Helpful resources
Other projects documenting deaths and conditions behind bars, and groups doing related work. Where possible, I integrate data from these sources into this site’s records and keep it updated on a recurring basis.
National
- ACLU National Prison ProjectThe ACLU's national litigation and advocacy program on conditions in prisons, jails and detention centers, including medical care, solitary confinement and deaths behind bars.
- The Appeal: the missing data on deaths in custodyThe history of federal efforts to count deaths in custody, and why the counts fall short.
- COVID Prison ProjectTracked COVID-19 cases, deaths and policy in prisons nationwide.
- Detention Watch NetworkNational coalition working to end immigration detention, which tracks deaths in ICE custody.
- Equal Justice InitiativeNational legal and advocacy organization based in Montgomery, Alabama, working on mass incarceration, the death penalty and the history of racial violence, including lynching; it has documented violence and deaths in Alabama's prisons for years.
- Freedom for ImmigrantsVisits, a national hotline and advocacy for people held in immigration detention.
- National Immigrant Justice CenterChicago-based legal services and national advocacy for people in immigration detention, including reports on deaths in ICE custody.
- Mapping Police ViolenceA national database of killings by police, including deaths during arrest.
- Mourning Our LossesA memorial to people who died in U.S. prisons, jails and detention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Prison Policy InitiativeResearch and advocacy on mass incarceration, jails and prison conditions.
- UCLA Law Behind Bars Data ProjectTracks deaths, COVID-19 and conditions in U.S. prisons, jails and immigration detention.
Alabama
- The Alabama Solution databaseNames of people who died in Alabama prisons from 2019 to 2024, compiled for the documentary The Alabama Solution from state records, autopsies and reporting.
- Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and JusticeResearch and advocacy on Alabama's justice system, including yearly counts of deaths in state prisons.
- ACLU of AlabamaLitigation and advocacy on prison conditions; counted at least 277 deaths in Alabama prisons in 2024.
- Injustice, by Beth ShelburneReporting on Alabama's prisons and the people who die in them.
- Southern Poverty Law Center: Braggs v. DunnClass action over mental health care and suicide prevention in Alabama prisons, which a federal court found unconstitutional.
- Alabama Disabilities Advocacy ProgramAlabama's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities; co-counsel in Braggs v. Dunn.
Alaska
- ACLU of AlaskaLitigation and advocacy on prison and jail conditions in Alaska, including deaths and health care in state custody.
- Disability Law Center of AlaskaAlaska's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, which sued the state over holding people in psychiatric crisis in jails.
Arizona
- ACLU of ArizonaLitigation and advocacy on prison, jail and immigration detention conditions in Arizona, including the class action over health care in state prisons.
- Disability Rights ArizonaArizona's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, and co-counsel in the class action over health care in Arizona prisons.
- Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights ProjectFree legal services for adults and children held in immigration custody in Arizona.
- Middle Ground Prison ReformVolunteer organization that works to protect the rights of people in Arizona's jails and prisons.
Arkansas
- Starved for CareReporting by Yale's Investigative Reporting Lab and the Arkansas Advocate on deaths in Arkansas jails.
- Arkansas Advocate: Jailed in CrisisA series on deaths and mental health crises in Arkansas jails, built from the state's own death-in-custody filings.
- ACLU of ArkansasLitigation and advocacy on jail and prison conditions in Arkansas.
- Arkansas Justice Reform CoalitionA coalition working to reduce incarceration and improve conditions in Arkansas.
- decARcerateGrassroots group in Arkansas working to end mass incarceration and support people inside.
- Arkansas CUREAdvocacy by and for people in Arkansas prisons and their families.
- Disability Rights ArkansasArkansas's protection and advocacy organization, which monitors conditions for people with disabilities in jails and prisons.
California
- Prison PandemicAn archive of stories from people in California prisons, their families and staff during COVID-19.
- Prison Law OfficeNonprofit law firm representing people in California prisons, including in class actions over medical and mental health care; also co-counsel in Arizona's prison health care case.
- ACLU of Northern CaliforniaLitigation and advocacy on jail, prison and immigration detention conditions in Northern California.
- ACLU of Southern CaliforniaLitigation and advocacy on conditions in Los Angeles County's jails and Southern California's immigration detention centers.
- ACLU of San Diego & Imperial CountiesLitigation and advocacy on jail and immigration detention conditions in San Diego and Imperial counties.
- Disability Rights CaliforniaCalifornia's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails and prisons.
- Californians United for a Responsible BudgetA coalition working to reduce the number of prisons and jails in California.
