Texas is one of the hottest states in the country. But people in state prisons are forced to go without air conditioning, leading to serious health issues. And climate change is making the situation worse.
Jan 2022
A Texas Prison's Radio Station Helps Incarcerated Men Build Community
The men on death row in Allan B. Polunsky Unit, a maximum security prison in southeastern Texas, spend most of their time in solitary confinement, isolated from each other. Now, a prison radio station is giving them a sense of community and a way to be heard.
Keri Blakinger talks ... Show More
10m 12s
Apr 2021
America’s solitary inmates
Since the pandemic struck, millions around the world have endured lockdowns, with many finding it hard to tolerate long periods indoors. But what if lockdown meant years on end spent entirely alone, in a single room, sometimes no bigger than a large elevator? In many US states, j ... Show More
26m 28s
Feb 2023
Inside Story: Life in Prison, As Told by Formerly Incarcerated People
For people who have not experienced it, life in prison can seem unimaginable. So reporters who have themselves been incarcerated can offer an important perspective when covering the prison system. NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Lawrence Bartley, host of the new series Inside Story ... Show More
10m 40s
Feb 2023
How a 7-Year Prison Sentence Turns Into Over 100
<p>WBEZ reporter Shannon Heffernan brings us the story of Anthony Gay, who was sentenced to seven years in prison on a parole violation but ended up with 97 years added to his sentence. Gay lives with serious mental illness, and after time in solitary confinement, he began to act ... Show More
50m 34s
Sep 2022
Inmates at Calipatria Brett May & Alex Zapien discuss being an LWOP (life without the possibility of parole)
Brett May and Alex Zapien are serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) at Calipatria State Prison – a maximum security facility in the remote California Desert, 40 miles from the Mexican border.
We had a unique opportunity to go inside Calipatria to discuss their early lives, the horri ... Show More
1h 27m