Help keep Salon independent

Karen Houppert

Karen Houppert is a freelance journalist, assistant professor at Baltimore’s Morgan State University and the author of “Chasing Gideon: The Elusive Quest for Poor People’s Justice.”

(<a href='url to photographer'>sakhorn</a> via <a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/'>Shutterstock</a>)

Challenging Mississippi’s depraved justice system: Months in jail, with no indictment and no lawyer

Karen Houppert

Does being a good mom mean feeling like a bad one?

Karen Houppert

This July 18, 2009 photo released by Scott Buchholz shows Otty Sanchez with her son Scott Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez in San Antonio. Sanchez, 33, is charged with capital murder in the baby's death and could face the death penalty. When authorities found the infant's body Sunday, July 26, 2009, Sanchez told officers the devil made her do it, police said.

How could a mother eat her own baby?

Karen Houppert

Death-wish granny

Karen Houppert

“The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood

Karen Houppert

“Windchill Summer” by Norris Church Mailer

Karen Houppert

Freudian fear and cooked statistics

Karen Houppert

Teen girls not in a rush

Karen Houppert

Nursed to death

Karen Houppert