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.
Francis Chandler Jr. was promised a sentence of four years in state prison after pleading to second-degree gang assault in connection with inmate Messiah Nantwi’s death
Patricia Krenwinkel holds the distinction of being the state’s longest-incarcerated woman following her 1971 conviction
During closing arguments, the defense told the jury that their clients didn’t participate in the fatal assault of Robert Brooks and were trying to do their jobs in difficult circumstances
Benjamin Ritchie was put to death by lethal injection for the 2000 murder of Beech Grove Officer Bill Toney, who was shot during a foot pursuit
Prosecutors say Lt. Chad Lester ordered false reports and threatened fellow officers after the 2022 in-custody death of Southern Regional Jail inmate Quantez Burks
Gov. Jeff Landry said a jail audit is underway and called for accountability across the justice system, “except for the police, who seem to be doing their job”
Corrections officers are urging state leaders to finalize a hybrid pension plan they say will improve recruitment and retention in prisons
Corrections officers say the state has failed to deliver on promises made during the strike resolution
Glen Rogers, once eyed for a possible link to the O.J. Simpson case, was put to death by lethal injection for the killing of Tina Marie Cribbs in Tampa
The CO admitted in court to cleaning up blood and not reporting it following Robert Brooks’ death
The plan to close Stillwater prison includes laying off around 565 employees, sparking backlash from union leaders who called the move an “unacceptable budget gimmick”
A remediation manager will have sweeping powers over staff discipline, hiring and use-of-force oversight at Rikers
Officers who return to work would be subject to a “disciplinary evaluation period” for the remainder of their career with DOCCS
Wasco County Sheriff Magill called the behavior “egregious,” but the arbitrator cited a lack of prior discipline and a casual office culture in reversing the termination
The lawsuit alleges detainees faced unsafe temperatures, pests and unsanitary food in the now-demolished Medium Security Institution
The legislation would end a nearly 20-year pause on capital punishment in North Carolina by giving inmates a choice in execution methods
During the hearing, Christopher Walrath acknowledged that he put Brooks in a chokehold, that he struck the inmate’s body and groin and that he lied to investigators
Samuel Blake English IV now faces a terroristic threat charge in Morgan County after allegedly threatening a judge following a video court appearance
Two Georgia residents and one inmate received multi-year sentences after a drone carrying 38 grams of meth crashed during the attempt
A judge will decide whether Franklin County Sheriff Raymond defied court orders by seizing 50 jail weapons during the county’s abrupt push to assume control
Jeffrey Hutchinson killed his girlfriend and her three children with a 12-gauge shotgun and was convicted in 2001
The Garden State Youth Correctional Facility’s inspection score rose from 72.9% to 85% after the DOC made key repairs and sanitation upgrades benefiting staff and inmates
The judge ruled that lethal injections can’t proceed unless IDOC officials allow full press access to lethal injection drug preparation and administration
Onondaga County Sheriff Shelley argued the closure of Jamesville Correctional Facility would strip powers from his office and impact public safety
New Jersey corrections officials credit a Las Vegas-based mail vendor for helping to stem the flow of synthetic drugs like K2 into facilities
The Justice Department said states are not constitutionally obligated to provide gender-affirming surgeries to prisoners
Prosecutors amended Randall Hepp’s felony misconduct charge as part of a plea deal tied to ongoing investigations at Waupun Correctional Institution
A civil rights lawsuit claimed Nebraska State Penitentiary officials violated the Eighth Amendment by placing an inmate with a dangerous, mentally ill cellmate
The Sgt. Mickey Hutchens Act allows law enforcement, including prison and parole staff, to buy up to four years of retirement time tied to training or education
The former corrections electronics technician admitted to trafficking fentanyl, meth, knives and contraband cellphones into the Bonne Terre facility
James Osgood was convicted of killing Tracy Lynn Brown and declined to appeal his sentence, saying he deserved to die
Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed in prison and is now serving his sentence in a different facility
Learn what a sovereign citizen is, how they use fake license plates, whether they can be arrested and how U.S. courts view their legal defense
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