History 'They aren't forgotten.' New memorial honors Japanese Americans incarcerated at Washington State Fairgrounds Natalie Akane Newcomb Play AudioListen 5 mins
Government Youth jail should be improved, not closed, King County Council votes It was the council’s first time taking an official position on the future of the youth jail, four years after County Executive Dow Constantine called it a “system rooted in oppression” and pledged to close the facility by 2025. Ann Dornfeld
Government A large number of Washington prisoners face delayed releases. Why? Journalist Paul Kiefer says, "the delays can go on for months or years." Kim Malcolm John O'Brien Play AudioListen 6 mins
Law & Courts Garfield County pledges to keep jail shuttered after suicide went undetected Family members of a man whose suicide went undiscovered in Garfield County jail for 18 hours have settled their claim, in an agreement approved by a superior court judge on Monday. Kyle Lara’s parents say the most important part of the agreement has already occurred: the closure of the jail where he died. Amy Radil
Government Oregon just re-criminalized drug possession and use. Why didn't legalization work? Three years after Oregon residents voted to decriminalize drugs, the state is walking back that policy. Diana Opong Hans Anderson Alec Cowan Play AudioListen 25 mins
Latin America Virtual reality offers a chilling 3D look inside Venezuela's spiraling prison A former Venezuelan political prisoner got the idea to create a virtual reality tour from the Anne Frank museum. John Otis Play AudioListen 5 mins
Government 'Exploitative' labor practices in Washington state prisons highlighted in new report The report’s authors interviewed dozens of incarcerated people, highlighting what they call exploitative labor practices in state prisons. Interviewees not only earned far below Washington state’s minimum wage, but also said they felt coerced to work. Libby Denkmann Hans Anderson Play AudioListen 23 mins
Law & Courts Public defender shortage slows the wheels of justice in Washington state courts Prestige TV or Hollywood legal dramas might inform the image: loose tie, crinkled suits, bags under the eyes… public defenders are stressed out, overworked and undercompensated. But something pop culture tends to overlook is how stretching these attorneys so thin affects everyday people caught up in the justice system. Libby Denkmann Alec Cowan Play AudioListen 20 mins
Law & Courts Behind bars and then a bill: WA prisoner leads effort on 'second chance' legislation Washington lawmakers are getting ready to tackle big topics in 2024, including undoing harm caused by long or life prison sentences. One prisoner has spent months crafting legislation to make a small but significant change as part of that effort. Jeanie Lindsay Play AudioListen 5 mins
Law & Courts Transgender prisoners in Washington state deserve gender affirming care, judge decrees The suit was brought by the advocacy group Disability Rights Washington against the state's Department of Corrections. John O'Brien