- Death Penalty FocusCalifornia-based advocacy against the death penalty, with support for people on death row and their families.
- California Coalition for Women PrisonersGrassroots organization by and for people in California's women's prisons.
- Ella Baker Center for Human RightsOakland organization working to shift resources away from prisons and punishment.
- Justice2Jobs CoalitionSacramento-region coalition whose No More Deaths in Custody workgroup reports on deaths in local custody.
Colorado
- ACLU of ColoradoLitigation and advocacy on jail, prison and immigration detention conditions in Colorado.
- Colorado Criminal Justice Reform CoalitionA coalition working to reduce incarceration in Colorado through legislation and advocacy.
- Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy NetworkFree legal services for people held in immigration detention in Colorado, including at the Aurora facility.
- Disability JusticeColorado's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, formerly Disability Law Colorado.
- Colorado Lynching Memorial ProjectCommunity project remembering victims of racial terror lynching in Colorado.
Connecticut
- Stop Solitary CTGrassroots campaign against solitary confinement in Connecticut's prisons.
- Disability Rights ConnecticutConnecticut's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in prisons.
- ACLU of ConnecticutLitigation and advocacy on prison conditions in Connecticut.
Delaware
- ACLU of DelawareLitigation and advocacy on health care and conditions in Delaware's prisons.
- Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI)Delaware legal aid organization whose Disability Law Program is the state's protection and advocacy agency, including for people in prisons.
- Spotlight DelawareNonprofit newsroom whose reporting covers health care in Delaware's prisons.
- Delaware Center for JusticeWilmington nonprofit working on criminal legal reform and support for incarcerated people and their families.
District of Columbia
- ACLU of the District of ColumbiaLitigation and advocacy on conditions in the D.C. Jail.
- Council for Court ExcellenceD.C. nonprofit that studies the District's justice system, including conditions and deaths in the D.C. Jail.
- Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban AffairsCivil rights litigation for D.C. residents held in the D.C. Jail and federal prisons, including over jail health care.
- DC Justice LabResearch and advocacy on the District's criminal legal system and the D.C. Jail.
- Disability Rights DC at University Legal ServicesThe District's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, with a project for people in jail and prison.
- Amica Center for Immigrant RightsLegal services for people from D.C. and Maryland held in immigration detention.
Florida
- Florida Justice InstituteCivil rights litigation on conditions in Florida's prisons and jails.
- ACLU of FloridaLitigation and advocacy on prison, jail and immigration detention conditions in Florida.
- Disability Rights FloridaFlorida's protection and advocacy organization, which investigates abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in custody.
- Florida Cares CharityAdvocacy for people in Florida prisons and their families.
- Americans for Immigrant JusticeLegal services and advocacy for people held in Florida's immigration detention centers.
Georgia
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: deaths in Georgia prisonsInvestigative reporting on deaths and homicides in Georgia's prisons.
- ACLU of GeorgiaLitigation and advocacy on jail and prison conditions in Georgia, including deaths in the Fulton County Jail.
- Capital B Atlanta: Clayton County jail deathsReporting on deaths in the Clayton County jail.
- Southern Center for Human RightsAtlanta-based legal organization focused on Georgia, with work across the Deep South, challenging conditions in prisons and jails and the death penalty.
- El RefugioHospitality and visitation for people held at Stewart Detention Center and their families.
- Project SouthMovement organization that documents conditions in Georgia's immigration detention centers through Georgia Detention Watch.
- Georgians for Alternatives to the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in Georgia.
- Georgia Advocacy OfficeGeorgia's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in custody.
Hawaii
- ACLU of HawaiʻiLitigation and advocacy on conditions in Hawaii's jails and prisons.
- Honolulu Civil BeatHonolulu nonprofit newsroom that reports on deaths in Hawaii's jails and prisons.
- Public First Law CenterOpen-government law center that won a 2022 ruling requiring Hawaii to release the names of people who die in state custody.
Idaho
Illinois
- Illinois Deaths in Custody ProjectDocuments and remembers people who died in custody in Illinois.
- John Howard Association of IllinoisIndependent monitor that visits Illinois prisons and reports on conditions and deaths in state custody.
- Injustice WatchChicago nonprofit newsroom whose reporting has documented deaths in the Cook County Jail.
- Uptown People's Law CenterChicago legal clinic that litigates conditions in Illinois prisons, including medical care.
- Illinois Prison ProjectLegal representation seeking release for elderly, ill and disabled people in Illinois prisons.
