Jessica Pishko is an independent journalist and lawyer with over a decade of experience covering the criminal justice system, with a focus on the political influence of law enforcement officials. Since 2018, her work has centered on the role of American sheriffs—both historically and today—in perpetuating mass incarceration and white supremacy, while also examining the growing threat sheriffs pose to democracy in the United States. Her book, The Highest Law in the Land, which explores the origins and rise of sheriffs in America, is available now.
