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 Allegheny County corrections union is challenging a voter-backed ban on chemical agents and restraints
The judge ruled that a “blanket ban on hormone therapy constitutes grossly inadequate care for gender dysphoria and risks imminent injury”
Derrick Groves, caught months after escaping through a jail wall, was sentenced for killing two men during a 2018 Mardi Gras party
The new law no longer requires unanimous jury recommendations for judges to impose death-penalty sentences
Victor Rosario was convicted of arson and multiple counts of murder in connection with a fire that killed 3 adults and 5 children
In an unusual move for a prosecutor, the Attorney General filed his motion agreeing with defense attorneys that Richard Glossip deserves a stay
A commuted sentence means they’ll spend less time in home confinement and won’t have to pay the rest of their fines which range from $5,000 to $20,000
Gov. Ron DeSantis also signed a bill to end a unanimous jury requirement in death penalty sentencing
Floyd Bledsoe was released from prison in 2015 after DNA evidence showed he could not have been the killer of a 14-year-old girl
Chandler Craig’s federal complaint claims she lost her job based on a “fabricated incident report” ordered by the sheriff
Richard Glossip is scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 18
The payout over Holly Barlow-Austin’s death after being held at a jail operated by LaSalle Corrections is among the largest public settlements of its kind
Making prisons more “normal and humane” will also create better work environments for correctional officers, the Bureau of Prisons director said
The deal marks one of the most expensive wrongful death settlements in recent history for the state prison system
After an assault, Maryland corrections officials placed Chelsea Gilliam in solitary confinement for months, according to the lawsuit
In the program, inmates can take online classes on information technology, problem-solving, personal development, job skills and other areas
Advocates said it would give inmates facing long sentences more incentive to change their behavior
ADOC “is in the process of transitioning all litigation matters from the department’s attorneys to attorneys in the AGO”
The four have their sentencing postponed as there are additional “targets” that will face charges for participating in or covering up the assault
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law that will require anyone convicted of any of 18 violent offenses to serve 100% of their sentences
The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act seeks to allow state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming systems
The union says prison violence rose by 33% in the year since HALT took effect
The suit argues that Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s process for restoring the voting rights of people with felony convictions should be declared unconstitutional
An arbitrator ruled that Anthony Marlak’s termination was an excessive response by the state Department of Correction
The suit accuses officials of holding people in extended segregation even though they don’t meet the law’s criteria
Lawyers for CO William Durham’s family argued Zachary Latham lured the victim into the fatal fight in a bid for “TikTok fame”
Over 50% of Cook County jail’s registered voters cast ballots, which is more than registered voters citywide
They must explain why the court shouldn’t issue an order against them on the grounds they are violating the constitutional rights of victims
Four bills would help with access, apprenticeships, licensing and oversight
Questions arise about why meeting about squalid conditions for youth inmates was not public
Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants the law to require the Virginia Parole Board to notify local prosecutors before an inmate is paroled
Smart’s trial was one of the first high-profile cases about a sexual affair between a school staff member and a student
Teamsters Local 839 wants access to the jail to meet with their employees to investigate complaints
