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Law & Legislation

From the Supreme Court on down to the county courthouse, law and decisions affecting corrections change on a daily basis. The Law and Legislation topic covers every trial, verdict, and court decision that has to do with corrections.

“Removing barriers to reentry and providing justice-involved individuals with a second chance is critical to the rehabilitation process,” NYS DOCCS Acting Commissioner Daniel Martuscello said
State legislators study Norway’s rehabilitative incarceration model to combat high recidivism rates in California
Insufficient state funding and a deteriorating 125-year-old facility compound safety challenges for both inmates and staff
The 12 cities claim the zero-bail schedule for nonviolent felonies and misdemeanors will result in a “significant increase in criminals released back into the community”
In 2021 lawmakers agreed to spend $1.25 billion on two prisons, but rising labor and construction costs are devouring most of the funding
Allegheny County Jail reports compliance with a county referendum that limits solitary confinement for inmates
COs have expressed concern that the food served in the Cuyahoga County jail is so poor that it could spark riot
The multiple phase $77M project includes housing renovations, a new intake and booking facility, and staff locker rooms and meeting facilities
The prison board approved the up to $3.5 million project to add walls and a roof to Chester County prison’s eight exercise yards
Howard Holland, acting warden of Chester County Prison, proposed new fencing, ankle monitors for high-risk inmates, more cameras in the facility and establishing a K-9 unit to enhance security
Electric chair is the state’s default method of execution but inmates can choose death by firing squad or lethal injection
The plan includes $5K retention and signing bonuses for personnel in the jail that has 14 of its 36 positions vacant
Until the county gets a bigger jail the sheriff is trying small changes, like serving fresh fruit more often and expanding board game privileges, to keep the peace
There is bi-partisan agreement that the BoP “needs significantly more funding” for staffing and addressing a $2 billion maintenance backlog
Package of proposed bills would improve conditions and security at jails for the benefit of staff, inmates and the public