Our criminal justice system defines the boundaries of our most basic rights. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, yet it is still one of the most violence-plagued Western democracies. Because of the great power given to the police, the courts and prisons, they deserve special scrutiny. I seek to explain to readers how the system works with political and historical context. I am particularly interested in stories that explore how the criminal justice system sometimes fails to meet the ideals set forth in our Constitution.
I have worked at The Times since 2000 and have covered a variety of beats, including the New York Police Department and the American South, where I covered the trial of one of the Klansmen who killed Emmett Till and wrote about all-white juries, prosecutorial misconduct and wrongful convictions. For a few years I worked for the business section, covering the economy, before returning to the national desk in 2014 when the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., thrust policing into the national spotlight. Since then, I have focused on criminal justice, covering a wide range of issues including police reform, medical examiner bias, flawed forensic science and jail deaths. I am a graduate of Rice University and a native of Houston, Texas, where I began my journalism career at an investigative newsweekly
As a Times journalist, I share the values and adhere to the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I strive to make all of my work accurate and fair. I do not accept gifts, money or favors from anyone who might figure into my reporting, nor do I compensate sources who tell me their stories. I make every effort to understand issues from multiple angles. When conducting interviews, I always identify myself as a journalist.
If you have a story or a tip, please reach out. I accept collect calls from correctional institutions.
Email: dewan@nytimes.com
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Mail: Shaila Dewan, 620 8th Ave, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10018
His acquittal in the infamous trial involving Nicole Brown Simpson’s death prompted powerful backlash that helped change the perception around domestic violence.
By Shaila Dewan and Julie Bosman
Investigators in Kentucky have pursued many leads in the search for Randy Sellers, except for what some critics say is the most obvious one.
By Shaila Dewan and Madeleine Hordinski
Alabama officials said the nation’s first nitrogen gas execution was a model for other states. Critics called it appalling and far from what the state promised.
By Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Shaila Dewan and Anna Betts
Fending off doubts and criticisms, Alabama’s attorney general hailed a new execution method as “humane and effective.”
By Shaila Dewan
The former police officer was being held in a specialized federal facility for high-profile inmates. He is said to be likely to survive.
By Glenn Thrush and Serge F. Kovaleski
The attack in an Arizona prison was the latest violent episode involving a high-profile inmate at a federal correctional facility.
By Colbi Edmonds, Glenn Thrush and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs
The shooter who killed 18 people with an assault-style rifle in Lewiston, Maine, displayed a textbook set of warning signs. His family, his superiors in the military and the local police knew all of this. Yet no one stopped him.
By Shaila Dewan and Claire Hogan
The assailant in the mass shooting in Lewiston died about eight to 12 hours before his body was found, officials say.
By Colbi Edmonds and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs
The police were warned about the deteriorating mental health of an Army reservist months before a deadly shooting.
By Michael Barbaro, Eric Krupke, Olivia Natt, Summer Thomad, Rachelle Bonja, Liz O. Baylen, Dan Powell, Pat McCusker, Marion Lozano, Rowan Niemisto and Chris Wood
Shortcomings in mental health treatment, weak laws and a reluctance to threaten personal liberties can derail even concerted attempts to thwart mass shootings.
By Shaila Dewan, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Chelsia Rose Marcius