A new toolkit for journalists covering the criminal legal system
We put all of our most helpful resources and guides for journalists in one place.
by Wanda Bertram, November 25, 2025
We at the Prison Policy Initiative write our reports with journalists in mind, since journalists play a critical role in bringing harmful aspects of the criminal legal system to light. We also sometimes produce resources geared toward journalists covering the system, highlighting issues worth covering and offering tips for investigations.
To put a bow on this work, this morning, we released our Journalist Toolkit, a living webpage aggregating the resources on our website that we think reporters would find most helpful. Journalists new to our work may find this annotated list a useful first stop on our website. We’ll add to this page in the coming months and years as we publish resources and guides on different topics. For now, we include guides about reporting on:
- Deaths in custody
- Parole release
- Disciplinary systems behind bars
- The bail industry
- Prison and jail “inmate welfare funds”
- “Gag rules” silencing prison staff
If you’re a journalist with a specific story or question you’re looking for help with, you’re also welcome to reach out to us directly through our contact page.
