Our Standard
Accuracy comes before speed.
Beyond the Sentence reports on incarceration, corrections, criminal justice, reentry, public policy, institutional accountability, and the people affected by those systems.
We may receive information from incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people, family members, attorneys, employees, public officials, advocates, whistleblowers, public records, and other sources. Receiving information does not make it true, and submission does not guarantee publication.
Significant factual claims should be supported by documents, firsthand knowledge, corroborating sources, public records, or other evidence appropriate to the circumstances.
How we label information
Verified Fact
Information that Beyond the Sentence has independently confirmed through reliable evidence.
Documented Evidence
Information supported by records, correspondence, filings, photographs, data, video, audio, or other documentary material.
Firsthand Account
Information provided by a person describing events they personally witnessed or experienced. A firsthand account is not automatically treated as independently verified.
Allegation
A claim that has not been established as fact. Allegations are identified as allegations and are not presented as proven simply because a source made the claim.
Opinion / Commentary
Analysis, argument, or personal viewpoint that is clearly distinguished from straight news reporting.
Developing Story
Reporting involving facts or circumstances that may still change or require additional verification.
Correction / Update
A visible notice explaining a material correction, clarification, or significant addition to previously published reporting.
Verification and corroboration
The level of verification required depends on the seriousness of the claim. Claims involving misconduct, abuse, corruption, criminal activity, or significant reputational harm require heightened scrutiny.
Whenever reasonably possible, we seek primary documents, independent corroboration, direct witnesses, official records, or other evidence before publishing consequential allegations.
Anonymous or confidential sourcing may be used when the information is important and there is a legitimate reason the source could face retaliation, danger, professional harm, or other consequences from being identified.
Right to respond
When reporting contains significant criticism or allegations about an identifiable person, agency, institution, or organization, Beyond the Sentence will generally make a reasonable effort to obtain a response before publication.
A subject's refusal or failure to respond does not prevent publication when the reporting is otherwise sufficiently supported.
Fairness does not mean false equivalence.
We seek relevant perspectives and accurately represent meaningful responses. Fair reporting does not require giving unsupported claims the same weight as documented evidence.
Separation of reporting and advocacy
Beyond the Sentence exists in part because people affected by incarceration and correctional systems are frequently unheard. That mission does not eliminate our responsibility to verify facts and accurately characterize evidence.
Commentary and advocacy are identified as such. Factual claims contained within commentary remain subject to our accuracy standards.
Corrections
When we make a material factual error, we correct it. Significant corrections should be clearly disclosed rather than silently erased. Additional information may also be added when a story develops after publication.
Read our Corrections Policy →