Reposted by The Appeal
After mystery illnesses and toxic reports, prisoners at California’s Mule Creek State Prison worry their water is killing them. @theappeal.org
D. Razor Babb, Emily Nonko, and Nina Zweig report: www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
D. Razor Babb, Emily Nonko, and Nina Zweig report: www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
"If You Want to Live, Don't Drink the Water"
www.typeinvestigations.org
May 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
After mystery illnesses and toxic reports, prisoners at California’s Mule Creek State Prison worry their water is killing them. @theappeal.org
D. Razor Babb, Emily Nonko, and Nina Zweig report: www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
D. Razor Babb, Emily Nonko, and Nina Zweig report: www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
Reposted by The Appeal
New from @theappeal.org and @typeinvestigations.org: For years, people incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison have raised the alarm about mystery diseases and foul-smelling water at the prison. But no one is taking responsibility for ensuring the water is safe. theappeal.org/mule-creek-d...
“If You Want to Live, Don’t Drink the Water”
After mystery illnesses and toxic reports, prisoners at California’s Mule Creek State Prison worry their water is killing them.
theappeal.org
May 15, 2025 at 1:59 PM
New from @theappeal.org and @typeinvestigations.org: For years, people incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison have raised the alarm about mystery diseases and foul-smelling water at the prison. But no one is taking responsibility for ensuring the water is safe. theappeal.org/mule-creek-d...
Reposted by The Appeal
For @typeinvestigations.org and @theappeal.org, D. Razor Babb and Emily Nonko spent over a year investigating (across prison walls) the drinking water concerns at Mule Creek State Prison, where Razor is incarcerated.
"If you want to live, don't drink the water..."
theappeal.org/mule-creek-d...
"If you want to live, don't drink the water..."
theappeal.org/mule-creek-d...
“If You Want to Live, Don’t Drink the Water”
After mystery illnesses and toxic reports, prisoners at California’s Mule Creek State Prison worry their water is killing them.
theappeal.org
May 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM
For @typeinvestigations.org and @theappeal.org, D. Razor Babb and Emily Nonko spent over a year investigating (across prison walls) the drinking water concerns at Mule Creek State Prison, where Razor is incarcerated.
"If you want to live, don't drink the water..."
theappeal.org/mule-creek-d...
"If you want to live, don't drink the water..."
theappeal.org/mule-creek-d...
Reposted by The Appeal
My latest for @theappeal.org:
James Carver spent 36 years in prison after he was convicted of setting one of the deadliest fires in #Massachusetts history. But after reviewing new scientific evidence, a judge set him free.
“They took my life away for nothing,” Carver said.
James Carver spent 36 years in prison after he was convicted of setting one of the deadliest fires in #Massachusetts history. But after reviewing new scientific evidence, a judge set him free.
“They took my life away for nothing,” Carver said.
“They took my life away for nothing.”
James Carver spent 36 years in prison for allegedly setting one of the deadliest fires in Massachusetts history.
theappeal.org
May 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
My latest for @theappeal.org:
James Carver spent 36 years in prison after he was convicted of setting one of the deadliest fires in #Massachusetts history. But after reviewing new scientific evidence, a judge set him free.
“They took my life away for nothing,” Carver said.
James Carver spent 36 years in prison after he was convicted of setting one of the deadliest fires in #Massachusetts history. But after reviewing new scientific evidence, a judge set him free.
“They took my life away for nothing,” Carver said.
In an earnings call this morning, CoreCivic's CEO told investors that Trump will "supercharge" the private-prison industry.
"Never in our 42-year company history have we had so much activity and demand for our services as we are seeing right now.” theappeal.org/corecivic-ea...
"Never in our 42-year company history have we had so much activity and demand for our services as we are seeing right now.” theappeal.org/corecivic-ea...
CoreCivic CEO: Trump Administration Plans Will ‘Supercharge’ the Private Prison Industry
In a quarterly earnings call, the private prison company told investors that it plans to expand its operations across the country.
theappeal.org
May 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
In an earnings call this morning, CoreCivic's CEO told investors that Trump will "supercharge" the private-prison industry.
"Never in our 42-year company history have we had so much activity and demand for our services as we are seeing right now.” theappeal.org/corecivic-ea...
"Never in our 42-year company history have we had so much activity and demand for our services as we are seeing right now.” theappeal.org/corecivic-ea...
Reposted by The Appeal
For @theappeal.org, @chriswblackwell.bsky.social + Antoine Davis write about the infamous "Scared Straight" program.
"There are far better ways to deter at-risk youth from crime."
theappeal.org/prison-mento...
"There are far better ways to deter at-risk youth from crime."
theappeal.org/prison-mento...
Imprisoned People Can Do More than ‘Scare’ Kids ‘Straight’
“Scared straight” programs don’t work. But that doesn’t mean incarcerated people shouldn’t mentor at-risk kids.
theappeal.org
May 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
For @theappeal.org, @chriswblackwell.bsky.social + Antoine Davis write about the infamous "Scared Straight" program.
"There are far better ways to deter at-risk youth from crime."
theappeal.org/prison-mento...
"There are far better ways to deter at-risk youth from crime."
theappeal.org/prison-mento...