The Appeal, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to criminal justice reform and community-centered reporting, is doubling down on its mission as a second Trump presidency looms. Known for exposing systemic abuses and highlighting grassroots solutions, The Appeal is uniquely positioned to address the challenges such a presidency could bring.
According to a recent newsletter from the organization, the actions of a second Trump administration could heighten risks for over-policed, incarcerated, trans, immigrant, and unhoused individuals. As federal protections waver, The Appeal’s reporting will focus on areas where abuses will likely intensify. Their work will continue to amplify community voices, hold systems accountable, and catalyze long-term change.
Key Focus Areas Under a Trump Presidency
Police Accountability
Under Trump, federal oversight of police departments may diminish, leaving local communities more vulnerable to unchecked police misconduct. The Appeal’s previous investigations have spurred Department of Justice probes, such as those into the NYPD’s mishandling of rape cases and civil rights abuses by the Phoenix Police Department.
With a Trump-appointed Department of Justice potentially scaling back investigations, The Appeal will intensify its focus on police accountability, scrutinizing local departments and municipalities that fund them.
Local Jails and State Prisons
The Appeal’s reporting has exposed human rights violations in jails and prisons, including price-gouging at Florida prison commissaries and record death rates at Georgia’s Clayton County Jail. Their investigations have led to calls for federal action, such as Senator Jon Ossoff’s demand for a DOJ inquiry into Clayton County Jail conditions.
During a Trump presidency, funding and oversight of these facilities may decline, increasing the likelihood of abuses. The Appeal will continue to highlight these injustices, pressuring local lawmakers to safeguard incarcerated individuals’ health and safety.
The Expanding Net of Criminalization
The Appeal will track how state legislators, attorneys general, judges, and prosecutors expand criminalization under a second Trump administration.
Alternatives to Police, Jails, and Prisons
As Trump threatens to reduce federal funding for incarceration alternatives, The Appeal will focus on preserving and promoting transformative public safety programs. Their reporting has already helped protect initiatives like Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative, drawing national attention to the importance of such reforms.
By highlighting what works, The Appeal aims to ensure communities have viable paths to safety and justice beyond punitive systems.
A Long-Term Vision for Change
The Appeal envisions a future where systems of care and support replace punitive measures as the foundation of public safety. Achieving this vision requires persistence and bold action, particularly as a potential Trump presidency threatens to roll back progress.
Their journalism plays a critical role in sustaining and building upon community-driven reforms, laying the groundwork for systemic changes that may take years to achieve.
Through in-depth investigations and reporting, writers with the Appeal, some of them who are individuals currently experiencing incarceration, expose systemic failures, unsafe conditions, and patterns of mistreatment that often go unaddressed. By holding corrections officials and facility administrators accountable, The Appeal pushes for reforms that improve the health, safety, and dignity of incarcerated people, while equipping advocates and lawmakers with the evidence needed to demand change.
The Appeal’s Call to Action
As challenges mount under a potential Trump presidency, The Appeal’s commitment to holding police, prosecutors, prisons, and politicians accountable is unwavering. By amplifying the voices of impacted communities and spotlighting transformative solutions, The Appeal aims to guide the path toward a more just future.
Visit TheAppeal.org to donate or to learn more.
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