The Midwest's Jail Boom on Toxic Lands

Each of these 14 facilities is located in their respective state's toxic air corridors or near a hazardous industrial site. Many facilities are in census tracts with some of the country's lowest life expectancies due to public and environmental health injustices.

A score of 99 in Air Toxics Risk, for example, means detainees and community members within 1-mile of the location 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