- Equip for EqualityIllinois's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in prisons and jails.
- ACLU of IllinoisLitigation and advocacy on prison and jail conditions in Illinois, including medical care in state prisons.
Indiana
- ACLU of IndianaLitigation and advocacy on prison, jail and immigration detention conditions in Indiana.
- Indiana Abolition CoalitionAdvocacy against the death penalty in Indiana.
- Indiana CUREAdvocacy by and for people in Indiana prisons and their families.
- America's Black Holocaust Museum: Indiana Lynching Victims MemorialA memorial naming people lynched in Indiana from 1845 to 1930.
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
- Kentucky Center for Investigative ReportingNonprofit newsroom whose reporting documented uncounted deaths in Kentucky jails.
- ACLU of KentuckyLitigation and advocacy on jail and prison conditions in Kentucky.
- Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in Kentucky.
- Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky, 1880-1955A University of Kentucky project with sourced accounts of lynchings and other racial violence in the state.
- Kentucky Youth AdvocatesAdvocacy for children in Kentucky, including youth held in juvenile detention.
Louisiana
Maine
- ACLU of MaineLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Maine, including jail and prison conditions.
- Disability Rights MaineMaine's protection-and-advocacy nonprofit, with legal authority to monitor facilities and investigate abuse and neglect.
- Maine Prisoner Advocacy CoalitionCoalition advocating for incarcerated people in Maine and their families.
- Maine Youth JusticeYouth-led campaign working to close Long Creek Youth Development Center and end youth incarceration in Maine.
Maryland
- ACLU of MarylandLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Maryland, including conditions in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights MarylandMaryland's protection-and-advocacy nonprofit, which investigates abuse and deaths of people with disabilities in institutions.
- Maryland Alliance for Justice ReformVolunteer-run coalition pushing for policy change on incarceration, solitary confinement and prison safety in Maryland.
- Maryland Lynching Memorial ProjectDocuments and memorializes racial terror lynchings in Maryland, including people taken from jails by mobs.
Massachusetts
- ACLU of MassachusettsLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Massachusetts, including jail and prison conditions.
- Prisoners' Legal Services of MassachusettsLitigation, policy advocacy and direct help protecting the rights of people in Massachusetts prisons and jails.
- Disability Law CenterMassachusetts protection-and-advocacy organization, with ongoing advocacy on conditions at Bridgewater State Hospital.
- Families for Justice as HealingOrganization of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their families working to end women's incarceration in Massachusetts.
- Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN)Accompanies and bonds out people held in ICE detention in Massachusetts, and has raised medical neglect at Plymouth County jail.
Michigan
- ACLU of MichiganLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Michigan, including jail and prison conditions.
- Disability Rights MichiganMichigan's protection-and-advocacy nonprofit for people with disabilities, including those in jails and prisons.
- Citizens for Prison ReformFamily-led Michigan group pressing for independent oversight of the state's prisons and public answers about deaths in custody.
- Michigan Center for Youth JusticeAdvocacy to reduce youth confinement and build community alternatives in Michigan.
- Safe & Just MichiganPolicy research and advocacy on reducing incarceration in Michigan.
- Michigan Immigrant Rights CenterLegal help for immigrants, including a line for people detained at North Lake and Calhoun County.
Minnesota
- ACLU of MinnesotaLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Minnesota, including jail and prison conditions.
- Minnesota Disability Law CenterMinnesota's protection-and-advocacy program, part of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, which investigates abuse and neglect in facilities.
- Legal Rights CenterMinneapolis nonprofit providing community-based criminal defense, restorative justice and advocacy.
- Communities United Against Police BrutalityTwin Cities group supporting families of people killed by police and keeping a Minnesota 'Stolen Lives' list.
- Clayton Jackson McGhie MemorialDuluth memorial and education group honoring Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie, taken from the city jail and lynched in 1920.
Mississippi
- Southern Poverty Law Center: Cause UnknownA database and report on deaths in Mississippi jails and prisons since 2019, built from records requests.
- The Marshall Project - JacksonLocal reporting on Mississippi's jails and prisons, including deaths that appear in no official count.
- MacArthur Justice Center, MississippiCivil rights litigation on conditions in Mississippi jails and prisons.
- ACLU of MississippiLitigation and advocacy on jail and prison conditions in Mississippi.
- Mississippi Center for JusticeNonprofit public interest law firm working on criminal legal reform in Mississippi.
Missouri
- ACLU of MissouriLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Missouri, including jail and prison conditions.
