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Wednesday

A photo illustration with a black and white photograph of the exterior of a prison in the background with red rectangles overlaying it. In the middle is a semi-circle with the typewritten text from several phrases, including “tortured for 18 hours with an..” and “I began to feel a sharp pain on the left side of my chest.” Below the text is a photo of an officer's hands on the wrist of a man in handcuffs.
Valerie Chiang for the Marshall Project

News

Dozens of prisoners allege a culture of violence by guards at federal facility in Virginia

At a federal prison in rural Virginia, more than 50 prisoners say they've been abused. But when they try to file a complaint — they're stopped, often by the same guards they say are abusing them.

USP LEE

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Friday

Investigations

A warden faced discipline over abuse at a prison. Now he runs a prison training site

Investigators said warden Andrew Ciolli should have stopped abuse of prisoners. He faced disciplinary action. Now he's the director of a federal center that teaches others how to run prisons.

Prison Warden Reassigned Again

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Wednesday

More than a dozen prisoners at Thomson prison in Illinois claimed in a letter that guards were bribing them to attack the warden. The Marshall Project redacted some names in these documents to protect their identity.

More than a dozen prisoners at Thomson prison in Illinois claimed in a letter that guards were bribing them to attack the warden. The Marshall Project redacted some names in these documents to protect their identity. Aaron Marin for The Marshall Project hide caption

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Aaron Marin for The Marshall Project

Investigations

A warden tried to fix an abusive federal prison. He faced death threats

He was tasked with ending abuse at a federal penitentiary in Illinois but says his own staff and Bureau of Prisons officials blocked his efforts.

A warden tried to fix an abusive federal prison. He faced death threats

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Thursday

The federal prison complex in Thomson, Ill.

The federal prison complex in Thomson, Ill. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Investigations

New accounts of abuse at federal prison prompt renewed calls for investigation

More than 120 prisoners held at a special unit in Thomson Penitentiary reported mistreatment, a Washington Lawyers' Committee report says.

New accounts of abuse at federal prison prompt renewed calls for investigation

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Tuesday

A guard tower and prison yard at the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., in 2009. There have been eight deaths at Thomson since 2019, making the facility one of the deadliest federal prisons in the country.

A guard tower and prison yard at the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., in 2009. There have been eight deaths at Thomson since 2019, making the facility one of the deadliest federal prisons in the country. David Greedy/Getty Images hide caption

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David Greedy/Getty Images

Investigations

One of the deadliest federal prison units is closing

The Bureau of Prisons is shutting down a unit at its newest penitentiary in Illinois, following an investigation by NPR and The Marshall Project that exposed it was rife with violence and abuse.

Thursday

A guard tower and prison yard at the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., in 2009. Five men have been killed at Thomson since 2019, making the facility one of the deadliest federal prisons in the country.

A guard tower and prison yard at the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., in 2009. Five men have been killed at Thomson since 2019, making the facility one of the deadliest federal prisons in the country. David Greedy/Getty Images hide caption

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David Greedy/Getty Images

Investigations

Lawmakers call for probe into deadly federal prison

Following a Marshall Project/NPR report detailing violence and abuse at the newest federal penitentiary, three members of Congress asked the Justice Department's inspector general to investigate

Tuesday

The federal Bureau of Prisons announced in 2018 that it was moving a special unit that had been plagued with violence to a new federal prison complex in Illinois. Some hoped it would be a fresh start and a chance to improve conditions. But things only got worse.

The federal Bureau of Prisons announced in 2018 that it was moving a special unit that had been plagued with violence to a new federal prison complex in Illinois. Some hoped it would be a fresh start and a chance to improve conditions. But things only got worse. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Investigations

Five things to know about one of the deadliest federal prisons

Federal prisoners said to be the most dangerous are sent to a special unit at a prison in Illinois. NPR and The Marshall Project uncovered violence, abuse and deaths there. Here are five takeaways.

Bobby Everson and a letter he wrote to his family while he was incarcerated in the Special Management Unit at the new U.S. penitentiary in Thomson, Ill.

Bobby Everson and a letter he wrote to his family while he was incarcerated in the Special Management Unit at the new U.S. penitentiary in Thomson, Ill. Aaron Marin for NPR hide caption

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Aaron Marin for NPR

Investigations

How the newest federal prison became one of the deadliest

Federal prisoners said to be the most dangerous are sent to a special unit at an Illinois penitentiary. NPR and The Marshall Project have uncovered violence, abuse and a string of inmate deaths there.

How the newest federal prison became one of the deadliest

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Tuesday

Chuck Coma in his mother's kitchen. Since his return from a federal prison in Butner, N.C., he experiences flashbacks from war and his time in jail.

Chuck Coma in his mother's kitchen. Since his return from a federal prison in Butner, N.C., he experiences flashbacks from war and his time in jail. Peter van Agtmael/Magnum Photos hide caption

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Peter van Agtmael/Magnum Photos

Investigations

When A Prisoner Returns Home With A Brain Injury, Freedom Isn't So Free

Chuck Coma was one of the thousands of people assaulted in federal prisons each year. His cellmate nearly killed him. But it's now up to his family to take care of him.

When A Prisoner Returns Home With A Brain Injury, Freedom Isn't So Free

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Thursday

Investigations

Solitary Confinement Methods Often Lead To Violence At Lewisburg Prison

The United States Penitentiary at Lewisburg, Pa., is one of the toughest, most violent prisons in America, where inmate-on-inmate assaults are common — and sometimes deadly.

Solitary Confinement Methods Often Lead To Violence At Lewisburg Prison

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Wednesday

The Special Management Unit at Lewisburg prison, which was created in 2009 for "dangerously violent, confrontational, defiant, antagonistic inmates," has received many complaints about its use of restraints on inmates.

The Special Management Unit at Lewisburg prison, which was created in 2009 for "dangerously violent, confrontational, defiant, antagonistic inmates," has received many complaints about its use of restraints on inmates. Angie Wang for NPR hide caption

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Angie Wang for NPR

Investigations

Inside Lewisburg Prison: A Choice Between A Violent Cellmate Or Shackles

At one of the toughest prisons in America, doubling up inmates in cells designed for solitary confinement can lead to violence, and for some who refuse a cellmate, handcuffs and chains.

Inside Lewisburg Prison: A Choice Between A Violent Cellmate Or Shackles

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Thursday

Investigations

Doubling Up Prisoners In 'Solitary' Creates Deadly Consequences

Imagine living in a cell smaller than a parking space or a king-size mattress. Now add a roommate. The result for some inmates forced to live together in solitary can be murder.

Doubling Up Prisoners In 'Solitary' Creates Deadly Consequences

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