Prisons

A Missouri judge says no jury today would convict Christopher Dunn. Why is he still in prison?

A simple case of nepotism showcased a much more pervasive problem of preferential hiring practices and a startling lack of hiring policy within the division of the Department of Corrections tasked with keeping prisons safe and investigating alleged misconduct within the agency.

A prison nurse said she felt trapped between two corrections officers as one described plans to kidnap, drug and rape her. Her attorney said there were “daily ‘rape jokes’ from other corrections officers and retaliation by the warden and other jail personnel.”

Bobby Bostic is nearing his parole date on a 241-year prison sentence. He’s written 15 books of poetry and essays.

Corrections officials say the move is necessary to stem the flow of drugs into Missouri prisons. But criminal justice reform advocates warn it could violate inmates’ privacy and further isolate them from their families.

About half of all people released from prison in Missouri return within five years. But decades of research has shown prison education programs can help break the cycle.

A bill making its way through the Missouri legislature would allow women who give birth while incarcerated the chance to stay with their newborns in prison for up to 18 months.

The Department of Missouri Corrections will lift its coronavirus pandemic visitor restrictions on April 1. Visitors can see loved ones in state prisons without wearing a mask or taking a health screening test prior to entry.

On the last day before the legislature takes a week off, the House also passed legislation including banning discrimination in schools against traditionally Black hairstyles and creating nurseries in women’s prisons.

Next year marks 50 years since rates of imprisonment rapidly increased in the U.S. Washington University sociology professor Hedwig Lee explains how that’s impacted people with family members behind bars.