- Missouri Protection and Advocacy ServicesMissouri's protection-and-advocacy nonprofit for people with disabilities.
- ArchCity DefendersSt. Louis legal advocacy group working on jails, prisons and fatal state violence.
- Freedom Community CenterBlack-led North St. Louis group that has organized around deaths and conditions at the St. Louis City Justice Center.
- Missourians to Abolish the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in Missouri.
- Community Remembrance Project of MissouriVolunteer partnership with EJI marking Missouri lynching sites, including people dragged from county jails.
Montana
- ACLU of MontanaCivil rights advocacy in Montana; its Montana Prison Project monitors conditions in county jails and state prisons.
- Disability Rights MontanaMontana's protection-and-advocacy nonprofit, which has spoken out on suicides at Montana State Prison.
- Catalyst MontanaMontana advocacy group, formerly the Montana Human Rights Network, whose criminal legal work includes backing prison oversight.
- Montana Free PressNonprofit newsroom that has reported on suicides at Montana State Prison and deaths in county jails.
Nebraska
- ACLU of NebraskaCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Nebraska, including on prison crowding and conditions.
- Disability Rights NebraskaNebraska's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails, prisons and institutions.
- Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death PenaltyAdvocacy, education and lobbying to end the death penalty in Nebraska.
- Flatwater Free PressNonprofit Nebraska newsroom whose reporting has covered crowding and conditions in the state's prisons.
Nevada
- ACLU of NevadaCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Nevada, including the rights of people in jails and prisons.
- Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law CenterNevada's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in institutions and correctional facilities.
- Nevada Coalition Against the Death PenaltyAdvocacy to abolish the death penalty in Nevada.
- Nevada CurrentNonprofit newsroom that has reported on rising deaths in Nevada prisons and lawmakers' questions about them.
New Hampshire
- ACLU of New HampshireCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in New Hampshire, including the rights of people in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights Center - New HampshireNew Hampshire's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in correctional facilities.
- New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in New Hampshire, now working to stop bills that would bring it back.
New Jersey
- ACLU of New JerseyCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in New Jersey, including on jail, prison and immigration detention conditions.
- Disability Rights New JerseyNew Jersey's designated protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, including people in custody.
- First Friends of New Jersey and New YorkVisitation, pen pals, a helpline and post-release support for people held in immigration detention in New Jersey.
- New Jersey MonitorNonprofit newsroom that has reported on deaths in New Jersey state prisons and the state's review of them.
New Mexico
- ACLU of New MexicoLitigation and advocacy on jail, prison and immigration detention conditions in New Mexico, including Torrance and Otero.
- New Mexico Prison & Jail ProjectCivil rights lawsuits on behalf of people abused or mistreated in New Mexico prisons and jails.
- Disability Rights New MexicoNew Mexico's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails and prisons.
- New Mexico Immigrant Law CenterFree legal help for low-income immigrants in New Mexico, with a program for people in immigration detention.
- Contigo Immigrant JusticeImmigration legal services in New Mexico; as Santa Fe Dreamers Project it challenged conditions at Torrance County Detention Facility.
- Searchlight New MexicoNonprofit investigative newsroom whose reporting has covered deaths and conditions in New Mexico jails and prisons.
New York
- Correctional Association of New YorkIndependent monitor of New York State prisons since 1844; publishes reports and a deaths-in-custody data dashboard.
- New York Civil Liberties UnionThe ACLU of New York; litigation and advocacy on jail, prison and immigration detention conditions in the state.
- Prisoners' Legal Services of New YorkFree civil legal help for people in New York State prisons on conditions, medical care and mistreatment.
- Disability Rights New YorkNew York's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails and prisons.
- Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP)Campaign led by formerly incarcerated people and families to free aging and long-serving people from New York prisons.
- New York Lawyers for the Public InterestLegal advocacy including its Health Justice program on medical care for people in immigration detention around New York.
- New York FocusNonprofit newsroom whose reporting has covered deaths and medical care in New York State prisons.
North Carolina
- Disability Rights North CarolinaNorth Carolina's protection and advocacy organization, which has tracked deaths in the state's jails since 2013.
- ACLU of North CarolinaLitigation and advocacy on jails, prisons and the death penalty in North Carolina.
- North Carolina Prisoner Legal ServicesNonprofit legal services for people in North Carolina prisons.
- Southern Coalition for Social JusticeDurham civil rights legal organization whose work includes conditions in the Durham County jail.
- Emancipate NCDurham organization working to end mass incarceration and police violence in North Carolina.
