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The Appeal

@theappeal.org

50K followers 1K following 330 posts

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/

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The Appeal @theappeal.org · Jun 9

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.

Reposted by The Appeal

Empowerment Avenue @empowermentave.bsky.social · Jun 4

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...

Strip Searches Have a Racist, Dehumanizing Legacy

Strip searches serve as weapons of humiliation rather than security measures

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 22

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.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 21

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.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

The Appeal is one of the few forces pushing back. Every month we stay open means another month of exposing abuse, challenging impunity, and giving voice to those most harmed.

👉Will you make a donation today—and ask one friend to give with you?

t.co/xuKhRcNvMx

https://theappeal.org/donate/

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

Right now, the Trump administration is weaponizing the criminal legal system—jailing protesters without charges, expanding pretrial detention, and eroding due process and habeas corpus.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

That’s why we’re turning to you. We’re kicking off our Spring Campaign with a goal to raise at least $60,000—the amount it takes to keep The Appeal running for one month.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

These are the kinds of stories few others will tell. And they’re at risk of disappearing.

The funding landscape is bleak. Some foundations are afraid to support work that challenges power. Despite The Appeal’s enormous success, our own funders are clawing back support.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

- Elevate the voices of incarcerated writers like contributing editor Chris Blackwell, whose work is reshaping public understanding of prison life.

t.co/HFIhS1xHIe

https://theappeal.org/prison-snow-windows-chris-blackwell/

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

- Publish a viral investigation into commissary markups, revealing how incarcerated people are gouged for basic goods.

t.co/04nInMlLYl

https://theappeal.org/locked-in-priced-out-how-much-prison-commissary-prices/

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

In just the last year, your support has helped us:

- Uncover medical neglect in a private prison, leading to a state audit and new legislation.

- Expose the inhumane conditions at the Louisiana detention center where Mahmoud Khalil is being held.

t.co/44ymcDdkBP

https://theappeal.org/mahmoud-khalil-lasalle-detention-center-louisiana/

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 15

🚨 Our newsroom is in crisis. Without urgent donations, The Appeal may not be able to keep publishing.

Reposted by The Appeal

Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · May 15

D. Razor Babb, Emily Nonko, and Nina Zweig report with @theappeal.org:

www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio... /7

"If You Want to Live, Don't Drink the Water"

www.typeinvestigations.org

Reposted by The Appeal

Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · May 15

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...

"If You Want to Live, Don't Drink the Water"

www.typeinvestigations.org

Reposted by The Appeal

Ethan Corey @ethanscorey.bsky.social · May 15

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.

Reposted by The Appeal

Empowerment Avenue @empowermentave.bsky.social · May 15

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”

After mystery illnesses and toxic reports, prisoners at California’s Mule Creek State Prison worry their water is killing them.

Reposted by The Appeal

Andrew Quemere @andrewqmr.bsky.social · May 14

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.

“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.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 8

This comes one day after the CEO of GEO Group, CoreCivic's main competitor, said he was "impressed" and "excited" by Trump's plans. theappeal.org/geo-group-ea...

Private Prison Company GEO Group “Excited” About Mass Deportation

Exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions that keep all people safe.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 8

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...

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.

Reposted by The Appeal

Empowerment Avenue @empowermentave.bsky.social · May 8

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...

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.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 7

Check out Appeal Strategy and Legal Director Molly Greene on a recent episode of Beyond the Box, a criminal-justice-reform podcast from the Urban Justice Center www.urbanjustice.org/podcast/#mol...

Beyond the Box Podcast

Beyond the Box: The social justice podcast where bold conversations spark real-world change. Episode List: Season 2: Ep3: How Do We Reform a Criminal Legal System that

www.urbanjustice.org

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 7

“Scared straight” programs don’t work. But that doesn’t mean incarcerated people shouldn’t mentor at-risk kids. 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.

The Appeal @theappeal.org · May 7

On today’s quarterly earnings call, for-profit prison operator GEO Group’s CEO J. David Donahue told investors the company is “very excited to support" Trump's mass deportation plans. theappeal.org/geo-group-ea...

Private Prison Company GEO Group “Excited” About Mass Deportation

Exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions that keep all people safe.

Reposted by The Appeal

Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg 🇵🇸 @elizabethweill.bsky.social · May 7

On today's earnings call, GEO Group CEO told investors the private prison company is “very excited to support the mission at hand.” New from me for @theappeal.org. theappeal.org/geo-group-ea...

Private Prison Company GEO Group “Excited” About Mass Deportation

Exposing the harms of the criminal legal system and elevating solutions that keep all people safe.

Reposted by The Appeal

Jenn Burrill @jennburrill.bsky.social · May 6

In a series of unpublicized revisions, DOJ removes references to trans people & gender from critical crime-data surveys

Reports @theappeal.org

Trump DOJ Erases Trans People from Crime Data Surveys

Trump's Justice Department has removed questions about gender identity and trans people from at least four federal surveys.