Victoria Elena Valenzuela
@vevalenz.bsky.social
Just trying to help good people expose shitty systems!
Independent journalist based in LA! I cover immigrant justice, prison issues, and activism.
Words in the LA Times, BuzzFeed News, USA Today, The Guardian,The Appeal, Documented, Bolts, and more.
Independent journalist based in LA! I cover immigrant justice, prison issues, and activism.
Words in the LA Times, BuzzFeed News, USA Today, The Guardian,The Appeal, Documented, Bolts, and more.
Reposted by Victoria Elena Valenzuela
January 14, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Victoria Elena Valenzuela
Jails and prisons around the country are starting to ban mail for incarcerated people, and families are saying it takes away from the sentimentality and privacy of sending letters, artwork and greeting cards.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
Jails and Prisons Around the Country Are Banning Mail for Incarcerated People
Officials say it is for “safety” measures, but families and advocates say it is dehumanizing.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Jails and prisons around the country are starting to ban mail for incarcerated people, and families are saying it takes away from the sentimentality and privacy of sending letters, artwork and greeting cards.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
January 14, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Jails and prisons around the country are starting to ban mail for incarcerated people, and families are saying it takes away from the sentimentality and privacy of sending letters, artwork and greeting cards.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
Jails and Prisons Around the Country Are Banning Mail for Incarcerated People
Officials say it is for “safety” measures, but families and advocates say it is dehumanizing.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Jails and prisons around the country are starting to ban mail for incarcerated people, and families are saying it takes away from the sentimentality and privacy of sending letters, artwork and greeting cards.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/jails-and-...
In California, families impacted by incarceration passed a law for free prison phone calls, and they are urging other states to do the same.
They say free phone calls help them feel closer and connect more frequently.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/how-free-p...
They say free phone calls help them feel closer and connect more frequently.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/how-free-p...
How Free Prison Phone Calls Help Families Impacted By Incarceration Stay in Touch
Families impacted by incarceration passed a law for free prison phone calls, and they are urging other states to do the same.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM
In California, families impacted by incarceration passed a law for free prison phone calls, and they are urging other states to do the same.
They say free phone calls help them feel closer and connect more frequently.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/how-free-p...
They say free phone calls help them feel closer and connect more frequently.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/how-free-p...
Reposted by Victoria Elena Valenzuela
Today Trump carried out the 75th annual presidential turkey pardon while about 2,100 people will spend another holiday on death row.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
Presidential Pardons Should Go to People, Not Just Turkeys
Today Trump carried out the 75th annual presidential turkey pardon while about 2,100 people will spend another holiday on death row.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Today Trump carried out the 75th annual presidential turkey pardon while about 2,100 people will spend another holiday on death row.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
Today Trump carried out the 75th annual presidential turkey pardon while about 2,100 people will spend another holiday on death row.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
Presidential Pardons Should Go to People, Not Just Turkeys
Today Trump carried out the 75th annual presidential turkey pardon while about 2,100 people will spend another holiday on death row.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Today Trump carried out the 75th annual presidential turkey pardon while about 2,100 people will spend another holiday on death row.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/presidenti...
Tremane Wood, Bryan Jennings and Stephen Bryant are scheduled to be murdered by the government this week. Advocates are petitioning to stop the executions.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/three-exec...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/three-exec...
Three Executions in Three Days Despite Calls to Abolish the Death Penalty in the US
Tremane Wood, Bryan Jennings and Stephen Bryant are scheduled to be murdered by the government this week. Advocates are petitioning to stop the executions.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Tremane Wood, Bryan Jennings and Stephen Bryant are scheduled to be murdered by the government this week. Advocates are petitioning to stop the executions.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/three-exec...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/three-exec...
While most of the country will be celebrating the holiday with a freebie from work, nearly 145,000 veterans are locked up and ousted from society, despite their years of service protecting what is (ironically) called “the land of the free”
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/nearly-145...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/nearly-145...
