Off The Block

Series produced by KCRW's Independent Producer Project

Caption: Off The Block, Credit: Ganzeer http://www.ganzeer.com/
Image by: Ganzeer http://www.ganzeer.com/ 
Off The Block 

A trip to jail, even a short stint, can upend many lives - the inmate, their loved ones, and their children among others. This series traces the path from city block to jail block and back.

Los Angeles has the largest jail system in the country - about 17,000 people are currently locked up here, equal to the population of a small city. And they come from neighborhoods all over the county, from Hollywood to Lancaster to downtown LA.

How are LA's neighborhoods affected by its jails? KCRW criminal justice reporter George Lavender hosts a new series that explores this question. The series starts in Westmont, a South LA neighborhood that saw thousands of residents booked into county jails over a five year period.


5 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: LePriest Valentine, Credit: George Lavender
Meet LePriest Valentine, who kept winding up in the only sanctuary he could find after getting out of jail: Skid Row.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WRST-FM Oshkosh, PRX Remix, and KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Oct 25, 2016
  • Length: 07:30
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Elizabeth Wenkuna and her mother outside the jail, Credit: George Lavender
All prisoners have the right to marry, but there are lots of restrictions. You can't exchange rings or request a special ceremony, there's thick gl...

Bought by PRX Remix, WRST-FM Oshkosh, and KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Oct 25, 2016
  • Length: 07:09
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Betty Peters, known as Mama Betty, shuttles jail visitors along the last mile of the journey. , Credit: George Lavender
Thousands of Los Angeles County prisoners are housed in Pitchess Detention center. For visitors, the journey to the jail can take all day. The clos...

Bought by PRX Remix, WRST-FM Oshkosh, and KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Oct 25, 2016
  • Length: 06:55
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: The Los Angeles bail bonds office of Bob Swann, Credit: George Lavender
If you have the money, getting out of jail can be straightforward. If you don't, you're going to need some help.

Bought by PRX Remix, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, and WRST-FM Oshkosh


  • Added: Oct 25, 2016
  • Length: 07:25
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Kelly Cotton walks through the Westmont neighborhood with her kids, Credit: George Lavender
One small neighborhood of Los Angeles accounted for thousands of bookings into county jail over a five year period.

Bought by PRX Remix, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, and WRST-FM Oshkosh


  • Added: Oct 25, 2016
  • Length: 07:10
  • Purchases: 3