Off the Block

Off the Block

Hosted by
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.

All Episodes

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.

More from KCRW

Film critic Alonso Duralde recommends holiday movies: “See You Next Christmas,” “Better Watch Out, “1985,” and “Christmas, Again.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Critics review the latest film releases: “Mufasa,” “The Room Next Door,” “The Brutalist,” and “Nickel Boys.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

It’s that time of year again and we are serving up a heaping plate of 2024 Megabanter!

from The Business

The Latest

Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel.

Slowing down for Shabbat, a weekly Jewish ritual that brings calm and connection

Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel.

from Good Food

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris revisits her classic Kwanzaa cookbook

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

from Good Food

Chef Brian Polcyn knows his way around a meat pie.

Brian Polcyn bakes savory pies with a 'wow factor'

Chef Brian Polcyn knows his way around a meat pie.

from Good Food

Restaurant critic Bill Addison recruited Jenn Harris to help him divide and conquer as they determined LA's best restaurants. Culinary historian Jessica B.

Kwanzaa, Shabbat, meat pies, cake

Restaurant critic Bill Addison recruited Jenn Harris to help him divide and conquer as they determined LA's best restaurants. Culinary historian Jessica B.

from Good Food

Rose Levy Beranbaum preaches the glory of cake.

Rose Levy Beranbaum celebrates 35 years of divine cake inspiration

Rose Levy Beranbaum preaches the glory of cake.

from Good Food

Restaurant critic Bill Addison recruited Jenn Harris to help him divide and conquer as they determined LA's best restaurants.

Counting down the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants

Restaurant critic Bill Addison recruited Jenn Harris to help him divide and conquer as they determined LA's best restaurants.

from Good Food

What can we expect if RFK Jr. becomes health secretary? Will Trump take action on Dreamers? Plus, KCRW analyzes how progressives influenced the Democratic mandate.

Why are public health experts wary of RFK Jr. as HHS head?

What can we expect if RFK Jr. becomes health secretary? Will Trump take action on Dreamers? Plus, KCRW analyzes how progressives influenced the Democratic mandate.

from Left, Right & Center

Much needed attention has been brought upon the for-profit health insurance industry in the wake of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Assassinating the Myths of Healthcare

Much needed attention has been brought upon the for-profit health insurance industry in the wake of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

from Scheer Intelligence