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.
Dwight Eaglin, who killed Corrections Officer Darla Lathrem and an inmate during a failed escape, will face a new sentencing phase under Florida’s revised death penalty law
Under the plan, Ohio prisons would be directed to pursue lethal injection drugs in partnership with the DOJ and provide twice-yearly progress reports
New York is using early release authority under the state’s correction law to maintain order and reduce pressure on remaining staff
Prosecutors revealed proposed resolutions for 10 COs, including six charged with murder in the 2023 death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility
Mikal Mahdi was sentenced to death for the 2004 killing of Orangeburg Officer James Myers, whom he ambushed and shot at least eight times
A contraband device helped plan the escape of a violent inmate, injuring corrections officers and triggering a multi-day manhunt
The change comes after a failed IV placement delayed the scheduled execution of a convicted killer in 2023
While declining to mandate immediate air conditioning, the judge warned the state it will likely lose at trial over unsafe prison heat conditions
The SLATE program offers kitchen jobs, HVAC certification and life skills to reduce repeat offenses and support reentry
Officer Andrew Lansing’s death has prompted a legislative push to address safety gaps in the state prison system
Rafael Caro Quintero, extradited from Mexico in 2022, appeared in Brooklyn court as feds weigh capital charges for the torture and murder of Agent Enrique Camarena
After breaking free from another CO’s grasp, inmate Paul Kendrick returned to attack Sgt. Mark Baserman, kicking him in the head “with so much force that Kendrick went airborne”
The three are the first of over 20 former DOCCS corrections officers expected to laterally transfer into the Rensselaer County jail amid a major hiring push
New DA Nathan Hochman reverses former DA George Gascón’s directive, citing the need for accountability in the most extreme murder cases
Montgomery County Deputy Charles Rivette was killed after being ejected from the patrol SUV and struck by a passing vehicle; the inmate sustained injuries
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order aimed at striking corrections officers will not be renewed, but peace officer recertification is required before fired COs are hired
A gang-led operation allegedly used “drug mules” who intentionally got arrested to deliver narcotics into the Riverside County detention facility, authorities say
The three-year prison program, created by lawmakers in 2016, is open to inmates convicted of certain crimes they committed when under the age of 21
The judge said the Bureau of Prisons must also continue to provide them with hormone therapy treatment for gender dysphoria
Colette Peters, Biden’s former BOP director, is tasked with creating a plan to fix chronic understaffing and prevent inmate suicides in state prisons
Corrections Officer Corey Clark says Kelvin Vickers planned the attack in advance, vowing to harm the first CO to open his cell at Coxsackie Correctional Facility
In late 2024, Aaron Gunches asked the Arizona Supreme Court to schedule his execution as soon as possible, saying his death sentence was “long overdue”
The state had not carried out an execution in 15 years due to legal challenges and difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s hiring ban extends to local governments by temporarily suspending laws that would allow agencies to hire the COs; it also strips COs of their peace officer status
Court documents claim the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center officer’s calls for backup were ignored, allowing the attack to continue
County sheriffs say hiring fired COs could help alleviate jail staffing shortages, but Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order blocks them from government jobs
The woman spent 85 days in DuPage County jail awaiting a mental health transfer before dying, with medical neglect cited as a contributing factor to her death
Prosecutors allege the suspects used deadly weapons to carry out the killings, which were linked to gang activity within Ely State Prison
Gov. Kathy Hochul is enforcing consequences for fired striking corrections officers, saying, “You’re not working in our state workforce, ever”
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- Prison violence, staff vacancies continue despite new hires, Md. COs’ union says
- N.Y. governor warns striking corrections officers they could ‘lose everything’