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Authors
Jessy Edwards

Jessy is a Brooklyn-based reporter who writes about housing, social justice, and the people of New York City for Hell Gate. Jessy previously covered incarceration at WNYC/Gothamist, where she was part of a Pulitzer-nominated project investigating sexual assault on Rikers Island. She's previously reported and produced news and features for NBC New York, BK Reader, BBC, Fast Company, Rolling Stone, and more.

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A Judge Tossed a Prison Sex Abuse Lawsuit Over Typos. Hundreds More Dismissals Could Be Coming.

The state plans to ask a court to dismiss some 500 prison sexual assault lawsuits for not strictly abiding by filing requirements.

December 22, 2025
Sierra Johnson, Who Fought for Victims of Sexual Abuse in NY Prisons, Dies Waiting for Own Lawsuit to Be Heard

Johnson was one of roughly 1,600 women to sue the state under the Adult Survivors Act alleging they were sexually assaulted in state prisons.

October 13, 2025
She Says She Was Sexually Abused in New York Prisons. Now She’s Fighting the State From Her Hospital Bed

Sierra Johnson is one of nearly 1,600 women who filed claims under the Adult Survivors Act alleging sexual abuse in state prisons.

June 19, 2025
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New York Focus is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom covering state and local politics in the Empire State. We aim to make government more transparent by publishing in-depth journalism that explains how the state really works.

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