Whitney Bryen
@WhitneyBryen
Followers
4K
Following
5K
Media
2K
Statuses
9K
Injustice and Vulnerable Populations reporter for @investigatewest. Holding power to account and lifting marginalized voices. Send tips to [email protected].
Idaho
Joined March 2009
🧵In the state that incarcerates women at the nation's highest rate, @Wilsoncriscione and I uncovered rampant sexual abuse by Idaho women's prison guards. After a year of reporting, we published 6 stories examining the system that failed to protect them. 1/
2
5
11
None of the bills discussed today are addressing Idaho's spot at the nation's leading incarcerator of women. But I'll keep you updated on discussions and legislation that could improve or exacerbate the problem. The link below includes info on what's driving that stat.
Idaho's house judiciary committee held its first meeting of the 2026 legislative session today. Rep. Ehardt noted that the committee is concerned about Idaho's nation-leading women's incarceration rate. More on how we got there and what could be done at 👇 https://t.co/AtACE1j4D5
0
0
3
Idaho's house judiciary committee held its first meeting of the 2026 legislative session today. Rep. Ehardt noted that the committee is concerned about Idaho's nation-leading women's incarceration rate. More on how we got there and what could be done at 👇 https://t.co/AtACE1j4D5
investigatewest.org
Idaho Justice Project calls for drug policy reforms, but lawmakers say public safety is at stake
0
0
2
Give before midnight to ensure your gift is matched by a generous local donor and the NewsMatch program! This is your last chance to make an impact at InvestigateWest in 2025: https://t.co/6erp216VIz
0
1
1
As Idaho reckons with revelations of widespread sexual abuse by women’s prison staff, the Trump administration has cut off support meant to help states combat that kind of abuse. Read the story from @WhitneyBryen -
investigatewest.org
Cuts to Prison Rape Elimination Act Resource Center result in less state support for training, guidance and grants
0
4
3
And if you've somehow missed my annoying number of posts... here's a link to everything we've written about staff sexually abusing the women they're charged to protect.
investigatewest.org
Investigative reporting that holds power accountable and creates real-world impact across the Pacific Northwest.
0
0
3
For the first time since we revealed widespread sexual abuse in Idaho women's prisons, the Department of Correction Director laid out plans to improve the safety of people in custody. But questions remain about what exactly might change. Here's the latest.
investigatewest.org
The Department of Correction also plans to update its staff sexual misconduct policy and better educate inmates on their rights
1
4
6
ICYMI The Idaho prison system reversed its finding in a sexual abuse allegation made by an inmate against one of its contract employees after our reporting.
For nearly a year and a half, Andrea Weiskircher has been pleading with prison officials, state leaders and law enforcement to look at the evidence. But no one in a position to help believed her. Until now. https://t.co/ZsgZSas5Bu
0
0
1
For nearly a year and a half, Andrea Weiskircher has been pleading with prison officials, state leaders and law enforcement to look at the evidence. But no one in a position to help believed her. Until now. https://t.co/ZsgZSas5Bu
investigatewest.org
Woman whose allegations sparked others to speak up says Idaho still must do more to create "just and humane" system
0
1
4
Sexual abuse occurs daily in jails and prisons across the United States - to children, parents, brothers, sisters. Powerful series by @WhitneyBryen @investigatewest uncovering rape and abuse of incarcerated women in Idaho prisons. https://t.co/Eui3kWn2GP
@FAMMFoundation @RAINN
investigatewest.org
A new series by InvestigateWest exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them.
