Victoria Law

Victoria Law is a freelance journalist who focuses on the intersections of incarceration, gender, and resistance. Her books include Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggles of Incarcerated Women, Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms (coauthored with Maya Schenwar), and the forthcoming “Prisons Make Us Safer” and 20 Other Myths About Mass Incarceration.

“The Worst Prison in New York State”

“The Worst Prison in New York State” “The Worst Prison in New York State”

The situation at Rikers is bad, but at Great Meadow Correctional Facility, a maximum security facility more than 200 miles north of New York City, it’s worse.

Nov 10, 2021 / Victoria Law

[Two protesters holding

Closing Rikers Is Long Overdue Closing Rikers Is Long Overdue

Mass decarceration is exactly what’s needed to ensure that people aren’t simply being shuttled from one inhumane situation to another.

Nov 2, 2021 / Victoria Law for The Nation

Rikers Detainees Are Being Transferred From One “Hellhole” to Another

Rikers Detainees Are Being Transferred From One “Hellhole” to Another Rikers Detainees Are Being Transferred From One “Hellhole” to Another

Former and currently incarcerated people denounce Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to transfer detainees as a temporary fix to the ongoing crisis at Rikers.

Oct 19, 2021 / Victoria Law

Why Activists Are Calling on Kathy Hochul to “Free Them All”

Why Activists Are Calling on Kathy Hochul to “Free Them All” Why Activists Are Calling on Kathy Hochul to “Free Them All”

Speaking in midtown Friday, activists called on the New York governor to commute the sentences of abuse victims “as a first step towards reparations.”

Oct 15, 2021 / Victoria Law

The Execution of Lisa Montgomery and ‘the Craven Bloodlust of a Failed Administration’

The Execution of Lisa Montgomery and ‘the Craven Bloodlust of a Failed Administration’ The Execution of Lisa Montgomery and ‘the Craven Bloodlust of a Failed Administration’

The federal government was willing to risk a superspreader event to kill a victim of sexual torture.

Jan 13, 2021 / Victoria Law

death penalty protest

How the System Kept Failing the Only Woman on Federal Death Row How the System Kept Failing the Only Woman on Federal Death Row

Throughout Lisa Montgomery’s life, authorities repeatedly failed to stop the extreme violence and abuse that she suffered.

Jan 6, 2021 / Victoria Law

Executing Lisa Montgomery Would Be One of Trump’s Final Cruelties

Executing Lisa Montgomery Would Be One of Trump’s Final Cruelties Executing Lisa Montgomery Would Be One of Trump’s Final Cruelties

For the first time in 67 years, the federal government is set to execute a woman.

Nov 18, 2020 / Victoria Law

Inside a Security Housing Unit

‘As Long As Solitary Exists, They Will Find a Way to Use It’ ‘As Long As Solitary Exists, They Will Find a Way to Use It’

Five years after he helped launch the largest-ever prison hunger strike, Todd Ashker is back in isolation. And he’s not the only one.

Jul 13, 2018 / Victoria Law

Albany County Jail

Waiting for Cuomo: NY Prisoners Hope for Clemency From the Governor Waiting for Cuomo: NY Prisoners Hope for Clemency From the Governor

It’s time for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to live up to his pledge and cut short more prison sentences.

Feb 22, 2018 / Victoria Law

All They Want for Christmas Is a Limit on Solitary Confinement

All They Want for Christmas Is a Limit on Solitary Confinement All They Want for Christmas Is a Limit on Solitary Confinement

Prison-reform advocates send New York Governor Andrew Cuomo a Christmas card, asking him to spend a day alone in a cell.

Dec 22, 2017 / Victoria Law

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