Behind the Gates with the Daughters and Sons of Incarcerated Mothers
Dallas nonprofit Janie’s Angels brings children to visit their moms in prison. A photographer captures a day inside the Christina Melton Crain Unit.

Welcome to The Lab Report
Our journalism is actionable and drives real-world impact. Explore our investigations, explainers, and data to see how.
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OUR REPORTING
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Dallas’ Foster Care System Unraveled. Foster Parents Are Living with the Fallout.
As new private companies gear up to take over CPS cases in North Texas, families are grappling with damage done by the last contractor in charge.
Introducing ‘Above the Fray’
A new monthly rundown of what you need to know about where you live.
She Grew Up in Jails, Now She Keeps Kids Out of Them
Elizabeth Henneke’s Lone Star Justice Alliance spurred reforms of Dallas’ embattled juvenile justice system. Next comes the rest of Texas.
Pushing Forward in Tenth Street
While the city works to fix a wrong, this Oak Cliff neighborhood waits with cautious optimism for long-awaited public investments.
The Quiet Work That Has Changed South Dallas
Diane Ragsdale spent 40 years delivering homes, healthcare, and job training. Her successor faces a challenging market as he continues her legacy.
What We're Reading
David Woody Walks Back Across The Bridge
The outgoing CEO of the city’s largest homeless shelter on increased demand, FIFA, and the importance of being downtown.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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The Kids Are All Right at Prosperity Park
How a rubble-ridden lot in Oak Cliff became a safe place for children who do far more than play.
NEIGHBORHOODS
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They Spent Weeks Housing the Homeless, Then Police Showed Up
Service providers launched a new initiative in South Dallas to provide apartments to people in encampments, but that didn’t stop police from making arrests.
