The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "ex-con" ...
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Carnival Safety Investigation
Inside Edition sent a producer with hidden cameras to work at several traveling carnivals around the country where he uncovered major drug use by some of the carnival ride operators. In addition to capturing "ride jockeys" abusing (and dealing) drugs just minutes before they began operating major thrill rides popular with children and young adults, our producer also observed several serious safety issues inherent in the traveling carnival industry. Among these safety issues were questionable hiring practices, inadequate training policies and dangerous mechanical issues on multiple rides.
Tags: carnival safety; public safety; ride jockeys; drug use; sex offenders; ex-con; traveling carnivals;
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Subsidized Ex-cons
"The State of Illinois is paying ex cons to baby-sit in a little known program under the Welfare Reform act."
Tags: convicts; welfare; FOIA; government
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Dumping Ground
Ex-convicts and former prisoners are sent to live in Pierce County into the work-release programs to help them ease back into society. Pierce County has three of these programs- RAP, Progress, and Lincoln Park houses- to help rehabilitate prisoners. But the programs are adding to the already large number of ex-cons living in Pierce County, and the number is increasing.
Tags: jail; inmate; correctional facility; Gerry Horne; pre-release; correction
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Tread Secrets: Evidence Disappearing
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company settled many plaintiffs, hired an ex-con to retrieve evidence of tread failure at fatal crash sites, and were able to make judges seal the records in wrongful death and product liability cases.
Tags: Cooper Tire; Tires; Tread; car; car crash; traffic; accident; Frank Ruggier; scandal
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Shattered Dreams of Early Release
The investigation uncovered a con- promising early paroles or releases for family members and loved ones serving time in Texas prisons in exchange for money-- between ex-con Robert Andrew Coats and Dallas attorney Jeff Fletcher. The promises were never fulfilled after the money was paid. After its exposure, the con was labelled the "largest illegal parole fraud scheme ever uncovered in Texas."
Tags: prisons; parole; fraud; cons; Texas; early release; early parole; Parole and Probation Services
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School Felons
In this investigation of non-teaching school workers in Cleveland, Ohio, it was found that more than a dozen have felony records. Many were child molesters, drug dealers, and elderly abusers. It was also found that criminal background checks were done randomly...less than five hundred random checks a year...which meant over four thousand employees were not checked. As a result to this investigation, a computer program tracking criminal records in over 70 jurisdictions was donated and ex-con workers were fired.
Tags: school workers; ex-cons; child molesters; background checks; criminal records
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Struggling at Bottom of Welfare System: A schizophrenic, a crack addict and an ex-con try to cope with the county's cut in general relief. They've made hard decisions--and some missteps.
This story vividly describes the lives of three different people struggling to survive on their welfare check each month. The author explains in detail how desperate the three people have become. Most get $212 or less a month to live on.
Tags: Welfare; money; struggles; poor; indigent; paycheck; cash
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Pros or Cons
A joint investigation by the Arlington Heights Daily Herald and WMAQ-TV in Chicago revealed "a ring of telemarketers who illegally solicit donations from private citizens for police officers and fire fighters. (The) stories found an organized ring of convicted criminals working at three telemarketing companies hired by police, fire and other charitable groups. State law bans ex-cons from working as telemarketers, yet we found that among those seeking contributions locally were people convicted of check theft, credit card theft, armed robbery and drug crimes."
Tags: Illinois; telemarketing; convicted criminals; police; fire; charities
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Ex-cons On The Street
U.S. News and World Report reports on issues related to recidivism in America. "Anyone who lives in a metropolitan area in the United Sates is going to be living within five minutes of tens of thousands of prisoners released from prisons," the article quotes a public safety official. Programs are being set up to "graduate" convicts back into society. One persistent problem is that ex-cons have a hard time finding jobs that pay enough to support themselves and their families above the poverty line and makes returning to crime that much more attractive.
Tags: recidivism
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Florida's 'Disappeared Voters': Disfranchied by the GOP
The Nation examines the systematic attempts in Florida to keep black voters from voting, most notably ex-cons. "After reviewing The Nation's findings, voter demographics authority David Bositis concluded that the purge-and-block program was 'a patently obvious technique to discriminate against black voters.'" The block-and-purge program cost $4 million, which would not have been spent if results were not expected, The Nation reports.
Tags: 2000 election; Florida voters; GOP; voter fraud; Jeb Bush; Catherine Harris; black voters; NAACP