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 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
The case hinged on whether inmate Charles Givens died from a beating or a seizure-induced fall; the jury found no evidence of officer wrongdoing
Six years after indictments and multiple convictions, the BOP says it will finally take custody of nine Aryan Brotherhood members
Already serving a life sentence for murder, North Dakota State Penitentiary inmate Alex Eggleston used a spray bottle of feces and urine against two officers during a 2021 incident
A federal jury found the Pierce County Jail’s medical provider violated the constitutional rights of an inmate by failing to address a serious blood clot that led to amputation
Raul Gomez-Garcia, convicted of killing Detective Donald Young in 2005, was denied entry to a youth-focused prison program because he did not meet eligibility requirements
The SCI-Somerset attack on Sgt. Mark Baserman, captured on video, showed a calculated assault that prosecutors called “cold-hearted” and fit for capital punishment
Lawmakers and law enforcement officials say the plan to release some prisoners up to 110 days early is a dangerous response to staffing shortages and failed prison reforms
“You have these brand, spanking new, inexperienced officers being led to the slaughter,” a former CDCR lieutenant said. “Security measures are non-existent.”
With 850 correctional officer vacancies, the city turned to population reduction strategies, including fast-tracking cases and emergency bail reviews
Sgt. Mark Baserman died of brain injuries after being kicked and punched in a 2018 attack at SCI-Somerset; a panel of 12 jurors will decide if the inmate should face the death penalty
Michael Lerma allegedly ran drug operations, enforced order and orchestrated violence while in custody at MDC Los Angeles
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