Quinterrius Frazier was 15 years old when he was arrested for aggravated robbery and held in the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center. When staff said he was being disruptive — flashing gang signs and rapping, they claimed — he was placed in solitary confinement.
Formerly incarcerated people want their voting rights back. That’s why they’re suing Tennessee.
Tennessee has one of the strictest policies of all US states for formerly incarcerated people who want to vote. The state permanently bars people with felony convictions from voting unless they meet a rigorous set of standards and get the court that sentenced them to sign off. Recently, the state got even stricter, making the […]
Fix systemic racism? Nashville mayoral candidates fumble to offer actions at candidate forum.
Systemic racism has caused uneven poverty, incarceration, educational achievement and health outcomes in Nashville. What is the next mayor planning to do about it?
A Black family from Georgia is still not reunited with their five kids who were taken into DCS custody in Tennessee
It’s been about a month since Bianca Clayborne and Deonte Williams were separated from their five children following a traffic stop in rural Tennessee.
How Tennessee’s rape kit backlog impacts survivors seeking justice
On this episode, we’ll examine the process of getting a rape kit and reporting an assault, talk about the toll of waiting for answers, and explore the reasons why justice is hard to come by.
DOJ touts Tennessee program that puts a social worker on public defense teams
Defendants who can’t afford to pay for their own lawyer are often up against several challenges — addiction, poverty, homelessness.
Tyre Nichols case puts spotlight on Tennessee’s policing priorities
The beating of Tyre Nichols in police custody is renewing concerns about how top leaders are addressing police abuses statewide, including in Nashville.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton talks roadways, abortion, crime and more
The 113th General Assembly kicked off last week and to get a preview of what to expect WPLN’s Political Reporter Blaise Gainey sat with Crossville Republican Cameron Sexton who’s been elected to another term as House Speaker.
Police shootings, executions on hold and guns in cars: WPLN’s top criminal justice stories
Tennessee’s criminal justice system has topped several lists this year — largely for lagging behind the rest of the country in reforms. WPLN’s Paige Pfleger picked three stories that defined the beat this year.
Tennessee’s new attorney general says he’s a lawyer, not a politician. Here’s how he sees his role on issues like abortion.
Since taking office on Sept. 1, Skrmetti has already been more open to the media than his predecessor. Skrmetti says he wants to be more transparent so people understand what it is the AG does in Tennessee.