Activists in Houston were galvanized by events in Ferguson in 2014 following the death of Michael Brown. First, they took to the streets in protest. Then they started organizing. Not long after, they found a kindred spirit in the most unlikely person: a candidate for the DA office. Reporter Ruxandra Guidi chronicles how activists and reformers are succeeding in cutting the jail population, diverting drug arrests, and increasing accountability for local police.

For veterans, run-ins with the law don’t always have to mean jail time. Thanks to Veterans Court in Boston, which helps in finding treatment for PTSD, getting sober, and finding work. Reporter Heidi Shin talks to an Iraq and Afghanistan vet about his struggles with alcohol and PTSD, and his experience through the Veterans Court program. Heidi also talks to the judges, outreach specialists, and counselors about diverting veterans away from the prison pipeline.

In Pima County, where Tucson is located, formerly incarcerated individuals and local government officials have joined efforts to send fewer people to jail. Meanwhile, a federal program designed to stop drug and human trafficking at the border is also sending people to jail for months over traffic violations and minor drug offenses. Reporter Jesse Alejandro Cottrell explores just how complicated it can be to reform a local criminal justice system.

70 million Americans older than 18 have a criminal record. 70 Million documents how residents and communities are taking up the challenge of reforms, one jail--and story--at a time. We’ll travel around the country to learn about local efforts in diversion, bail reform, recidivism, and specialty courts--all with the goal of lessening the impact of jails on communities. (This podcast is made possible by a grant from the Safety and Justice Challenge at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.)

Host: Mitzi Miller

Editor: Jen Chien

Sound Designer: Luis Gil

Associate Producer: Oluwakemi Aladesuyi

Marketing Specialist: Kate Krosschell

Resource Guide Writer: Amy Alexander

Design Director: Kenia D. Serrette

Creator & Executive Producer: Juleyka Lantigua-Williams

Starting August 27, follow along as the reporters on 70 Million travel around the country to chronicle how communities are taking the challenge of criminal justice reform into their own hands, one jail at a time.