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Criminal Justice 'News & Notes' takes an in-depth look at the American criminal justice system, with a special focus on how it impacts African Americans.
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Criminal Justice

Does Child Rape Warrant the Death Penalty?

Patrick Kennedy is on death row at Louisiana's Angola Prison, awaiting capital punishment for brutally raping his 8-year-old step daughter. But does executing someone for child rape violate the 8th Amendment that bars cruel and unusual punishment?

Does Child Rape Warrant the Death Penalty?

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Families Coping with Incarcerated Parents

How does having a parent in prison impact children? And how does being separated from those children affect incarcerated parents? Farai Chideya gets insight from two experts who have helped families stay together when prison keeps them apart.

Families Coping with Incarcerated Parents

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When a Parent Does Hard Time, so Does the Family

More than half of the prisoners living behind bars are parents. But what happens to children of the incarcerated, and what are the challenges of keeping a family connected? Farai Chideya speaks with a mother and daughter who managed to make it work.

When a Parent Does Hard Time, so Does the Family

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Breaking Out of the Prison Industrial Complex

Most people say American slavery ended in the 1800s. But Douglas Blackmon argues that the practice endured into the 20th century through the nation's prisons. Blackmon's new book, Slavery by Another Name, details how prisons cashed in on the incarcerated.

Breaking Out of the Prison Industrial Complex

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Companies Cashing in on People's Prison Stripes?

Many small towns have come to depend on prisons for jobs, but are private prisons taking advantage of the incarcerated to turn a profit? Or are correctional systems offering much-needed services to those behind bars?

Companies Cashing in on People's Prison Stripes?

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A Closer Look: Racial Tensions Behind Bars

Do racial tensions in prison simply reflect what goes on in communities across the country? For more, NPR's Tony Cox speaks with community intervention specialist Skipp Townsend and community outreach director Robert Richardson.

A Closer Look: Racial Tensions Behind Bars

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Stopping Race Wars Behind Bars

Living in confined spaces can put a magnifying glass on racial tensions. NPR's Tony Cox talks to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who has had his share of dealing with racial incidents in the county's prison system.

Stopping Race Wars Behind Bars

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Addressing the Harsh Reality of Rape in Prison

The group Human Rights Watch estimates that 22 percent of male inmates in the Unites States have been raped at least once during their incarceration. We continue our month-long look at the criminal justice system with a focus on the sexual health of prisoners.

Addressing the Harsh Reality of Rape in Prison

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Stemming the Spread of HIV Behind Bars

For 27 years, the Rev. Dorris Green has worked in Chicago to slow the spread of the HIV. She's in favor of HIV screening and condom distribution in the state's prisons. But she says that too often her concerns fall on deaf ears.

Stemming the Spread of HIV Behind Bars

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The 'CSI' Effect On Criminal Justice

The basis for fictional, hit TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is very real. These days, forensic scientists play a key role in the criminal justice system. How has technology changed the way crimes are solved?

The 'CSI' Effect On Criminal Justice

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A Closer Look: Prisoners Exonerated By DNA

Last month, Nathaniel Hatchett was set free after serving 12 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. DNA tests exonerated him of the 1996 assault. Farai Chideya takes a closer look at DNA testing.

A Closer Look: Prisoners Exonerated By DNA

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Public Defenders Have Their Say

Public defenders protect the constitutional rights of poor defendants charged with crimes. But they're overworked and under-respected. Farai Chideya speaks with Rick Jones — deputy director of the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) — and Brian Wait, Senior Public Defender in the Orange County Public Defender's Office.

Public Defenders Have Their Say

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'Stop Snitching' Movement Confounding Criminal Justice

The "no snitch" ethic is prevalent in hip hop culture and in many urban communities. How does it impact the criminal justice system? David M. Kennedy is the director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control and professor of anthropology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

'Stop Snitching' Movement Confounding Criminal Justice

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Blacks and the Criminal Justice System

Today, we begin a new month-long series, focused on the different aspects of the criminal justice system. More than 60 percent of those now in prison are racial and ethnic minorities. Farai Chideya explores these trends and more.

Blacks and the Criminal Justice System

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Iowa Considering Racial Impact in Sentencing Laws

Farai Chideya talks with Iowa Governor Chet Culver about a new law, which requires lawmakers to consider the impact proposed sentencing laws have on racial and ethnic groups in Iowa. It applies to crime, parole and probation issues.

Iowa Considering Racial Impact in Sentencing Laws

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