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Wilson Criscione

@wilsonc.bsky.social

350 followers 180 following 30 posts

News and investigations editor at InvestigateWest

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Reposted by Wilson Criscione

Audrey Dutton @audreydutton.bsky.social · 6h

"For the next five minutes, the woman listened as four men — a prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and police detective — debated what, exactly, Rogers meant by vagina."

Hard to say what's the most shocking part of this @investigatewest.bsky.social series. But this courtroom dialogue is up there.

investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 7h

Idaho's prison sex abuse law only protects inmates when genital contact is involved, making it hard to prosecute prison staff. Even when charges are filed, plea deals allow accused guards to escape prison time while victims serve years for drug offenses, DUIs and parole violations bit.ly/42CqXQE

How Idaho’s prison sex abuse law protects predatory guards

When guards are charged, plea deals offer leniency

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 6h

The Idaho Department of Correction issued a news release in response to our Guarded by Predators series. It repeats agency policies but does not dispute our findings.

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

Rachel Spacek @rachelspacek.bsky.social · 8h

Highly recommend this series by my colleagues Whitney Bryen & @wilsonc.bsky.social They spent a year interviewing women who were sexually abused by prison guards & staff in Idaho, digging through court recordings, and public records and it SHOWS in this work.

Guarded by Predators

A new series by InvestigateWest exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them.

www.investigatewest.org

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

RANGE Media @rangemedia.co · 21h

A year of reporting by INVW has uncovered the unjust reality for the roughly 1,300 women currently in Idaho prisons: Once behind bars, they’re kept there by mostly male guards who can harass, grope, and sexually assault them with confidence that it will be kept quiet.

In Idaho women’s prisons, guards get away with sexual abuse and victims are blamed – RANGE Media

A yearlong investigation finds rampant sexual abuse by guards, systemic cover-ups, and punishment for victims

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 23h

In today's story:
-State police told a guard accused of rape that they're more interested in going after women for false reporting.
-Those detectives wrote, falsely, that a woman said "no" when asked if she had sexual contact prison staff. She said yes. www.investigatewest.org/case-closed-...

In Idaho prisons, abuse by guards is rarely investigated

Audio recordings and records obtained by InvestigateWest reveal sloppy investigations, omitted evidence and questions about whether cases were properly pursued

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 23h

Day 2 story: bsky.app/profile/wils...

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 2d

Idaho incarcerates women more often than any other state.

Once thrown behind bars, many of those women are sexually abused by guards shielded from consequences — while victims are blamed.

Read the latest in our "Guarded by Predators" series www.investigatewest.org/in-idaho-wom...

In Idaho women’s prisons, guards get away with sex abuse

A yearlong investigation finds rampant sexual abuse by guards, systemic cover-ups, and punishment for victims

www.investigatewest.org

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

Idaho Prison Project @idahoprisonproject.bsky.social · 1d

Damn, what a story.

investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 1d

In summer 2024, 7 women accused Idaho prison workers of sexual misconduct. The allegations spanned decades, took place at various facilities and involved different perpetrators. One thread connects the claims: none were thoroughly investigated by state police. www.investigatewest.org/case-closed-...

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

Thy Vo @thyanhvo.bsky.social · 1d

This series on rape and sexual abuse by Idaho prison workers has some chilling, enraging and tender writing and reporting throughout - and exposes the ways our system continually lets alleged perpetrators off the hook. Please give it a read:

investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 1d

In summer 2024, 7 women accused Idaho prison workers of sexual misconduct. The allegations spanned decades, took place at various facilities and involved different perpetrators. One thread connects the claims: none were thoroughly investigated by state police. www.investigatewest.org/case-closed-...

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 2d

Idaho incarcerates women more often than any other state.

Once thrown behind bars, many of those women are sexually abused by guards shielded from consequences — while victims are blamed.

Read the latest in our "Guarded by Predators" series www.investigatewest.org/in-idaho-wom...

In Idaho women’s prisons, guards get away with sex abuse

A yearlong investigation finds rampant sexual abuse by guards, systemic cover-ups, and punishment for victims

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 3d

Only one of those guards charged criminally ended up being sentenced to prison.

But that case — a guard who raped an inmate after driving her to a medical appointment — has been kept hidden from the public for five years, until now. www.investigatewest.org/the-idaho-pr...

An Idaho prison guard preyed on women. The system hid it

This is the first installment in a new InvestigateWest series called “Guarded by Predators,” exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 3d

More than two dozen women incarcerated in an Idaho prison told us they were sexually abused by staff.

And we identified 37 prison workers accused of sexual misconduct toward imprisoned women in the last 10 years. Most resigned or faced few consequences. www.investigatewest.org/staff-sexual...

Staff sex abuse in Idaho women’s prisons largely unchecked

InvestigateWest reporting exposes sexual abuse by guards, retaliation against victims and a system that fails to track the scope of the problem

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 3d

Just under a year ago, my colleague Whitney Bryen and I began hearing about women in Idaho prisons being sexually abused by staff. We investigated — and what we've found since has shocked us.

Today, the first two stories in our 6(!)-part series were published.

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 3d

Our investigation has found:
-At least 59 documented allegations of staff sexually abusing imprisoned women since 2020. It's an undercount.
-37 prison workers accused in the last decade
-Of those, 18 were guards who resigned. 8 were fired.
www.investigatewest.org/staff-sexual...

