Washington courts rarely discipline guardians ad litem accused of misconduct in custody cases
Minimal oversight of court investigators makes it difficult for parents to challenge flawed reports without risking damage to their cases
Criminal Justice
Oregon’s public defense crisis leaves defendants to navigate legal system on their own
A ruling by a federal judge targets those in custody without attorneys, leaving thousands of Oregonians charged with crimes on their own.
The climate crisis is pushing Washington’s prisons to the brink
Many of Washington’s 12 prisons have been pushed to the brink by public health crises and years of neglected maintenance. Climate change could send them over the edge.
Idaho has obtained lethal injection chemicals. Where did they come from?
Department of Correction officials previously struggled to obtain lethal injection chemicals, leading to bill to allow firing squad as alternative under Idaho law
Indigenous people in WA incarcerated at higher rates than any other group, data show
The disparity between Indigenous and white incarceration in Washington has roughly doubled over the past decade.
Washington lawmaker vows to fix law that’s failing to help victims of child sex trafficking
Stakeholders discuss solutions in response to InvestigateWest article uncovering law’s failures
Recent court case sheds light on ‘punitive, para-military atmosphere’ at women’s prison
An officer, who encouraged a “code of silence,” tried to keep a tasing incident quiet
He’s in a prison cell, with no criminal conviction. Idaho put him there for mental health care.
Legislature will consider Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s proposal for a $24M secure facility — one that isn’t a prison
Oregon Supreme Court says people convicted by split juries deserve new trials
The ruling could mean hundreds of cases will be retried or dropped
At least one juror refused to call them guilty. But they’re still in prison.
In Oregon and Louisiana, hundreds remain behind bars two years after U.S. Supreme Court outlawed split-jury verdicts
'Full of injustice': Burden of court fines vary by race, county in WA
Black, Indigenous and Latino people in Washington have disproportionately higher court fines and fees, making it harder for some to rebuild after prison
