Jeremy Scahill, author of Dirty Wars, interviewed by Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman & Juan González

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prison Topics

Democracy Now! stories, posts and pages that relate to prison

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  • Albert_woodfox

    After 40 Years in Solitary, Angola 3 Prisoner Albert Woodfox Ordered Freed for 3rd Time in Louisiana

    A federal judge has once again ordered the state of Louisiana to release Albert Woodfox, a former Black Panther who has spent more than 40 years in solitary confinement. Woodfox and Herman Wallace, another prisoner of the "Angola 3," were convicted of murdering a guard at Angola Prison. The Angola 3 and their supporters say they were framed for their political activism. On Tuesday, the same federal judge that ordered Woodfox’s...
    Feb 28, 2013 | Story
  • Jeanne_woodford

    Prop 34: Ex-San Quentin Prison Warden Jeanne Woodford Backs California Measure to End Death Penalty

    The former warden of San Quentin State Prison, Jeanne Woodford, joins us to discuss why she has come out in favor of Proposition 34, a ballot initiative to abolish the death penalty in California. Home to nearly a quarter of the nation’s death row population and in a state coping with budget crisis, independent analysts estimate that getting rid of the death penalty could save California taxpayers $130 million annually. The latest polls...
    Oct 25, 2012 | Story
  • Prison_image

    A Life Sentence for Stealing Socks? California's Prop 36 to Decide Future of Three-Strikes Law

    Under California’s three-strikes law, a person convicted of a felony who has two or more prior convictions for certain offenses must be sentenced to at least 25 years to life in state prison, even if the third offense is nonviolent. Critics have argued it is the harshest sentencing law in the United States. Life sentences have been handed down for stealing a pair of pants, shoplifting, forging a check and breaking into a soup kitchen. Although...
    Oct 25, 2012 | Story
  • Bauer

    EXCLUSIVE: "No Way Out" - Freed Hiker Shane Bauer on Solitary Confinement from Iran to United States

    Shane Bauer was one of three Americans detained in 2009 while hiking in Iraq’s Kurdish region near the Iranian border. He and Josh Fattal were held for 26 months, and Sarah Shourd — now Bauer’s wife — was held for 13 months, much of it in solitary confinement. Seven months after being freed from prison in Iran, Bauer began investigating solitary confinement in the United States. Now, in his first major article since his...
    Oct 22, 2012 | Story
  • Angola 3

    40 Years in Solitary Confinement: Two Members of Angola 3 Remain in Isolation in Louisiana Prison

    It’s been 40 years to the day — since April 17, 1972, or 14,600 days ago — that Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox have been held in solitary confinement in Louisiana. The state says they were guilty of murdering a guard at Angola Prison, but Wallace, Woodfox and their network of supporters say they were framed for their political activism as members of the Black Panthers. Woodfox and Wallace founded the Angola chapter of the...
    Apr 17, 2012 | Story

  • Mumia Abu-Jamal Transferred Out of Solitary Confinement, Into General Population

    The Pennsylvania Dept. of Corrections and the legal team of Mumia Abu-Jamal have both confirmed the imprisoned journalist was transferred out of solitary confinement and into general population.
    Jan 27, 2012 | Web Exclusive
  • Hikers_20111018_web

    Freed U.S. Hikers Speak at Occupy Oakland, Express Support for California Prisoners on Hunger Strike

    Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd, the three American hikers once imprisoned in Iran, made a surprise visit to Occupy Oakland on Monday, less than a month after Bauer and Fattal were released from prison. In July of 2009, the three were arrested while hiking near the Iran-Iraq border. Shourd was released last year. On Monday, the hikers were welcomed by a thrilled crowd of supporters at Occupy Oakland. "These occupations were just...
    Oct 18, 2011 | Story
  • Troy-davis-executed_web

    Democracy Now! Special Report from Troy Davis Execution: Did Georgia Kill an Innocent Man?

    Troy Anthony Davis was killed by lethal injection by the state of Georgia at 11:08 p.m. EDT last night, despite widespread doubts about his guilt. The execution occurred shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stop the execution. Democracy Now! was the only news outlet to continuously broadcast live from the prison grounds last night, where hundreds of supporters Troy Davis held an all-day vigil in Jackson, Georgia. Today we hear the...
    Sep 22, 2011 | Story
  • Troy-davis_mosaic_web

    Fate of Troy Anthony Davis Hangs in the Balance as Supporters Seek Last-Minute Halt to Execution

    The State of Georgia is preparing to execute Troy Anthony Davis in one of the most high-profile executions in the United States in years. Davis is scheduled to be killed by lethal ejection at 7:00 p.m. EDT, one day after the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected clemency. Democracy Now! will air a special broadcast from outside the prison in Jackson, Georgia, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EDT. Davis was convicted of the 1989 killing of off-duty...
    Sep 21, 2011 | Story

  • Will the Next Man Rick Perry Executes Die Because He's Black?

    Democracy Now! producer Renée Feltz reports for The Nation that Texas jurors were told that convicted murderer Duane Buck posed “future dangerousness” because of his race. He is scheduled to die on September 15.
    Sep 14, 2011 | Events