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 lawsuit hit during an ongoing Department of Justice investigation that began in February 2023 after a spate of 18 inmate deaths in county jails in 2022
Flores argues that juror bias and improper witness testimony denied him a fair trial in the 1996 case
The We Will Act Act law lets corrections officers and police use legal means — including jamming and hacking — to neutralize drones near prisons and other protected areas
The lawsuit seeks a judge’s temporary and permanent order to stop the policy at four prisons
A state patrol affidavit describes chaotic scenes where corrections officers were chased, stabbed and kicked during a coordinated assault at the Lincoln facility
The AFGE’s Council of Prison Locals urges lawmakers to reject EO 14251, which they say strips workplace protections and threatens officer safety
A partner at Butler Snow used ChatGPT to draft filings defending the state prison system, resulting in false legal citations based on nonexistent cases
L.A. County must reduce the population and pass state inspection to avoid full closure of the embattled juvenile facility
A maintenance worker shut off water to a toilet covering a hole in the wall after an inmate threatened to “shank” him, arrest documents state
Benjamin Ritchie was put to death by lethal injection for the 2000 murder of Beech Grove Officer Bill Toney, who was shot during a foot pursuit
Prosecutors say Lt. Chad Lester ordered false reports and threatened fellow officers after the 2022 in-custody death of Southern Regional Jail inmate Quantez Burks
Gov. Jeff Landry said a jail audit is underway and called for accountability across the justice system, “except for the police, who seem to be doing their job”
Corrections officers are urging state leaders to finalize a hybrid pension plan they say will improve recruitment and retention in prisons
Corrections officers say the state has failed to deliver on promises made during the strike resolution
Glen Rogers, once eyed for a possible link to the O.J. Simpson case, was put to death by lethal injection for the killing of Tina Marie Cribbs in Tampa
The CO admitted in court to cleaning up blood and not reporting it following Robert Brooks’ death
The plan to close Stillwater prison includes laying off around 565 employees, sparking backlash from union leaders who called the move an “unacceptable budget gimmick”
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
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