After devoting much of my career to writing about criminal justice, with a particular focus on police brutality, I now write about health and wellness for U.S. News & World Report. I cover a wide array of topics, with a focus on addiction and stories about distressed communities.
Before joining U.S. News in September 2016, I worked for 22 years at The Washington Post, where I covered crime in DC during the crack epidemic. I later covered courts in suburban Maryland. In July 2014 Bloomsbury USA published my nonfiction book, "S Street Rising: Crack, Murder and Redemption in D.C." The book chronicles a city in crisis and is also a memoir of how I struggled with crack addiction while covering the crime beat for the Post. I grew up in L.A. and am a proud graduate of USC.
You can reach me on Twitter: @RCastanedaWP
Also on email: rcastaneda@usnews.com