Anna Flagg

I am a reporter who works with data. I've worked on stories for The Marshall Project, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, ProPublica, Politico, The Guardian, The Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other news outlets. You can reach me at annaflagg@gmail.com or @annaflagg.

“No Place for A Child”

June 16, 2022

“No Place for A Child”

In cells built for adults, one-third are child migrants. Border authorities have resisted improving conditions for minors in crowded, freezing facilities.

The Black Mortality Gap, and a Document Written in 1910

Aug. 30, 2021

The Black Mortality Gap, and a Document Written in 1910

Some clues on why health care fails Black Americans can be found in the Flexner Report.

Fact-checking Over 12,000 of Donald Trump’s Statements About Immigration

Oct. 21, 2024

Fact-checking Over 12,000 of Donald Trump’s Statements About Immigration

‘I could get elected twice over the wall,’ said former President Trump. It could end up being one of the few true things he’s said about immigration.

The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant

Mar. 30, 2018

The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant

The link between immigration and crime exists in the imaginations of Americans, and nowhere else.

Why Jails Are So Important in the Fight Against Coronavirus

Mar. 31, 2019

Why Jails Are So Important in the Fight Against Coronavirus

With about 200,000 people flowing into and out of jails every week, there are great risks not only for the detained, but also for jail workers and surrounding communities.

A Disappearing Planet

July 3, 2014

A Disappearing Planet

Animal species are going extinct anywhere from 100 to 1,000 times the rates that would be expected under natural conditions.

Officials Failed to Act When COVID Hit Prisons. A New Study Shows the Deadly Cost.

Apr. 18, 2024

Officials Failed to Act When COVID Hit Prisons. A New Study Shows the Deadly Cost.

People in prison died at 3.4 times the rate of the free population, with the oldest hit hardest. New data holds lessons for preventing future deaths.

500,000 Kids, 30 Million Hours: Trump’s Vast Expansion of Child Detention

Oct. 30, 2020

500,000 Kids, 30 Million Hours: Trump’s Vast Expansion of Child Detention

U.S. Customs and Border Protection carried out almost half a million child detentions during the Trump administration, data shows. More kids were held for 72 hours or more.

Why 1,000 Homicides in St. Louis Remain Unsolved

June 3, 2024

Why 1,000 Homicides in St. Louis Remain Unsolved

In one of America’s deadliest cities, police have struggled to solve killings due to staffing shortages, shoddy detective work and lack of community trust.

Is There a Connection Between Undocumented Immigrants and Crime?

May 13, 2019

Is There a Connection Between Undocumented Immigrants and Crime?

It’s a widely held perception, but a new analysis finds no evidence to support it.

Prisons and the Deluge

Oct. 20, 2020

Prisons and the Deluge

For prisoners in a hurricane, there’s nowhere to run.

Killings of Black Men by Whites are Far More Likely to be Ruled “Justifiable”

Aug. 14, 2017

Killings of Black Men by Whites are Far More Likely to be Ruled “Justifiable”

The disparity remains no matter the circumstances and has persisted for decades.

COVID-19’s Toll on People of Color Is Worse Than We Knew

Jan. 1, 2025

COVID-19’s Toll on People of Color Is Worse Than We Knew

New data shows deaths from all causes—COVID and otherwise—have gone up 9 percent among White Americans, but more than 30 percent in communities of color.

Do Deportations Lower Crime? Not According to the Data

Sep. 23, 2019

Do Deportations Lower Crime? Not According to the Data

A new study casts doubt on the effectiveness of a program that encourages local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The Opposite of Sanctuary

Feb. 20, 2017

The Opposite of Sanctuary

Where the local lawmen serve as immigration enforcers.

This Machine Could Prevent Gun Violence — If Only Cops Used It

Oct. 6, 2016

This Machine Could Prevent Gun Violence — If Only Cops Used It

A system that can link gun crimes through shell casings is hobbled by skepticism and lack of manpower.