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Jill Castellano

@jillcastellano.bsky.social

Data Journalist for The Marshall Project, writing about crime stats and perceptions of public safety. Drop me a line at jcastellano@themarshallproject.org.

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Jill Castellano@jillcastellano.bsky.social · last wk.

As a part of our series analyzing 9,000 death sentences across the U.S., here's what the death penalty landscape looks like in California as Gavin Newsom weighs a big decision on clemency. With @themarshallproject.org and @mauricechammah.bsky.social! www.themarshallproject.org/2026/09/10/n...

Gavin Newsom Could Reshape the U.S. Death Penalty, But It’s Politically Risky

More than 560 people still face death sentences in California, despite a longstanding moratorium on executions.

themarshallproject.org

The Marshall Project@themarshallproject.org · 4mo ago

Programs that send mental health professionals instead of police, or alongside police, to people in the midst of behavioral crises have spread rapidly in recent years. Some version of this concept now exists in 44 out of the country’s 50 largest cities, according to a 2024 study.

More Cities Sending Mental Health Workers Instead of Police, But Funding Doubts Remain

More than 40 of the largest U.S. cities have launched some alternative response, but questions remain about how to pay for it.

themarshallproject.org

Jill Castellano@jillcastellano.bsky.social · 5mo ago

TODAY: Join @themarshallproject.org for a conversation about pregnancy criminalization. I'll be talking about our data analysis that found 70,000 cases where new parents were referred to law enforcement over drug use allegations. See you there! www.themarshallproject.org/events/how-t...

How to Investigate Hospital Drug Testing and the Policing of Pregnancy

In this training webinar, three Marshall Project reporters will share key takeaways from their coverage of pregnancy surveillance.

themarshallproject.org

Marshall Project Guild@marshallprojectguild.org · 5mo ago

Today we're taking a collective lunch break in solidarity with @propublicaguild.org's strike for a fair contract. You can support ProPublica Guild by not clicking on or sharing PP stories today, and telling management why you're honoring the digital picket line: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

Tell ProPublica you’ll honor a digital picket line

Unionized staff at ProPublica have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after more than two years of bargaining their first contract. ProPublica management has: Refused to agree to basic jo...

actionnetwork.org

Jill Castellano@jillcastellano.bsky.social · 7mo ago

I went on Minnesota Public Radio to talk about how the state refers thousands of mothers to law enforcement over alleged drug use during pregnancy, often based on flawed drug tests at childbirth. In fact, these referrals take place for every 1 in 42 births. @themarshallproject.org

Investigation: Thousands of new mothers referred to law enforcement after faulty drug tests

Rather than illicit drugs, many of these parents had eaten or used poppy seeds, heartburn medications, CBD gummies and prescribed medications during their pregnancy, leading to encounters with police ...

mprnews.org

The Marshall Project@themarshallproject.org · 7mo ago

Our investigation found state agencies shared allegations of pregnancy substance use with law enforcement 70,000+ times over six years. Allegations are often based on unreliable drug testing, which can return false positives. Use our interactive tool to explore the data and policies in your state:

In Your State, Are Cops Being Called on New Mothers?

The Marshall Project found more than 70,000 cases referred to law enforcement over allegations of substance use during pregnancy. Explore the data for your state.

themarshallproject.org

Jill Castellano@jillcastellano.bsky.social · 7mo ago

For the expecting parents out there -- here's what you need to know about (unreliable) drug testing at childbirth and what you can do about it @themarshallproject.org @sho-walter.bsky.social www.themarshallproject.org/2026/02/13/t...

Having a Baby? 5 Tips to Avoid Problems From Flawed Drug Testing at the Hospital

Hospitals routinely use unreliable drug tests at childbirth, and many parents are reported to child welfare agencies and the police. Here’s what you can do.

themarshallproject.org

Jill Castellano@jillcastellano.bsky.social · 9mo ago

We tracked around 1,600 people detained in "Operation Midway Blitz" - the Chicago-area ICE raids that took place this fall. Here's where they ended up. @themarshallproject.org @geoffhing.bsky.social @shannonheffernan.bsky.social

ICE Data Reveals What Happened to 1,600 People Arrested During Chicago’s Blitz

Most of those arrested were swiftly shuttled to a sprawling array of detention centers in 13 states, many with reports of troubling conditions.

themarshallproject.org

The Marshall Project@themarshallproject.org · 10mo ago

Ahead of the 2020 election, we asked people in prison what might have helped keep them from committing the crime that led to their incarceration. Among their responses were: • affordable housing • a stable, well-paying job • mental health support

What Could Have Kept Me Out of Prison

We asked people behind bars what services and programs could have changed the course of their lives. Therapy, affordable housing and a living wage topped the list.

themarshallproject.org

Jill Castellano@jillcastellano.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Nice resource from The Open Notebook for anyone dipping their toes into crime and public safety journalism. @theopennotebook.bsky.social

Bringing Scientific Evidence into Any Beat: Crime and Public Safety - The Open Notebook

Daniel von Appen/Unsplash Just as police reports and witness accounts provide crucial information and context in stories about crime and public safety, scientific evidence similarly strengthens report...

theopennotebook.com

Jill Castellano@jillcastellano.bsky.social · 10mo ago

ICE agents continued raiding, arresting and deporting during the 43-day shutdown, but officials stopped publishing data on their operations. This data gives us the best info we have on what ICE is up to, where, and who is being caught in the dragnet.

ICE Raids Kept On During the Shutdown, But the Detention Data Stayed Hidden

More than seven weeks have passed since the last comprehensive release of detention and deportation numbers.

themarshallproject.org

Lex McMenamin (they/them)@lexmcmenamin.com · 11mo ago

I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day. certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.

The Marshall Project@themarshallproject.org · 11mo ago

Past Marshall Project reporting has found that, in the aggregate, the cost of police misconduct settlements can reach into the billions. But recently, two cities have embraced a legal maneuver that, if widely adopted, could limit how much victims actually recover from these settlements.

Who Pays for Police Misconduct? These Cities Say Officers, Not Taxpayers

Denver, Minneapolis and other cities want to avoid paying large sums owed to victims of some types of misconduct. But will the officers pay up?

themarshallproject.org