Exposing what’s really happening inside American prisons by focusing on the reporting that makes that possible.
But now, the growing availability of cellphones in prisons is increasing our ability to see and hear from people inside.
These reports expose prison conditions – and can lead to accountability and change.
The Alabama Solution, an explosive new film featuring contraband cellphone footage, exposes rampant abuse and death behind Alabama’s prison walls.
Alongside the film’s impact campaign, we’re working to make sure more of these stories can happen.
Policy Change
We’re advancing a new legal framework to promote and protect the ability of people to see inside prisons and speak out from them.
Community Partnerships
We’re working alongside press advocates and those most impacted by mass incarceration to expose it.
Sparking Action
Seeing inside prison moves us to act. We’re helping the public speak out about the injustices inside prisons.
Studying the Problem
We’re investigating how prisons hide widespread abuses from the public, and what we can do about it.
Protecting Prison Reporting through a New Legal Framework
State law doesn’t protect people reporting on prisons, or their sources inside. We need new laws that do.
Alongside incarcerated journalists and legal experts, the Institute to End Mass Incarceration is drafting comprehensive model legislation that will help:
Ensure journalists have opportunities for meaningful access to prisons to see and document conditions inside
Create private, truly confidential ways for people inside prisons to talk to the press
Provide incarcerated journalists the tools and equipment needed to do their work
Hold prison officials accountable when they retaliate against journalists and their sources inside
Take Action: Lawmakers should see the insides of the prison facilities they represent.
Have your elected officials ever seen the inside of the prisons, jails, and detention centers near you? Use our map of carceral facilities and legislative districts to demand that your lawmakers visit these facilities, and inform the public of what changes are needed and coming.
Stay Informed and Lend Your Support
Change requires your voice and your engagement. Sign up here to stay up to date on all of our latest work and to learn how you can help. And tell us your ideas.
If you are a legislator or work for one and want to learn more, let us know.
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We invite all the people to come here and witness this degradation so that they can better know how to bring this degradation to an end. This is what we want.
Declaration to the People of America
By the inmates at Attica, 1971
More from Our Partners
Read our Inquest Series about Prison Journalism
Read the latest essays from incarcerated journalists across the nation and the experts and activists working to support them, as they share essential insights into the challenges facing prison journalism in the United States, and the path forward.
No More, Alabama.
Learn more about our partners’ impact campaign in Alabama.
Watch The Alabama Solution
Watch the documentary that the Los Angeles Times calls “one of the most shocking, visceral depictions of our carceral state ever put to film.”