The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "corrections" ...
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RGJ Special Report: DUI in Nevada
The reporter found that licenses were being granted too soon to DUI offenders whose accidents had caused death or substantial bodily harm. Offenders were not serving their full two years behind bars and instead were allowed to get out on a house arrest program.
Tags: DUI; drunk driving; Department of Corrections; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; prison
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Prison Workers Compensation Investigation
The reporters find that hundreds of guards at a Illinois maximum security prison were receiving large taxpayer-funded injury awards for carpal tunnel syndrome they claimed came from unlocking cell doors. The state had spent $30.6 million on these settlements over three years. As a result of the investigation, the Illinois Department of Insurance launched a civil and criminal investigation.
Tags: injury awards; state prisons; settlements; Menard Correctional Center; workers compensation
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Bad loans, No penalties
The state of Ohio leads the nation in failed loans, which the federal government corrects while the communities suffer. One of the biggest stories, which led to the investigation and this series, was when “Columbus developers walked away from an apartment-renovation project and $26 million in government-insured loans”. Further, there wasn’t anything that held these developers liable to repay the money.
Tags: Federal Housing Administration (FHA); tenants; neighbors; local officials; foreclosure; taxpayers; property; Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
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Scales of Justice
Many known criminals in Linn County walk the streets freely. Among many problems with the local justice system, the largest is that criminal cases are dismissed without prosecution. Without charges on a drug dealer's, child pornographer's, or girlfriend beater's records, it's as if they never committed a crime. The lack of corrective action is leaving local police with low morale and an overwhelming job of arresting repeat offenders only to see the justice system release them back on the public.
Tags: justice system; police; prosecution; charges; arrests; morale; criminals; streets; Linn County; CBS 2; attorney; public safety;
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Carbon Monoxide at Cove Village
Even though, three people died of carbon monoxide in their apartment complex, the problem went uncorrected for four years afterwards. Also, even when the emergency calls continued to report carbon monoxide problems and a number of people were brought to the hospital, the government inspectors never stepped in to correct the hazard.
Tags: Essex complex; Wiley family; County Fire Department; toxic; Sawyer Realty; firefighters
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Ohio Corrections Connections
This series found “one of the largest state agencies involved in a pattern of apparent abuse of state tax dollars and power”. This series revealed a number of things, including expensive parties at the taxpayers’ expense while employees were being laid off, friends of officials buying state-made furniture for less than state agencies were paying for it, and firing workers for a number of violations and then hiring them back within weeks or months.
Tags: corrections officials; Capital; governor; Governor Strickland; corruption; funds; state; economy; government; Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
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"Prison Medical Series"
In this investigation, Charles Piller reveals that cost to improve medical care in California's prisons was grossly "overstated." In 2006, a court-ordered receiver took control of the prisons' health care system and "fundamentally" miscalculated the $8 million estimate. Further investigation shows "fraud and waste" within the receiver's "staffing programs."
Tags: Matthew Cate; Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; J. Clark Kelso; John Hagar; California state prisons
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What's in your burger?
This story revealed how a number of restaurants aren’t following health code guidelines. These violations include not using gloves, not cooking at correct temperatures, no mouth guards at buffets, no sanitizer in rag buckets, dirty restrooms, no dates on food in the refrigerator, and storing food where it is subject to contamination.
Tags: health inspection; records; Cedar City; food; sickness; food protection code; Public Health Department; home-owned; chains; privately owned
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"Prison Predator"
Overcrowding in California's 33 prisons has led to inmate violence, death and an alarming lack of accountability among prisons workers. In the past year, Lancaster state prison has seen two deaths as a result of inmate violence. In both cases, officials have keep quiet. A federal court ruling has asked California prison officials to relieve the overcrowding by releasing 40,000 inmates, though the ruling has been met by resistance by the governor and other politicians.
Tags: Lancaster; California prisons; inmate violence; jail violence; Greg Thomas; Cayenne Byrd; California Department of Corrections
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Who's Watching the Cops?
This article looks into the usefulness of civilian oversight of the police and allegations against them due to excessive force are handled by two towns in the area of coverage. Additionally, everyone agrees public oversight of the police is necessary, but not sure if it the most effective. Further, the public oversight group only has so much power and is often left without taking corrective action.
Tags: law enforcement; civilian; Durham; Chapel Hill; Police Review Board; volunteers; police department