James Ridgeway

About the Author

James Ridgeway is an acclaimed investigative journalist whose career spans decades of unflinching reporting on the underbelly of American society, from political corruption to the human toll of incarceration. With a sharp eye for injustice and a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices, Ridgeway has chronicled the harrowing realities of solitary confinement in his seminal work, Hell Is a Very Small Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement, co-edited with Jean Casella and Sara Lingel Wallace. Drawing on extensive interviews with those enduring extreme isolation, the book exposes the psychological devastation and systemic failures within the U.S. prison system. Ridgeway's writing bridges journalism and advocacy, influencing policy debates and public awareness on prison reform, civil rights, and social equity. A veteran of outlets like The Village Voice and Mother Jones, he continues to challenge power structures through his incisive prose.