The Midwest's Jail Boom on Toxic Lands

Each of these nine facilities are located in census tracts considered "disadvantaged" by the White House and have either used, or planned to use, COVID relief funds for construction.

A score of 99 in Air Toxics Risk, for example, means detainees and community members are exposed to more harmful health risks from air pollution than 99% of the state. A score of 99 in Life Expectancy means detainees and community members are expected to have a shorter life expectancy than 99% of the country.
Chart: Adam Mahoney Source: EPA/EJ Screen/ Council on Environmental Quality Get the data