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.
A remediation manager will have sweeping powers over staff discipline, hiring and use-of-force oversight at Rikers
Officers who return to work would be subject to a “disciplinary evaluation period” for the remainder of their career with DOCCS
Wasco County Sheriff Magill called the behavior “egregious,” but the arbitrator cited a lack of prior discipline and a casual office culture in reversing the termination
The lawsuit alleges detainees faced unsafe temperatures, pests and unsanitary food in the now-demolished Medium Security Institution
The legislation would end a nearly 20-year pause on capital punishment in North Carolina by giving inmates a choice in execution methods
During the hearing, Christopher Walrath acknowledged that he put Brooks in a chokehold, that he struck the inmate’s body and groin and that he lied to investigators
Samuel Blake English IV now faces a terroristic threat charge in Morgan County after allegedly threatening a judge following a video court appearance
Two Georgia residents and one inmate received multi-year sentences after a drone carrying 38 grams of meth crashed during the attempt
A judge will decide whether Franklin County Sheriff Raymond defied court orders by seizing 50 jail weapons during the county’s abrupt push to assume control
Jeffrey Hutchinson killed his girlfriend and her three children with a 12-gauge shotgun and was convicted in 2001
The Garden State Youth Correctional Facility’s inspection score rose from 72.9% to 85% after the DOC made key repairs and sanitation upgrades benefiting staff and inmates
The judge ruled that lethal injections can’t proceed unless IDOC officials allow full press access to lethal injection drug preparation and administration
Onondaga County Sheriff Shelley argued the closure of Jamesville Correctional Facility would strip powers from his office and impact public safety
New Jersey corrections officials credit a Las Vegas-based mail vendor for helping to stem the flow of synthetic drugs like K2 into facilities
The Justice Department said states are not constitutionally obligated to provide gender-affirming surgeries to prisoners
Prosecutors amended Randall Hepp’s felony misconduct charge as part of a plea deal tied to ongoing investigations at Waupun Correctional Institution
A civil rights lawsuit claimed Nebraska State Penitentiary officials violated the Eighth Amendment by placing an inmate with a dangerous, mentally ill cellmate
The Sgt. Mickey Hutchens Act allows law enforcement, including prison and parole staff, to buy up to four years of retirement time tied to training or education
The former corrections electronics technician admitted to trafficking fentanyl, meth, knives and contraband cellphones into the Bonne Terre facility
James Osgood was convicted of killing Tracy Lynn Brown and declined to appeal his sentence, saying he deserved to die
Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed in prison and is now serving his sentence in a different facility
Learn what a sovereign citizen is, how they use fake license plates, whether they can be arrested and how U.S. courts view their legal defense
Jailed multiple times as a young man, Jelly Roll now works with jails and youth centers, hoping to inspire others through music and second chances
Convicted killer James Osgood says he’s ready to be executed for the 2010 killing of Tracy Lynn Brown and opposes protests in his name
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the state will be deliberate on nitrogen executions and said prison expansion has broad support
Dillon Bakke died from a brain hemorrhage days after reporting severe head pain while in custody at the Ramsey County jail in 2022
César Moisés Hernández, who was on the run for four months, is accused of fatally shooting Cmdr. Abigail Esparza, who led a Mexican police unit targeting foreign fugitives
The Department of Juvenile Justice says a toxic workplace culture at Mayfield enabled sexual activity while COs were on duty and youth fights hidden from cameras and supervisors
Messiah Nantwi resisted being handcuffed and grabbed a CO’s vest during an emergency response call, leading several COs to strike the inmate, the indictment says
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