- Center for Death Penalty LitigationDurham nonprofit law firm representing people facing the death penalty in North Carolina.
- North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death PenaltyStatewide coalition working to end the death penalty in North Carolina.
North Dakota
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio
- ACLU of OhioCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Ohio, including calls to investigate deaths in county jails.
- Disability Rights OhioOhio's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails, prisons and institutions.
- Ohio Justice & Policy CenterLegal advocacy whose Human Rights in Prison project works on medical care and inhumane conditions in Ohio prisons.
- Ohioans to Stop ExecutionsAdvocacy against the death penalty in Ohio.
- The Marshall Project - ClevelandNonprofit newsroom's Cleveland bureau, whose reporting has documented deaths in the Cuyahoga County jail.
Oklahoma
- ACLU of OklahomaLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Oklahoma, including conditions in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights OklahomaOklahoma's disability rights nonprofit (formerly the Oklahoma Disability Law Center), which has investigated conditions in the Oklahoma County jail.
- The FrontierTulsa-based nonprofit newsroom whose investigations documented deaths in the Tulsa city jail and other Oklahoma jails.
- Oklahoma WatchNonprofit newsroom that has reported on deaths and alleged cover-ups in Oklahoma county jails.
- Oklahomans for Criminal Justice ReformAdvocacy for reducing incarceration in Oklahoma that has called attention to deaths in the Oklahoma County jail.
- Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death PenaltyEducation and advocacy against the death penalty in Oklahoma.
Oregon
- ACLU of OregonLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Oregon, including conditions in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights OregonOregon's disability rights nonprofit; its report Grave Consequences examined deaths in Oregon jails and found most were preventable.
- Oregon Justice Resource CenterLegal advocacy and policy work on behalf of incarcerated people and others harmed by Oregon's legal system.
- Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in Oregon.
Pennsylvania
- ACLU of PennsylvaniaLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Pennsylvania, including conditions in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights PennsylvaniaPennsylvania's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people held in jails and prisons.
- Pennsylvania Prison SocietyNonprofit with legal authority to visit Pennsylvania prisons and jails; monitors conditions and supports incarcerated people and their families.
- Abolitionist Law CenterLitigation and community organizing against harms of the criminal punishment system in Pennsylvania, including prison conditions.
- Pennsylvania Institutional Law ProjectCivil rights litigation on conditions in Pennsylvania prisons, jails and other institutions.
- Amistad Law ProjectPhiladelphia-based public interest law center organizing against life sentences and for people in Pennsylvania prisons.
- Pennsylvania Immigration Resource CenterFree legal representation for immigrants held in detention in Pennsylvania.
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
- ACLU of Rhode IslandCivil rights litigation and advocacy in Rhode Island, including lawsuits over suicides at the Adult Correctional Institutions.
- Disability Rights Rhode IslandRhode Island's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities.
- Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE)Providence organizing group whose Behind the Walls Committee works on prison conditions and solitary confinement at the ACI.
- OpenDoorsProvidence nonprofit led by formerly incarcerated people offering support and advocacy for people affected by incarceration.
- Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance (AMOR)Rhode Island community support network organizing against immigration detention and deportation.
South Carolina
- ACLU of South CarolinaLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in South Carolina, including conditions in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights South CarolinaSouth Carolina's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities.
- Incarceration TransparencyLaw school project that collects records on deaths behind bars; it counted 777 deaths in South Carolina custody from 2015 to 2021.
- South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in South Carolina.
- Community Remembrance Project of Greenville CountyCoalition working with EJI to memorialize victims of racial terror lynching in Greenville County.
South Dakota
- ACLU of South DakotaLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in South Dakota, including conditions in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights South DakotaSouth Dakota's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities.
- South Dakota SearchlightNonprofit newsroom that reports each death in South Dakota state prisons and has tracked the rising yearly toll.
Tennessee
- ACLU of TennesseeLitigation and advocacy on civil rights in Tennessee, including conditions in jails and prisons.
- Disability Rights TennesseeTennessee's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities.
- Just CityMemphis nonprofit working on local criminal justice policy, including conditions in the Shelby County jail.
- Free HeartsNashville nonprofit led by formerly incarcerated women that supports and organizes families affected by incarceration.
- Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in Tennessee.
- Lynching Sites Project of MemphisMemphis network documenting and marking the history of racial terror lynching in Shelby County.
- Friends of the Ed Johnson MemorialChattanooga group that built a memorial to Ed Johnson, taken from the Hamilton County jail and lynched in 1906.
