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.
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
Officials say the “extraordinary step” is necessary because the county has failed to comply with a court order requiring sweeping reforms.
Inmates sued Dr. Robert Karas, along with Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder, for treating them with the controversial drug last month
Since 2019, the inmate has filed a series of losing suits against a county jail, the state and correctional officers
“Plaintiff may be a disruptive and volatile inmate, but his behavioral issues do not excuse or permit the violation of his due process rights,” the judge said
The veteran officer will also receive two years of back pay and attorney fees
The federal government is asking for a court-appointed receiver to take over the jail due to unsafe conditions
An investigation last year found that about one-fifth of correctional officers hadn’t completed required basic training
A House committee on Monday unanimously approved introducing the bill as the state struggles to find willing providers
The sheriff says he is working on a plan to hire more detention officers
“It made me start the grieving process all over again knowing he was free and they are dead,” a family member said
The court upheld a 2012 CT DOC policy banning it from prisons with the stated goal of eliminating a hostile work environment
The corrections guild president says officers are so exhausted from mandatory OT that they’re sleeping in empty cells between shifts
No qualified immunity is granted to the sheriff in a case of negligent hiring, the court of appeals decides
The Philadelphia Bail Fund said it plans to use the money later this month “to free as many people as possible”
Prison officials began investigating the officer after he posted a video to Facebook showing an inmate assault him
Lawmakers aim to replace language considered stigmatizing with alternatives such as “resident of a jail”
The 17-year-old became unresponsive while being restrained following an altercation with detention staff in September
The First Step Act is intended to encourage inmates to participate in programs aimed at reducing recidivism
“If we are to make real change, we must get violent crime under control in our communities,” Gov. Mike Parson said
The change would reverse part of Indiana’s landmark criminal justice reform bills from the mid-2010s
The Metropolitan Detention Center has been unable to access its cameras since last week’s attack
The seized cash includes a $1,400 COVID stimulus check sent to Tsarnaev last June
The Eighth Amendment controls use of force outside prison walls
53 prisoners received nearly $200,000 in unemployment benefits because they had been laid off from work release programs as the state shut down in 2020
The order will prevent the state from releasing inmates after serving only one-third of their sentences – at least until the next court date
Judge April Newbauer wrote that officials “utterly failed” to prevent the crisis at Rikers Island despite clear warning signs
A DOC spokesperson says not being able to hire 18-year-olds “really limits” the agency
The man responsible had been released from prison in 2016 after serving a little more than three years of a 10-year sentence for manslaughter
No compassionate release was granted for a child sex offender who had yet to undergo treatment in the correctional facility
Veteran CO Keisha Williams pressed for the measure with help from other female union board members
A law librarian says she placed the plastic toy on the inmate’s desk as a joke; ODOC says the “gift” is contraband and indicates an inappropriate personal relationship
MOST POPULAR
- LA County cities sue to postpone zero-bail policy
- Calif. COs to get raises, $10K retention bonuses for work at ‘hard-to-keep/hard-to-fill’ prisons
- SC bill would ban drones near prisons
- ‘Death-qualified’ juror search slows marathon, theater cases
- Court: Calif. COs can’t sue state for time spent walking to their posts