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.
Christopher Walrath was one of six COs charged with murder in Robert Brooks’ death, who was killed at the Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9
The Fountain Correctional Facility inmate says he was intentionally housed in a “bug and spider-infested area” and seeks $2 million in damages
The Florida attorney general had warned Orange County officials of removal if they failed to support immigration enforcement
The order will not preclude the state from running background checks on prospective employees and asking questions about their pasts during the interview process
Thousands of people convicted of marijuana crimes in California have asked to get their records reduced since the state legalized recreational pot
The decision could determine if there’s a special session on prison issues
It’s unclear whether the governor’s action will be enough to stop Rene Lima-Marin’s deportation
Supporters say closing the prison would mean 51 jobs lost
The bill is based on Texas procedures and will require inmates to raise claims, such as ineffective counsel, at the same time as appeals over alleged trial errors
Rep. Steve Pylant argued that although he firmly supported the death penalty, delays in carrying out executions had made it too expensive
The seven-member panel will examine problems in the corrections department but will also look at other services, such as parole and probation
The bill would require inmates to raise claims such as ineffective counsel at the same time as appeals claiming trial errors
She said he was upbeat in their last telephone conversation before he was found hanged and there was no indication he was suicidal
The bill has passed in the House and is now in the Senate
Alabama prisons house 23,074 inmates in facilities built for 13,318
Judge J.R. Gaines said “any release of the execution logs would be detrimental to the best interests of the public”
J.W. Ledford’s lawyers have suggested using a firing squad instead, but that’s not allowed under Georgia law
J.W. Ledford Jr. would be the first inmate executed this year in Georgia
J.W. Ledford Jr.'s lawyers say there’s a substantial risk he’ll experience great pain as the drug attacks his respiratory system due to treatment with the drug gabapentin
Lawmakers decided to grant parole hearings only for convicted killers who aren’t deemed the “worst of the worst”
The bill would make corrections officers mandatory child abuse reporters and would protect them from retaliation for reporting incidents
The bill is part of a package of bills aimed at lessening Louisiana’s prison rate and improving opportunities for those exiting prison so they don’t reoffend
The bill would allow Texas to license two family lockdowns and enable facilities to hold families for prolonged stays
Those convicted of killing a corrections or police officer will be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole
Manning served nearly seven years of her 35-year sentence, before Obama granted her clemency in the final days of his presidency
The legislation would require inmates to raise claims of ineffective counsel and the same time as the inmate’s direct appeal claiming trial errors
Judge Truman Hobbs dismissed Tommy Arthur’s lawsuit claiming Alabama improperly lets the Department of Corrections determine the lethal injection protocol
The judge said the testimonies amounted to grounds for a new trial, but he stopped short of declaring Calvin Buari innocent
Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the legislation last month, saying it could endanger corrections officers and inmates by limiting the options of prison officials
Convicted felons who finish their prison sentences will still have to wait two years before they can vote in Nebraska
The bill aims to build four facilities, including a replacement for the state’s troubled women’s prison
It’s been nearly three years since Bowe Bergdahl was released from captivity
A jury convicted Voltaire Williams of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced him to 25 years to life