Texas
- Texas Justice InitiativeCollects and publishes data on deaths in custody and officer-involved shootings in Texas.
- Texas Jail ProjectAdvocacy with and for people held in Texas county jails and their families.
- Texas Prisons Community AdvocatesAdvocacy on conditions in Texas prisons, including extreme heat.
- ACLU of TexasLitigation and advocacy on jail, prison and immigration detention conditions in Texas.
- Disability Rights TexasTexas's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails and prisons.
- RAICESLegal services and advocacy for immigrants, including people held in Texas immigration detention.
- Texas Defender ServiceNonprofit law office representing people facing execution in Texas.
- Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death PenaltyStatewide group working to end the death penalty in Texas, with yearly reports on executions and death sentences.
- Lynching in TexasA Sam Houston State University project documenting lynchings in Texas from 1882 to 1945.
Utah
- ACLU of UtahCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Utah, including work on jail conditions and public access to records on jail deaths.
- Disability Law CenterUtah's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, which has pressed for mental health standards and transparency in county jails.
- Utah Prisoner Advocate NetworkVolunteer nonprofit that supports families of people in Utah prisons and jails and advocates for better conditions and medical care.
- The Salt Lake TribuneNonprofit newspaper whose reporting has tracked deaths in Utah county jails and the state prison.
Vermont
- ACLU of VermontCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Vermont, including on prisoners' rights and criminal legal reform.
- Disability Rights VermontVermont's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people held in institutions and correctional facilities.
- Vermonters for Criminal Justice ReformReentry and recovery services and policy advocacy, including access to opioid use disorder medication in Vermont prisons.
- VTDiggerNonprofit newsroom that reports on deaths of people in Vermont Department of Corrections custody.
Virginia
- ACLU of VirginiaLitigation and advocacy on Virginia's prisons, jails and the death penalty.
- Legal Aid Justice CenterVirginia legal aid organization whose work includes medical care in state prisons and immigration detention.
- disAbility Law Center of VirginiaVirginia's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails and prisons.
- Virginians for Alternatives to the Death PenaltyAdvocacy against the death penalty in Virginia, with a record of every execution in the state since 1982.
- Racial Terror: Lynching in VirginiaA James Madison University database of lynchings in Virginia from 1866 to 1932, with newspaper and archival records.
Washington
- ACLU of WashingtonCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Washington, including on jail and prison conditions and policing.
- Disability Rights WashingtonWashington's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, which has investigated deaths and conditions in county jails.
- Columbia Legal ServicesLegal aid and policy advocacy group whose 2019 report documented more than 200 deaths in Washington jails.
- Northwest Immigrant Rights ProjectLegal services for immigrants in Washington, including people held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.
- La ResistenciaGrassroots group organizing with people detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma and their families.
- University of Washington Center for Human RightsUniversity research center that documents conditions, medical neglect, solitary confinement and deaths at the Tacoma immigration detention center.
West Virginia
- ACLU of West VirginiaCivil liberties advocacy in West Virginia; its report "Overcrowded and Deadly" documented deaths in the state's regional jails.
- Disability Rights of West VirginiaWest Virginia's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails, prisons and institutions.
- Mountain State JusticeNonprofit legal advocacy group that brought a class action over medical and mental health care in West Virginia's ten regional jails.
- Mountain State SpotlightNonprofit newsroom whose reporting has covered deaths at Southern Regional Jail and other West Virginia jails.
- West Virginia Center on Budget & PolicyNonprofit policy research group that has written on deaths and oversight at Southern Regional Jail and other state jails.
Wisconsin
- ACLU of WisconsinCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Wisconsin, including on prison and jail conditions.
- Disability Rights WisconsinWisconsin's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails, prisons and institutions.
- Wisconsin WatchNonprofit newsroom whose reporting documented deaths at Waupun Correctional Institution and other Wisconsin prisons.
- EXPO (Ex-incarcerated People Organizing)Statewide organization led by formerly incarcerated people working to end mass incarceration, with reentry support and policy campaigns.
- WISDOMFaith-based organizing network running campaigns to end prison lockdowns and make communication with incarcerated family members free.
Wyoming
- ACLU of WyomingCivil liberties litigation and advocacy in Wyoming, including on jail and prison conditions.
- Protection & Advocacy System, Inc.Wyoming's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including people in jails, prisons and institutions.
- WyoFileNonprofit newsroom whose "Dying in jail" series documented deaths in Wyoming county jails, most of them suicides.
The reports and records this site draws on are listed on the Methodology page.