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.
Veteran CO Michael Dempsey, a veteran CO and court-appointed monitor, described a culture of fear, chronic absenteeism and untrained staff in testimony on L.A. County’s juvenile justice failures
One officer allegedly worked two state jobs while another forged 22 medical notes, prosecutors say
Brandon Grimes, serving life for killing Baltimore Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr., is accused of falsifying a ballistics report and planning the scheme with a woman outside prison
The panel pointed to repeated cellphone use and alleged gang involvement as reasons for denying parole for three more years
Paul Kendrick, 30, was sentenced for the 2018 beating death of Sgt. Mark Baserman and received two additional life terms for assaults on COs
Lyle and Erik Menendez are set for separate parole hearings that could lead to their release nearly 30 years after their convictions for killing their parents
Sen. Saud Anwar said solitary confinement harms not only those incarcerated but also COs, who face moral injuries along with higher rates of anxiety and depression
The lawsuit alleges La Plata County and its sheriff’s office knew Edward Aber had a history of being accused of sexual impropriety or harassment when he was hired
Jovan Jackson, Nevada’s first formerly incarcerated state legislator, said the law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, will create new training opportunities
Gregory Rodriguez, 47, was sentenced to 224 years for sexually assaulting nine inmates over an 11-year period at the women’s prison in Chowchilla
In court filings, detainees said they were fed inedible “slop” and endured the “horrific stench” of sweat, urine and feces, in part because the rooms have open toilets
Todd Kohlhepp, who killed seven people, claimed the merchandise could help fund his prison transfer and shared ideas with outside contacts
The ex-Northern State Prison officer pleaded guilty to conspiracy and will lose his job, $6K in proceeds and the right to hold public office in N.J.
Federal prosecutors allege the Augusta State Medical Prison officers left a mentally ill inmate in a smoke-filled cell for hours, leading to his death in 2020
The former SCI-Forest CO is accused of performing sex acts on three inmates and accessing life-sentenced prisoners’ personal data for a fraud scheme
The Salinas Valley State Prison lieutenant alleges his treatment reflects a broader ‘code of silence’ that punishes staff who report abuse within CDCR
Corey Proulx died after being punched by a then-16-year-old inmate and striking his head on the pavement
Byron Black was convicted of killing his girlfriend and her two daughters in 1988 while on work-release for another shooting
A state watchdog found serious investigative lapses in 12 of 13 California prison staff use-of-force cases it reviewed
Christopher Walrath was one of six COs charged with murder in Robert Brooks’ death, who was killed at the Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9
The Fountain Correctional Facility inmate says he was intentionally housed in a “bug and spider-infested area” and seeks $2 million in damages
The Florida attorney general had warned Orange County officials of removal if they failed to support immigration enforcement
Matthew Millar was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2022 death of Jason Rothe at the Secure Psychiatric Unit in Concord
Edward Zakrzewski’s execution is the ninth in 2025 — more than any other state and the most Florida has carried out in a year since 1976
Auditors say nine staff remained on paid leave up to 3.5 years beyond limits set by state regulations and contracts
Federal charges allege Walker County Jail officers deprived Tony Mitchell and others of basic rights and used an inmate enforcer to assault detainees
Albert Booze pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter after using Deputy Christopher Knight’s TASER and a knife in a 2021 fatal confrontation at Bibb County Jail
Investigators say the La Plata County commander accessed sensitive jail videos more than 3,000 times and looked up inmates and colleagues on social media
A judge called the use of unverified AI-generated citations “recklessness in the extreme” in a federal prison lawsuit
The former congressman is serving time at FCI Fairton’s minimum security camp after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft
John Menendez walked up to an officer sitting in his patrol car and confessed shortly after the shootings, telling the officer to “just arrest me, bro”
Investigations by state police into employee misconduct exposed a culture at Snake River Correctional Institution that enabled abuse and harassment
“There’s a video of these detainees running out of the jail in the middle of the night. They were not heading to court hearings,” Attorney General Liz Murrill said
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