Legal
Legal issues in the correctional system encompass various topics, including inmate rights, staff conduct, and compliance with state and federal laws. This directory offers articles and resources on the legal aspects of correctional facility operations, helping staff stay informed about the regulations and policies that govern their work. Understanding legal responsibilities is essential for minimizing liability and ensuring facilities operate within the law. For more information, explore our section on Corrections Policies.
The Department of Homeland Security called the ruling “a win for the American people, the rule of law and common sense”
How new federal tax rules could affect your paycheck, deductions and long-term savings
Prison officials say the goal is to minimize correctional staff involvement as the state prepares to make firing squad its primary method by 2026
Ralph Leroy Menzies, convicted of a 1986 murder, was days away from execution when the court intervened
Gov. Gavin Newsom said many offenders had faced childhood trauma and mental health struggles that shaped their crimes
A national lack of prison climate control is testing Eighth Amendment protections and correctional workforce resilience
Curtis Windom’s death marks Florida’s 11th execution in 2025 — a new state record since capital punishment resumed in 1976
The Third Circuit said FCI Fairton’s grievance system was sufficient and denied Rolando Muniz’s constitutional and disability claims
The drone crashed during a 2021 contraband delivery to the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, where Jason Totty was linked by fingerprints
Joe L. Binder was convicted of baton assault during an altercation that injured multiple inmates and two COs, prompting ADOC to require supervisors to wear body cameras
In one case, a judge blocked the DOJ’s attempt to seek the death penalty for a 2022 police officer killing, citing due process violations
Two Wallens Ridge State Prison officers were stabbed multiple times and a third was assaulted in the incident
The panel pointed to repeated cellphone use and alleged gang involvement as reasons for denying parole for three more years
Paul Kendrick, 30, was sentenced for the 2018 beating death of Sgt. Mark Baserman and received two additional life terms for assaults on COs
Lyle and Erik Menendez are set for separate parole hearings that could lead to their release nearly 30 years after their convictions for killing their parents
Sen. Saud Anwar said solitary confinement harms not only those incarcerated but also COs, who face moral injuries along with higher rates of anxiety and depression
The lawsuit alleges La Plata County and its sheriff’s office knew Edward Aber had a history of being accused of sexual impropriety or harassment when he was hired
Jovan Jackson, Nevada’s first formerly incarcerated state legislator, said the law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, will create new training opportunities
Gregory Rodriguez, 47, was sentenced to 224 years for sexually assaulting nine inmates over an 11-year period at the women’s prison in Chowchilla
In court filings, detainees said they were fed inedible “slop” and endured the “horrific stench” of sweat, urine and feces, in part because the rooms have open toilets
Todd Kohlhepp, who killed seven people, claimed the merchandise could help fund his prison transfer and shared ideas with outside contacts
The ex-Northern State Prison officer pleaded guilty to conspiracy and will lose his job, $6K in proceeds and the right to hold public office in N.J.
Federal prosecutors allege the Augusta State Medical Prison officers left a mentally ill inmate in a smoke-filled cell for hours, leading to his death in 2020
The former SCI-Forest CO is accused of performing sex acts on three inmates and accessing life-sentenced prisoners’ personal data for a fraud scheme
The Salinas Valley State Prison lieutenant alleges his treatment reflects a broader ‘code of silence’ that punishes staff who report abuse within CDCR
Corey Proulx died after being punched by a then-16-year-old inmate and striking his head on the pavement
Byron Black was convicted of killing his girlfriend and her two daughters in 1988 while on work-release for another shooting
A state watchdog found serious investigative lapses in 12 of 13 California prison staff use-of-force cases it reviewed
Christopher Walrath was one of six COs charged with murder in Robert Brooks’ death, who was killed at the Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9
MOST POPULAR
- Federal prison will take California’s ‘most dangerous’ Aryan Brotherhood inmates
- BOP slashes retention bonuses, impacting thousands of correctional officers
- Ga. detention officer among 6 charged in alleged plot to kill jail officers to protect drug ring
- N.Y. to lift hiring ban on fired striking corrections officers
- N.Y. corrections officer: Settlements to some fired COs is a ‘slap in the face’