0
5
7
We told you about the years of unchecked sexual abuse of Idaho inmates by women's prison guards. (See🧵below) We told you about the calls for action that followed. Now, we're laying out some of the ways other states have tried to address prison abuse.👇 https://t.co/j1zSh5WgWr
investigatewest.org
Independent oversight, policy changes in other states show steps to protect Idaho inmates at risk of victimization
@Wilsoncriscione We found 37 prison workers accused in the last decade of sexual misconduct toward incarcerated women. Of those, 18 resigned. 8 were fired. 3 were criminally charged. And 1 received a prison sentence for abuse, which was dismissed after he completed alternative sentencing. 8/
0
0
1
Idaho leaders are under pressure to investigate and correct systemic failures that led to ongoing sexual abuse of inmates, prompted by our recent reporting. The thread below lays out those findings. This link has more on the demands for accountability ➡️ https://t.co/rOanHJrrnk
investigatewest.org
InvestigateWest reporters uncovered years of sexual abuse by women’s prison guards prompting calls for independent investigation
🧵In the state that incarcerates women at the nation's highest rate, @Wilsoncriscione and I uncovered rampant sexual abuse by Idaho women's prison guards. After a year of reporting, we published 6 stories examining the system that failed to protect them. 1/
1
7
4
"In Idaho prisons, more than two dozen women say guards prey on them with little fear of consequences — and those who speak up are often punished." The U.S. is a leader in women's incarceration, and behind bars, women are anything but safe. 🧵 https://t.co/7jrnH6DDVJ
investigatewest.org
InvestigateWest reporting exposes sexual abuse by guards, retaliation against victims and a system that fails to track the scope of the problem
2
28
35
Grantees @WhitneyBryen & @Wilsoncriscione investigated sexual assault reports made by 25 women against more than 40 prison guards and revealed how the Idaho Department of Corrections systematically tolerates the sexual abuse of inmates. @investigatewest 👉 https://t.co/YB8HEKQCVw
0
4
6
@Wilsoncriscione Whew. That's a lot. We know. We're here to help you make sense of it and understand what's being done to fix it. Send questions. Or tips. Or your own experience. And stay tuned for updates that we'll post at https://t.co/11HAd0KZyO Thanks for reading! /end
0
0
0
@Wilsoncriscione Lastly (for now) is Andrea's story. In story 6, we dive into the life of one woman who is fighting the system's treatment of women like her and the movement she ignited while she was behind bars. https://t.co/ks9pZqyWGk 12/
investigatewest.org
Inspired by Andrea Weiskircher, scores of women revealed sexual abuse by Idaho prison staff. Most of their cases were buried.
1
0
0
@Wilsoncriscione Story 5: In rare instances when a guard is charged with sexually assaulting an incarcerated woman, plea deals offer leniency. Part of the problem, according to the director of the Project on Addressing Prison Rape, is that Idaho's law is "too narrow." https://t.co/cLaf92F6N3 12/
investigatewest.org
When guards are charged, plea deals offer leniency
1
0
0
@Wilsoncriscione Listen as Idaho State Police detectives interview Sgt. Brian Klingensmith about former inmate’s allegation that he raped her. The 9-minute, unedited audio of the interview was obtained by InvestigateWest through a public records request. https://t.co/oz9VehBLPK 11/
1
0
0
@Wilsoncriscione Most of the abuse we heard about wasn't criminal investigated. But when it was, we found that police sometimes dismissed evidence, ignored leads and treated survivors as suspects, allowing abusers to escape justice. https://t.co/oz9VehBLPK 10/
investigatewest.org
Audio recordings and records obtained by InvestigateWest reveal sloppy investigations, omitted evidence and questions about whether cases were properly pursued
1
1
0
@Wilsoncriscione Story 3 examine's one woman's experience. Through her, we learned how this abuse occurs, the failures of the prison system to prevent and stop it and the retaliation victims face when they chose to speak up. https://t.co/o6g3sFgK8c 9/
investigatewest.org
A yearlong investigation finds rampant sexual abuse by guards, systemic cover-ups, and punishment for victims
1
0
0
@Wilsoncriscione We found 37 prison workers accused in the last decade of sexual misconduct toward incarcerated women. Of those, 18 resigned. 8 were fired. 3 were criminally charged. And 1 received a prison sentence for abuse, which was dismissed after he completed alternative sentencing. 8/
1
1
2