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.
Fred Singleton, 81, was ruled incompetent to be executed in 1993 but was never resentenced
Ten states have carried out executions in 2025, with Florida, Texas, Alabama and South Carolina leading the count
Ward, 53, was put to death by lethal injection, marking the state’s third execution since resuming capital punishment in 2024
The Mid-State Correctional Facility inmate died at a hospital in Utica; New York State Police are investigating the inmate’s death
The agreement includes suspending parts of the HALT Act for 90 days and safeguarding against excessive mandatory overtime
Some federal prison staff will see paychecks slashed by up to 25% as unions warn of “more turnover, burnout and instability” across BOP facilities
Gov. Kathy Hochul said that legal proceedings against nearly 400 striking COs had begun, with New York State Police serving restraining orders to 380 individuals
The court-approved agreement includes protections for transgender and non-citizen inmates, despite the Trump administration’s last-minute attempt to alter terms
New York DOCCS said mediation talks are ongoing and that the department will “continue negotiating key issues” with the “goal of resolving the strike”
Kathleen Kenney, a corrections veteran with federal and state experience, will monitor conditions at the Fulton County Jail following a Justice Department investigation
The justices ruled prosecutors withheld evidence and failed to correct false testimony in Richard Glossip’s murder trial for the 1997 killing of his former boss
One bus was set on fire, and another was spray-painted with a message that read, “Can you hear us now?” on the side, as COs protest unsafe working conditions and policies
Nicholas Kieffer pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and other charges in the death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility
Only three inmates in the U.S. have been executed by firing squad since 1976 — all were in Utah, with the last one taking place in 2010
“The label of ‘resident'— currently used by the Department of Corrections— for incarcerated persons obscures the joint goals of deterrence, rehabilitation and punishment,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte said
Prosecutors said corrections officers at Marcy Correctional Facility attacked Robert Brooks while he was handcuffed, leading to his death the next day
Lawrence Taylor was serving a 23-year sentence for bank robberies before he killed his cellmate at Terre Haute in 2019 with a weapon he had hidden for months
The corrections officers’ demands include reversing solitary confinement limits, higher salaries and enhanced visitor security, but DOCCS says some require legislative action
One suspect was caught outside Ventress Correctional Facility with 31 phones, 13 knives and drugs, while another at Easterling had meth, marijuana and five phones
States like Georgia and Florida are increasing spending on security and staffing, while California and Pennsylvania look to cut costs
The two Bibles, containing approximately 23 grams of heroin hidden in the spines, were sealed in packages addressed to inmates in state prisons
Michael Nance argued that his medical conditions make lethal injection inhumane, but a federal judge ruled the method does not create unconstitutional suffering
ICE
The Williams County sheriff called the incident a result of “complacency and human error” and is not taking disciplinary action against the jail staff
The couple’s toddler, strapped in a car seat, witnessed the attack and survived 18 hours alone before workers found the crime scene
The Federal Bureau of Prisons was directed to transfer inmate George John Hanson to be executed for his role in the 1999 kidnapping and killing of a 77-year-old woman
Blagojevich was convicted in 2011 on charges that included seeking to sell an appointment to Obama’s old Senate seat and trying to shake down a children’s hospital
The state plans to close SCI-Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp; every staff member at the two prisons would be “guaranteed an offer of a job” at their current pay elsewhere
If passed, the bill would prevent visitation from being revoked for disciplinary reasons, except in cases of safety or operational necessity
Washington’s DOC will cover application fees and ensure IDs do not resemble prison mugshots to help reintegration efforts
Demetrius Frazier, who was also serving a life sentence in Michigan for a separate murder, was transferred to Alabama’s death row in 2011
ICE
Gov. Patrick Morrisey says the partnership will improve coordination between state corrections and ICE, allowing for more efficient deportations
A medical examiner found Marcy Correctional Facility inmate Robert Brooks died from neck compression and blunt-force injuries; a grand jury will review the case
The Broad River Correctional Institute captain smuggled cellphones and SIM cards while collecting nearly $280,000 in bribes, prosecutors say
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