Justice Archives – Scalawag

Henry Drake was convicted for a 1975 murder he didn’t commit—twice. Even after another man confessed to the crime, he still spent 12 years on Death Row seeking exoneration and battling the classism and legal misconduct of Georgia's judicial system.

SOUTHERN POLITICS

A Close Shave with Death

by Lillah Lawson September 1, 2023September 1, 2023

Henry Drake was convicted for a 1975 murder he didn't commit—twice. Even after another man confessed to the crime, he still spent 12 years on Death Row seeking exoneration and battling the classism and legal misconduct of Georgia's judicial system.

Alim Braxton and Sabur Tyler have served a combined 53 years on Death Row. Six years ago, they found a profound friendship with each other—one that provides hope, solace, purpose, and companionship amidst the unique injustices they each face.

To dream, or not to dream: Friendship, innocence, and redemption on Death Row

by Alim Braxton and Sabur Tyler August 28, 2023August 29, 2023

Only Murders in the Building exemplifies the lies in 'true' crime

by Adedoyin "Ade" Adeniji and Bria Massey September 16, 2022September 16, 2022

SOUTHERN POLITICS

When reparations grow from the grassroots

by Ray Levy Uyeda, YES! Magazine January 11, 2022January 10, 2022

In portraits and letters: 'Being free is not the same as freedom'

by Jason Kerzinski August 17, 2021November 16, 2022

SOUTHERN POLITICS

He thought he could be a 'good' cop. Now, he's working to end policing as we know it.

by Gabbriel Schivone March 23, 2021March 23, 2021

SOUTHERN POLITICS

How a Black and Latinx coalition turned utilities back on in LaGrange

by Lewis Raven Wallace February 19, 2021February 19, 2021

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Court fees and fines make voting near-impossible for ex-felons in Tennessee

by Iliana Hagenah December 22, 2020January 5, 2021

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Voting may have ended, but the work has just begun

by Anoa Changa November 5, 2020November 5, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

How Georgia's court-appointed advocates are failing children and parents

by Arvind Dilawar July 3, 2020September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

For our folks on the frontlines: Bail funds across the South

by Scalawag Team and Scalawag Editors June 2, 2020April 16, 2021

SOUTHERN POLITICS

What you need to know about the new prosecutor on the Ahmaud Arbery case

by Rory Fleming June 1, 2020September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Without visits or confidential calls, Louisiana prisoners can't access legal help

by Katie Fernelius May 8, 2020September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

North Carolina officials are ignoring a crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women

by Antoinette Kerr May 5, 2020September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

How Georgia's governor is quietly obstructing criminal justice reform

by Rory Fleming April 13, 2020September 16, 2020

SCALAWAG UPDATES, SOUTHERN POLITICS

Neighbors helping neighbors: a list of coronavirus mutual aid efforts in the South

by Carly Berlin March 20, 2020October 1, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Bound by Statute: In Mississippi, Jim Crow era laws result in a high rate of Black kids charged as adults

by Ko Bragg November 18, 2019September 16, 2020

'Can You Imagine People Ignoring All This If We Were White?'

by Katherine Webb-Hehn September 30, 2019November 2, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Residents of an Alabama superfund site say it's not their responsibility to be watchdogs

by Katherine Webb-Hehn September 2, 2019September 16, 2020

Why North Carolina keeps many parole-eligible prisoners behind bars

by Lyle C. May July 8, 2019October 1, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Standing in the government cheese line with my grandmother as a six-year-old

by Salaam Green June 24, 2019September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Dangerous conditions may exist in this area

by Katherine Webb-Hehn June 24, 2019September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Organizers shut down a jail for 7 hours to demand an end to the cash bail system

by Sammy Hanf June 17, 2019September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Banking on immigrants

by Felicia Arriaga May 27, 2019September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

Why media outlets cover racial reconciliation but not racism

by Lewis Raven Wallace April 29, 2019September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

In this small Georgia city, an unpaid court fine can get your utilities cut off

by Lewis Raven Wallace March 18, 2019September 16, 2020

Life without parole is 'silent execution'

by Lyle C. May December 31, 2018November 12, 2020

The state locked them up. Now they're North Carolina's elite firefighting force.

by Casey Williams May 24, 2018October 1, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

SNAP trap

by Joel Dillard May 17, 2018September 16, 2020

SOUTHERN POLITICS

New North Carolina law lands poor people in debtors jails, even though judges could set them free

by Michael Cooper May 14, 2018September 16, 2020