Off the Block

Off the Block

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13 min

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.

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The absence of those in jail can be felt deeply by family members and loved ones.

Meet LePriest Valentine, who kept winding up in the only sanctuary he could find after getting out of jail: Skid Row.

All prisoners have the right to marry, but there are lots of restrictions.

Thousands of Los Angeles County prisoners are housed in Pitchess Detention center, 50 miles from the inner city neighborhoods where police make many arrests.

If you have the money, getting out of jail can be straightforward. If you don't, you're going to need some help.

One small neighborhood in Los Angeles accounted for hundreds of bookings into county jail over a five year period - and more than a million dollars in incarceration costs.

Preview a series of stories tracing the path from city block to jail block and back.

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