Staff sex abuse in Idaho women’s prisons largely unchecked

InvestigateWest reporting exposes sexual abuse by guards, retaliation against victims and a system that fails to track the scope of the problem

www.investigatewest.org

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 3d

In the first story, @wilsonc.bsky.social and Whitney Bryen look at the only women's prison guard sentenced to prison for sexual misconduct in the last decade. He served a nine-month alternative sentence. www.investigatewest.org/the-idaho-pr...

An Idaho prison guard preyed on women. The system hid it

This is the first installment in a new InvestigateWest series called “Guarded by Predators,” exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · Aug 28

Heavy-hitting story from Kaylee Tornay and Aspen Ford: How Oregon let a wood treater pollute a town's water source
www.investigatewest.org/oregon-wood-...

How Oregon let a wood treater pollute a town's water source

Nearby tribe calls on state, federal agencies to end a “decade-long pattern of reckless violations”

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · Aug 11

New story, reported with with the Mercer Island Reporter, about how the school district kept allegations of sexual misconduct by a teacher quiet for years. www.investigatewest.org/a-beloved-me...

A beloved Mercer Island teacher was accused twice of sexual misconduct with students. The school district kept it quiet.

Gary "Chris" Twombley was put on administrative leave in December 2023

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · Jul 31

Our reporter Moe Clark digs into forest management in Washington and the influential "collaboratives" that critics say are too aligned with timber interests: www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

In wildfire-prone Washington, ‘collaboration’ on forest management gives way to timber interests

Forest collaboratives formed in the wake of the Pacific Northwest’s “Timber Wars” have become major power players operating largely out of the public eye

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · May 20

Good journalism matters: The state investigated Providence Sacred Heart only because they read reporting from InvestigateWest about a 12-year-old's death. Officials quickly found deeper issues with the hospital failing to properly screen patients. www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

Spokane hospital where 12-year-old died endangered other suicidal patients, investigators find

State health records show repeated safety violations at Providence Sacred Heart hospital

www.investigatewest.org

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

Lori Burelle @willbearsmom.bsky.social · May 16

“Existing data shows Native Americans face the highest risk of deadly police violence in the United States — between three to five times the rate that others face. And that data is likely an undercount of the true figures”

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · May 16

In 2020, Bureau of Indian Affairs police shot and killed Kirby Paradise. There was no media coverage or public acknowledgement from BIA.

Four years later, the BIA killed his cousin, Cody Whiterock, in Idaho.

Reporter Melanie Henshaw with the story:
www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

Two killings, no explanation: Families left reeling after Bureau of Indian Affairs shootings

Lack of transparency in BIA police killings leave families searching for answers

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · May 16

In 2020, Bureau of Indian Affairs police shot and killed Kirby Paradise. There was no media coverage or public acknowledgement from BIA.

Four years later, the BIA killed his cousin, Cody Whiterock, in Idaho.

Reporter Melanie Henshaw with the story:
www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

Two killings, no explanation: Families left reeling after Bureau of Indian Affairs shootings

Lack of transparency in BIA police killings leave families searching for answers

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · May 8

Washington state health officials — after reading @investigatewest.bsky.social's reporting — launched an investigation into a 12-year-old’s suicide at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

WA health department investigating Spokane hospital after girl’s suicide sparked public outcry

State regulatory officials, elected leaders learned of tragedy from InvestigateWest report

www.investigatewest.org

Reposted by Wilson Criscione

Rachel Spacek @rachelspacek.bsky.social · Apr 25

“If this is happening, I would be hesitant to report a crime myself:" Idaho’s Owyhee County joins ICE agreement to enforce immigration law (for @investigatewest.bsky.social)

Idaho’s Owyhee County joins ICE agreement to enforce immigration law

ICE's 287(g) agreements — ended under the Obama administration following abuses like racial profiling of Latinos — are back

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · Apr 23

Nurses in the youth psych unit were concerned with Providence's decision to close it because they feared exactly this.

"We said this was going to happen," one former nurse in that unit says.

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · Apr 23

Tragic, must-read story from Whitney Bryen and Kaylee Tornay:

A 12-year-old girl died by suicide after workers say she was left unsupervised at Spokane's Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center — months after the hospital's closure of its youth psych unit.

www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

A 12-year-old killed herself at a Spokane hospital that recently closed its youth psychiatric unit

Workers say girl’s death is an example of what they feared from Providence closing the unit

www.investigatewest.org

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · Apr 23

Very honored to be a Livingston finalist with @kelseyturner.bsky.social!

Wallace House Center for Journalists @umwallacehouse.bsky.social · Apr 23

📣 Meet the 2025 Livingston Awards Finalists for Local Reporting! 📣

These outstanding young journalists are shining a light on critical local issues—and shaping the future of news.

👏 Congratulations to all these finalists!

Read their work: loom.ly/LAVASEQ

#livingstonawards #uofm

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · Apr 23

Tragic, must-read story from Whitney Bryen and Kaylee Tornay:

A 12-year-old girl died by suicide after workers say she was left unsupervised at Spokane's Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center — months after the hospital's closure of its youth psych unit.

www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

A 12-year-old killed herself at a Spokane hospital that recently closed its youth psychiatric unit

Workers say girl’s death is an example of what they feared from Providence closing the unit

www.investigatewest.org