Jails and Detention Centers

John Oliver’s take on U.S. Prisons

How Often Does Child Welfare Call Police in Your State for Positive Drug Tests at Birth? February 18, 2026
The Marshall Project found 70,000+ allegations of pregnancy drug use referred to law enforcement, often based on unreliable drug tests.
ICE Is Buying Warehouses. Communities Are Fighting Back. February 14, 2026
The agency wants to warehouse immigration detainees. Local residents and officials are raising concerns.
Having a Baby? 5 Tips to Avoid Problems From Flawed Drug Testing at the Hospital February 13, 2026
Hospitals routinely use unreliable drug tests at childbirth, and many parents are reported to child welfare agencies and the police. Here’s what you can do.

Specialty courts: A disappointing form of diversion
Added Specialty courts: A disappointing form of diversion to the Prison Policy Blog. It seems like specialty courts — also called treatment courts, problem-solving courts, or accountability courts — are everywhere, claiming to tackle the root causes of criminalized behavior while reducing the use of jails. But decades of research and advocacy suggest that these […]
Resource spotlight: Data projects tracking police misconduct, use of force, and employment histories
Added Resource spotlight: Data projects tracking police misconduct, use of force, and employment histories to the Prison Policy Blog. The need for law enforcement transparency, oversight, and accountability has never been clearer. We highlight data projects that have helped document and investigate misconduct, as both data sources and as models for others who want to […]
Caging compassion: Recognizing and resisting carceral humanist narratives in criminal justice reform
Added Caging compassion: Recognizing and resisting carceral humanist narratives in criminal justice reform to the Prison Policy Blog.

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BMCC’s OpenLab is an online platform where the College’s students, faculty and staff can come together to learn, work, play and share ideas.

Help | Contact the OpenLab | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Credits Please use the above links if you need more help in using the OpenLab.

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