Andrew Free

I transitioned into journalism in 2023 after spending nearly two decades working in various parts of the legal system, predominantly representing immigrant workers and people who suffered or died while involved in U.S. policing, jails, prisons, and detention centers. I have also worked as an organizer and advocate for movements, and a visiting scholar and law professor at a public university in the U.S. northwest. I also work as a public records and investigations consultant for journalists, organizations, and private clients.

I hope to use my journalism to uplift stories of people at the margins and challenge the systemic injustices of those in the center of harm. Because of my prior work in courtrooms and legislatures, I tend to focus on deeply sourced, records-based stories.

My principle work continues to be investigating and reporting on deaths in DHS custody, often through detentionkills.substack.com.