Criminal The Questions I’m Asking
Dec 15, 2023
Andrea Armstrong, Genius Grant winner and founder of the Incarceration Transparency Project, discusses exposing prison conditions and deaths in Louisiana. Topics include the shooting of Alton Sterling, poor treatment of protesters in jail, and inhumane conditions on death row. The importance of recognizing the humanity of incarcerated individuals is emphasized.
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Legal Observing After Alton Sterling's Death
- Andrea Armstrong described witnessing Alton Sterling's killing and serving as a legal observer at protests in Baton Rouge.
- She documented arrests, collected officer badge numbers, and supported lawyers helping released protesters.
From Protest Reports To Jail Investigation
- Reports from released protesters revealed systemic denials of care and inhumane conditions at East Baton Rouge Parish Jail.
- Those reports led Armstrong to focus on the jail's high death toll and document its scale of abuse.
Humanizing The Dead In Jail Reports
- Armstrong named and memorialized people who died in the jail, sharing ages, photos, and small joys from their lives.
- She used these personal details to humanize detainees and counter secrecy around in-custody deaths.