Projects
Purgatory Behind Bars
The Charlotte Observer
This investigation led to the publication of "Purgatory behind bars," a 4-part news series examining how a cold case murder devolved into a man's decade-long purgatory in jail, mental health hospitals, and court.
The series unveiled a shocking revelation: a single-word loophole in state legislation permits the indefinite detention of some individuals with mental health challenges in North Carolina before they even face trial. And it exposed the limited recourse available to their lawyers in combating this injustice.
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Chapter 1: He’s spent 11 years in jail — and no one knows if he’s guilty
Chapter 1 talks about some of Perkins’ experiences in jail including how he has been evaluated again and again by psychiatrists, most of whom say the same thing: He’s not capable of standing trial to determine if he’s guilty of murder.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article275067396.html
Chapter 2: ‘Make sure he fries.’ Unsolved for years, a Charlotte murder case turns cold in court.
Chapter 2 focuses on the crime Perkins’ is accused of that left a 20-year-old dead and two families devastated.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article276877458.html
Chapter 3: ‘Tell them I didn’t do it.’ The voices in Devalos Perkins’ head destroy chances for trial.
This chapter follows the downward spiral of Perkins’ mental health. It also shows how a broken system for defendants who are incapable to proceed has kept him shuffling between hospital beds and jail bunks for over a decade.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article276044386.html
Chapter 4: Imprisoned —— with no conviction? How one word in NC law traps mentally-ill defendants.
The final chapter explains how one word in a now defunct state law may keep Perkins behind bars without a conviction for years.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article276982253.html
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This is purgatory
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To promote the project I collaborated with multimedia journalist Makayla Holder, to produce this promotional video.
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For LGBTQ Asylum-Seekers at the Border, Assistance Has Become Resistance
The Pulitzer Center
This project focuses on the plight of transgender asylum seekers and the activists who have formed grassroots networks to help them on their journey. I was able to tell these stories and interview asylum seekers and activists at the U.S.-Mexico border in both El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico as a reporting grantee with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
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Lack of Government Support Leads to Grassroots Effort To Aid LGBTQ Asylum Seekers
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This is the story of Casa de Colores, a shelter in downtown Juárez that provided refuge for 45 transgender women seeking asylum in the United States at the height of the pandemic. These women faced numerous challenges, including violence, discrimination, and persecution in their home countries. Casa de Colores became a chosen family for them, offering a safe space where they could dress as they pleased, make friends, and build a supportive community.
However, the road to seeking asylum in the U.S. was long, difficult, and stalled due to the pandemic. The women had to rely on grassroots organizations and local activists for support as they waited to cross the border.
Despite facing barriers like Title 42 and the Remain in Mexico Policy, Casa Carmelita and other organizations in El Paso worked tirelessly to help, and nearly all of the women of Casa de Colores have since crossed the border and begun the process of applying for asylum.
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Sister Cities Connected by Community, Separated by a Wall
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The article explores the deep connection between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, highlighting how growing up on both sides of the border has shaped the identities of the residents of both cities.
https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/sister-cities-connected-community-separated-wall
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Casa Carmelita: Mainstream Systems Failed Them—So They Created Their Own
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The article provides a glimpse into Casa Carmelita, a shelter for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in El Paso, Texas. It is operated solely by grassroots activists and artists.
Roadblocks to Police Accountability
The Pulitzer Center
I investigated police misconduct and scoured public records across the country along with a team of other college and professional journalists. We produced a project titled "Roadblocks to Police Accountability." Our work was published by the Associated Press and the Gateway journalism Review. It was recognized with two awards by Editor & Publisher magazine, and I received the Sally Brown Boyden Student Journalism award for my contribution.
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Police Misconduct Records Secret, Difficult to Access & Analysis of Police Misconduct Record Laws in All 50 States
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These articles form a comprehensive database providing insight into open record laws in every state and how they pertain to police accountability.
https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/police-misconduct-records-secret-difficult-access
https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/analysis-police-misconduct-record-laws-all-50-states
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Records Show Illinois Fails to Hold Police Accountable for Misconduct
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Eighty-one Chicago police officers lost their badges over the past 20 years, but only after being investigated for 1,706 previous offenses – an average of 21 accusations per officer.
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One third (28) of these Chicago officers were investigated for domestic altercations or sexual misconduct. Two murdered their wives.
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https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/records-show-illinois-fails-hold-police-accountable-misconduct
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New Illinois Police Reform Bill Makes State Police Misconduct Database Secret
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The new law requires the Illinois Law Enforcement and Training Standards Board to maintain a statewide database of police misconduct. But the same law that requires the statewide database then closes it.