Megan T. Edge

Public writer. Abolitionist. Fond of warm tea, equality, and basic human decency. AK Prison Project Dir. @ACLUofAlaska. Opinions are my own. She/her

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

Thank you @rep_gray, @RepVance, Rep. Mina, Rep. Kopp, Rep. Eischied, Rep. Costello, and Rep. Underwood for holding such a meaningful hearing regarding deaths in custody and deaths caused by care in custody. Thank you for working together to solve these chronic problems.

[Rep. Andrew Gray @rep_gray]

When inmates are transferred to the hospital, they are often discharged from AK DOC custody. If they die, they may not be recorded as a "death in custody." When we talk about a record number of "deaths in custody," we are not talking about folks who die at the hospital. #akleg

[ACLU of Alaska @ACLUofAlaska]

Our hearts go out to the families of Mr. Farmer and Mr. Fenumiai who have gone through tragedy because of DOC's failure to keep people in its custody safe and alive.

Take action here: https://t.co/MNiFvKQdxd https://t.co/H1DeBolN4j

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

I write this update with grief in my heart. No sooner did we share this, did we learn of yet another death in custody. Reginald Eugene Childers, Jr., 42, died at ACC while awaiting trial. #akleg must take action. They cannot wait any longer to help their constituents.

[ACLU of Alaska @ACLUofAlaska]

Yesterday, the ACLU of Alaska with Highlands Law Firm, filed a lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Corrections for its role in the death of Lewis Jordan Jr., who died of bacterial meningitis while incarcerated in 2023.

Read our full statement here: https://t.co/glQjnumE3p

[ACLU of Alaska @ACLUofAlaska]

Yesterday, the ACLU of Alaska with Highlands Law Firm, filed a lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Corrections for its role in the death of Lewis Jordan Jr., who died of bacterial meningitis while incarcerated in 2023.

Read our full statement here: https://t.co/glQjnumE3p

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

Look #akleg -- everyone is doing it. "Historically high deaths, contraband infiltration and costly litigation cited as issues that could be addressed by independent review panel, prison ombudsman" https://t.co/vOWG1zgNd1

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

Committees like this will save lives & will create a more efficient system. DOC’s budget has been raised by about 30% since the mid-2010s. We should be asking why. Our prisons aren’t safer and neither are our communities. #akleg

https://t.co/wfJC9zvehU

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

Committees like this will save lives & will create a more efficient system. DOC’s budget has been raised by about 30% since the mid-2010s. We should be asking why. Our prisons aren’t safer and neither are our communities. #akleg

https://t.co/wfJC9zvehU

[Prison Policy Initiative @PrisonPolicy]

A reminder ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration: No, having 34 felony convictions does not stop him from being president.

But felony convictions DO prohibit 19 million people in the US from earning a living in more ordinary roles, like firefighting or pest control work.

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

@Sen_Dunbar Reduce the prison population. It’s grown by 30% since I worked there. There are too many people in prison. And the programs ya’ll keep funding are hardly happening. They just stopped one of the most successful reentry work programs, the barber school.

[Prison Policy Initiative @PrisonPolicy]

Self-serving politicians may want you to believe that violent crime is rampant and repeat offenders are to blame – but two things to remember:

1. Overall crime rates are at historically low levels
2. 74% of all jail bookings are for charges that are not "violent"

[Prison Policy Initiative @PrisonPolicy]

Mass incarceration *is* an economic justice issue.

It's no coincidence that the poorest & most vulnerable communities are also the most policed: https://t.co/ssEqD0DsBN

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

Thanks for having me @rep_gray!

[East Anchorage Book Club Podcast @EastAncBookClub]

Megan Edge is the Prison Project Director at @ACLUofAlaska . In 2017, she left the news business to work in Gov. Bill Walker’s Dept. of Corrections. Her eyes were opened to the problems in Alaska’s prison system. Listen to @Megtedge: https://t.co/sw7zN2mvd2 #akleg #alaskahistory

[Prison Policy Initiative @PrisonPolicy]

🚨BIG WIN: People on probation or parole, out on bail, or living in a halfway house will now be eligible for Medicare benefits

This will significantly improve healthcare access for hundreds of thousands of people across the US

https://t.co/hHLZF2eVgQ

[Sen. Bill Wielechowski @SenWielechowski]

My office has calls in to the Administration trying to get more information about when this will be fixed. No timetable yet

[Sen. Bill Wielechowski @SenWielechowski]

The state computer system has been down for weeks and state employees can’t retire and get benefits. Now the system is down and state employees can’t re-enroll for health care benefits

[Meghan Barker @OrganizerMeghan]

Hey @RepVance - your silence is deafening.

[ACLU of Alaska @ACLUofAlaska]

It’s time for the Alaska Board of Parole’s annual public meeting. Join us in person or on Zoom on November 5th from 11am-12pm at the Robert B Atwood Building (550 W 7th Ave Suite 102, Anchorage) to hear from the Board and ask questions. https://t.co/ltJErstI2R

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

People across this city our mourning his death. I miss the light he brought to this dark city, already. Say his name @adndotcom. Where's his headline @adndotcom @alaskapublic?

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

🧵Why haven't police released his name? All of East Anchorage knows. If this man died in a South Anchorage neighborhood, we'd all know his name. There'd be newspaper headlines about his life & death. But since there's not, I'll tell you about Denaris.

https://t.co/eAfogTVtfi

[Megan T. Edge @Megtedge]

Denaris and I became friends after a night out in Anchorage. A creepy, aggressive, drunk man was harassing me while I waited for my Uber, so Denaris waited with me. After that, I’d look forward to seeing what food he was cooking, and his charismatic, bright smile.