Sarah Smith

Reporter

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Sarah Smith covered housing, mental health, poverty and religion for ProPublica's South unit. She previously worked on the Houston Chronicle’s metro desk, where she investigated the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s failure to oversee one of its biggest private housing contractors. Before the Chronicle, she worked at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where her investigation into abuse and cover-ups in independent fundamental Baptist churches led to arrests across the country. She also has worked as a legislative relief reporter for the Associated Press in Mississippi and as a fellow at ProPublica, where she investigated Mississippi’s failure to get defendants timely mental health evaluations and Connecticut’s flawed domestic violence laws, resulting in statewide reforms. She is a Livingston finalist and a Deadline Club Award winner.

Help ProPublica Investigate “We Buy Houses” Practices

If you’ve had experience with a company or buyer promising fast cash for homes, our reporting team wants to hear about it.

The State Behind Roe’s Likely Demise Also Does the Least for New Parents in Need

Mississippians on Medicaid lose coverage a mere 60 days after childbirth. “When women don’t have that coverage, what happens is they die,” says one expert.

We’re Losing Our Humanity, and the Pandemic Is to Blame

“What the hell is happening? I feel like we are living on another planet. I don’t recognize anyone anymore.”

Mississippi Takes Steps to End Damning Delays in Evaluating Criminal Defendants

Those accused of crimes in Mississippi spent years in jail awaiting the most basic kind of psychiatric evaluations.

Connecticut Set to End “Dual Arrests” in Domestic Violence Cases

A bill before the governor aims to limit the harm caused when victims are arrested along with their abusers.

Taking Care to Get a Mississippi Scandal Right

People in the state took a chance that I would resist stereotypes and report an important truth about the crisis in mental health resources.

‘What Are We Going to Do About Tyler?’

Tyler Haire was locked up at 16. A Mississippi judge ordered that he undergo a mental exam. What happened next is a statewide scandal.

Doing Less With Less: Mental Health Care in Mississippi

A national recession. Years of state budgets cuts. It’s no surprise requests mental health resources for prisoners are routinely rejected.

Connecticut Lawmaker to Consider Legislation to Improve Domestic Violence Enforcement

For years, Connecticut has been plagued by the problem of “dual arrests” in domestic violence cases, with innocent victims sometimes swept up in the police response.

In Connecticut, Calling for Help Carries Risks for Victims of Domestic Violence

The state’s rate of dual arrests — where both parties in a violent dispute wind up arrested — is nearly 10 times the national average.

Obama Picks Up the Pace on Commutations, But Pardon Changes Still in Limbo

Obama has accelerated clemency to low-level drug offenders, but a study on pardons due in 2015 won’t be released until the fall of 2017.

Meet the Candidate For Attorney General Who’s Hunted Quail with Corporate Donors

Donald Trump has bashed “puppets” who court the Koch brothers. A Kansas official on his shortlist for U.S. attorney general shot pheasant and clay pigeons with one of their lobbyists.

North Carolina Weighs Whether to Keep Durham County Polls Open Later

2016 Election Lawsuit Tracker: The New Election Laws and the Suits Challenging Them

Courts are scrambling to rule on state election laws in time for the elections being held later this year. We’re keeping track of their decisions.

Trial Tracker Update: Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas and Ohio

After Mayor Pledges ‘Due Process,’ NYPD Renews Aggressive Nuisance Abatement Enforcement

Police in New York pursue civil cases against homes and businesses despite concerns about fairness and in the face of lawsuits.

Which Voters Show Up When States Allow Early Voting?

One-third of voters took advantage of early voting options in 2012. But does so-called convenience voting increase turnout overall and minority turnout in particular?

Police Departments Are Becoming Mini-NSAs: MuckReads Weekly

After Louisiana Flooding, the Red Cross Draws a Deluge of Complaints

Emergency managers in Louisiana turned to the Red Cross when record floods swept the state in March, but many say they received little help.

The Best Reporting on Hillary Clinton Over the Years

Clinton has been in the public eye for four decades — and there have been investigative stories about her for nearly as long.

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