Nearly 145,000 US Veterans Incarcerated in the “Land of the Free”
While the armed forces are often associated with protecting “the land of the free,” more than a hundred thousand veterans are behind bars under mass incarceration.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
While most of the country will be celebrating the holiday with a freebie from work, nearly 145,000 veterans are locked up and ousted from society, despite their years of service protecting what is (ironically) called “the land of the free”
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/nearly-145...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/nearly-145...
New Substack post: After organizing by prison abolitionist organizations, new laws aimed at reforming the system passed in California this fall and will become law, going into effect next year.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/a-historic...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/a-historic...
"A Historic Step": California Passes Six New Prison Reform Laws This Fall
After organizing by prison abolitionist organizations, new laws aimed at reforming the system pass in California will become law, going into effect next year.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:21 PM
New Substack post: After organizing by prison abolitionist organizations, new laws aimed at reforming the system passed in California this fall and will become law, going into effect next year.
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/a-historic...
victoriaevalenzuela.substack.com/p/a-historic...
Reposted by Victoria Elena Valenzuela
"I'm a survivor of domestic violence, of child molestation, and a survivor of the California prison system."
"During her two-day trial, she was barred from testifying about the abuse she endured for years."
"California's really behind a lot of the country on this."
#California #USA #Incarceration
"During her two-day trial, she was barred from testifying about the abuse she endured for years."
"California's really behind a lot of the country on this."
#California #USA #Incarceration
For Third Year, California Kills Bill to Help Incarcerated Domestic Violence Survivors
Advocates in California have pushed for relief for people convicted of harming their abuser, hoping to build on states across the political spectrum that have adopted such reforms.
boltsmag.org
September 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"I'm a survivor of domestic violence, of child molestation, and a survivor of the California prison system."
"During her two-day trial, she was barred from testifying about the abuse she endured for years."
"California's really behind a lot of the country on this."
#California #USA #Incarceration
"During her two-day trial, she was barred from testifying about the abuse she endured for years."
"California's really behind a lot of the country on this."
#California #USA #Incarceration
Reposted by Victoria Elena Valenzuela
Victoria Valenzuela: @vevalenz.bsky.social
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Subscribe to their newsletter: boltsmag.org/newsletter/
Donate to Bolts: boltsmag.org/donate-page/...
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Bolts: @boltsmag.org
Subscribe to their newsletter: boltsmag.org/newsletter/
Donate to Bolts: boltsmag.org/donate-page/...
September 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Victoria Valenzuela: @vevalenz.bsky.social
--------------------------------------
Bolts: @boltsmag.org
Subscribe to their newsletter: boltsmag.org/newsletter/
Donate to Bolts: boltsmag.org/donate-page/...
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Bolts: @boltsmag.org
Subscribe to their newsletter: boltsmag.org/newsletter/
Donate to Bolts: boltsmag.org/donate-page/...
The 10 deaths in ICE detention this year could have been prevented and are still under investigation.
This project pulls from articles, ICE reports, obituaries and press releases to give a picture of who these people were and the days leading up to their deaths.
open.substack.com/pub/victoria...
This project pulls from articles, ICE reports, obituaries and press releases to give a picture of who these people were and the days leading up to their deaths.
open.substack.com/pub/victoria...
Ten People Have Died in ICE Detention Since January. Here Are Their Stories
The most people have died in ICE custody this year since the pandemic. Advocates say most of these deaths are due to negligence and could have been prevented. Many are still under investigation.
open.substack.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:54 AM
The 10 deaths in ICE detention this year could have been prevented and are still under investigation.
This project pulls from articles, ICE reports, obituaries and press releases to give a picture of who these people were and the days leading up to their deaths.
open.substack.com/pub/victoria...
This project pulls from articles, ICE reports, obituaries and press releases to give a picture of who these people were and the days leading up to their deaths.
open.substack.com/pub/victoria...