People gather for a rally to protest conditions at New York City's Rikers Island jail in October of 2022. The New York City Council voted Wednesday to ban most uses of solitary confinement in the city's jails. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption
Women at the Tutwiler Prison in Wetumpka, Ala., walk through the halls. This week, current and former prisoners announced a lawsuit challenging Alabama's prison labor program as a type of modern slavery. Dave Martin/AP hide caption
The U.S. Constitution and 16 state constitutions ban slavery except as punishment for a crime. Prisoner advocates say this allows forced prison labor, but systemic change has been met with resistance. Charlotte Gomez for NPR hide caption
Police tape is pictured at a crime scene in Monterey Park, Calif., in January 2023. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Students at Minneapolis' Hiawatha Collegiate High School discuss polarization within the federal government. Meg Anderson/NPR hide caption
A photo of Jeffrey Ramirez is seen at his parents' home in Vista, California. He was diagnosed with cancer while in prison and died at age 41. Ariana Drehsler for NPR hide caption
A selection of the 1000 people who have been charged for the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. Getty Images and Department of Justice hide caption
High school seniors Iksha Subba of Dallas; Nathan Ferguson of Nashville, Tenn.; Twyla Colburn of Portland, Ore.; Omar Abdellall of East Stroudsburg, Pa.; and Julia Perez of Omaha, Neb. Photo compilation by NPR hide caption
Some of the damage caused by Hurricane Ian when it passed through Fort Myers Beach, Fla. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Lucy Engleman for NPR hide caption