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Meg O'Connor
Reporter
Hi there. I'm an award-winning reporter for The Appeal, a worker-led publication that covers the criminal legal system. I mostly write about police and prosecutors. I also run The Appeal’s weekly newsletter. I previously worked for the Phoenix New Times and the Miami New Times, where my work drew national scrutiny to local police departments and led to the firing of five officers who had committed egregious misconduct. On two occasions, my reporting has caused some of the biggest police departments in the country to change internal policies. My work has also been published by VICE, CNN, The Houston Press, and Gotham Gazette.
Articles
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Despite efforts to reduce incarceration, LA County's incarcerated inmates with mental illness increased by 54% from 2015-2022, highlighting inadequate care and funding issues.
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Topics
America’s largest county has launched numerous initiatives to shrink its jail population and divert people with mental illness from jail entirely.
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Topics
Los Angeles County is imprisoning more people with mental illness than it did a decade ago—but is failing to provide them with basic treatment.
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Diversion programs were touted as a way to lower the number of people with mental illness in county jails.