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.
Why intensive, accountable treatment courts beat “probation as usual” and how agencies can target the right people, measure results and keep communities safe
Lance Shockley waited for hours near Sgt. Carl Graham Jr.’s home, then shot him with a rifle and shotgun as the trooper exited his cruiser
Amid nearly 30 vacancies at FCI Edgefield alone, prison teachers, nurses and electricians are being pulled to cover CO shifts without compensation
Jailed multiple times as a young man, Jelly Roll now works with jails and youth centers, hoping to inspire others through music and second chances
Convicted killer James Osgood says he’s ready to be executed for the 2010 killing of Tracy Lynn Brown and opposes protests in his name
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the state will be deliberate on nitrogen executions and said prison expansion has broad support
Dillon Bakke died from a brain hemorrhage days after reporting severe head pain while in custody at the Ramsey County jail in 2022
César Moisés Hernández, who was on the run for four months, is accused of fatally shooting Cmdr. Abigail Esparza, who led a Mexican police unit targeting foreign fugitives
The Department of Juvenile Justice says a toxic workplace culture at Mayfield enabled sexual activity while COs were on duty and youth fights hidden from cameras and supervisors
Messiah Nantwi resisted being handcuffed and grabbed a CO’s vest during an emergency response call, leading several COs to strike the inmate, the indictment says
The case hinged on whether inmate Charles Givens died from a beating or a seizure-induced fall; the jury found no evidence of officer wrongdoing
Six years after indictments and multiple convictions, the BOP says it will finally take custody of nine Aryan Brotherhood members
Already serving a life sentence for murder, North Dakota State Penitentiary inmate Alex Eggleston used a spray bottle of feces and urine against two officers during a 2021 incident
A federal jury found the Pierce County Jail’s medical provider violated the constitutional rights of an inmate by failing to address a serious blood clot that led to amputation
Raul Gomez-Garcia, convicted of killing Detective Donald Young in 2005, was denied entry to a youth-focused prison program because he did not meet eligibility requirements
The SCI-Somerset attack on Sgt. Mark Baserman, captured on video, showed a calculated assault that prosecutors called “cold-hearted” and fit for capital punishment
Lawmakers and law enforcement officials say the plan to release some prisoners up to 110 days early is a dangerous response to staffing shortages and failed prison reforms
“You have these brand, spanking new, inexperienced officers being led to the slaughter,” a former CDCR lieutenant said. “Security measures are non-existent.”
With 850 correctional officer vacancies, the city turned to population reduction strategies, including fast-tracking cases and emergency bail reviews
Sgt. Mark Baserman died of brain injuries after being kicked and punched in a 2018 attack at SCI-Somerset; a panel of 12 jurors will decide if the inmate should face the death penalty
Michael Lerma allegedly ran drug operations, enforced order and orchestrated violence while in custody at MDC Los Angeles
Arkansas lawmakers blocked a $750M prison bill as Alabama clears more funding for its ongoing construction plan
Union leaders cite training costs and security issues as a reason to reopen the Danville Correctional Center firing range, while businesses warn of stray bullets and noise
The group calls on Congress to change federal law to help corrections officials stop inmates from using contraband phones to commit crimes
Dwight Eaglin, who killed Corrections Officer Darla Lathrem and an inmate during a failed escape, will face a new sentencing phase under Florida’s revised death penalty law
Under the plan, Ohio prisons would be directed to pursue lethal injection drugs in partnership with the DOJ and provide twice-yearly progress reports
New York is using early release authority under the state’s correction law to maintain order and reduce pressure on remaining staff
Prosecutors revealed proposed resolutions for 10 COs, including six charged with murder in the 2023 death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility
Mikal Mahdi was sentenced to death for the 2004 killing of Orangeburg Officer James Myers, whom he ambushed and shot at least eight times
A contraband device helped plan the escape of a violent inmate, injuring corrections officers and triggering a multi-day manhunt
The change comes after a failed IV placement delayed the scheduled execution of a convicted killer in 2023
While declining to mandate immediate air conditioning, the judge warned the state it will likely lose at trial over unsafe prison heat conditions
The SLATE program offers kitchen jobs, HVAC certification and life skills to reduce repeat offenses and support reentry
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