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 inmate used contraband cell phones to overseeing a drug dealing operation in 2020 while incarcerated in Atlantic County and Georgia
South Carolina’s current execution law requires inmates to be sent to the electric chair unless they choose a different method
The letter asks that the DOJ “devote any resources necessary to protect the rights of individuals in confinement” into the Fulton Jail and correctional institutions nationwide
Attorneys debated whether alleged coercion should factor into sentencing despite acquittals on trafficking charges
Body camera video includes staff commenting that the inmate was on the floor “all day from day shift” at the Cuyahoga County Jail
A new law requires inmates to serve set portions of sentences and expands pathways to try juveniles as adults
The attack left a 61-year-old sergeant going in and out of consciousness as staff rushed to provide aid at the Richmond City Justice Center
Plaintiffs claim correctional officers used chemical agents and force against compliant inmates during a 2024 search operation at Central California Women’s Facility
Southern Regional Jail corrections officers coordinated attacks on inmates and concealed misconduct in official reports, the DOJ says
A senator says preventable failures allowed an inmate to bypass cell security and carry out the attack, killing Correctional Officer Dustin Pedigo
Jurors rejected a murder charge but found Jonah Levi responsible for manslaughter and coordinated misconduct in Messiah Nantwi’s death at Mid-State Correctional Facility
Attorney generals from multiple states are urging President Trump to expand law enforcement authority to intercept drones before they reach prison grounds
ICE
While 287(g) agreements are banned in Maryland, correctional agencies can still assist ICE in limited circumstances, a judge ruled
State officials say lapses in medical and mental healthcare at the Onondaga County Justice Center contributed to multiple deaths in custody
Judges found non-medical staff were not responsible for treatment decisions during a widespread inmate health outbreak
The inmate was discovered with multiple injuries at Wallens Ridge State Prison as state police continue to investigate the death
Inmates built a makeshift tower in a fourth-floor rec room to retrieve drugs and other items, according to court filings
Lason Butler died of dehydration after being held in a cell at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center with no running water, the lawsuit said
Prosecutors say the deliberate crash into the Dickinson Juvenile Justice Center caused major damage and targeted the court over a custody dispute
The probe centers on whether female inmates face increased danger under current housing rules
Nathan Palmer testified that Jonah Levi stomped inmate Messiah Nantwi five or six times and said he confronted him moments later about the force used
Tova Noel, a rookie corrections officer at the time, said she saw no warning signs and described limited awareness of events during her overnight shift at the Metropolitan Correctional Center
A bipartisan bill would mandate audits of prison nutrition and require medical histories in pre-sentencing reports as officials cite systemic healthcare failures
Commissioner Stanley Richards calls for hiring support and responsible population reduction to maintain safety inside facilities
One of 10 indicted Mid-State Correctional Facility staff members admitted to falsifying records as part of an alleged cover-up following the death of Messiah Nantwi
The former Genesee County deputy claims she was fired after raising alarms about understaffing and unsafe conditions in women’s housing unit
Robert Kessler accepted a plea deal and testified against coworkers about the fatal assault and alleged cover-up at Marcy Correctional Facility
In one incident, the CO wrote “Property of G. Smead” on a trainee’s body; both trainees were left restrained in handcuffs until other officers released them
CDCR leaders cite aging facilities, healthcare and staffing costs as key drivers behind a budget that has not declined with the prison population
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