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.
If they know why Kohberger did it, investigators haven’t said so publicly; it is also not clear why he spared two roommates who were home at the time
People who are incarcerated in the state’s prisons currently receive three free, 15-minute phone calls a week
“These warnings came from inmates and were provided directly to multiple GDC officials, including during official investigations,” the complaint states
The legislation would require the DOC to notify residents and schools when it plans to open a new facility nearby
Daniel LaPlante’s sentence was up for reconsideration because recent court rulings determined that juveniles can’t be sentenced to life without parole
The FCC unanimously voted to approve rules to streamline the process for using technology to detect and block contraband phones in U.S. prisons and jails
Attorneys said that Romell Broom has important appeals pending and the state shouldn’t hurry to set a new date
Bernie Tiede was resentenced last year for his 1999 murder conviction in the fatal shooting of Marjorie Nugent, whose body was found in his freezer
Under current law, a person convicted of a sexual offense, or an offense relating to children or a person deemed incompetent, must submit to DNA testing
In an affidavit, Jonas Cherry’s parents said Paul Storey’s execution won’t bring back their son or atone for his loss
Arkansas has not put a prisoner to death since 2005
Gov. Rick Scott removed Aramis Ayala from a case after Ayala made her announcement against the death penalty
Instead of incarceration, the state should emphasize crime prevention, rehabilitation and family ties because of the differences in children’s development
Beth Carpenter argued that her trial lawyer made mistakes, including not securing a plea deal and not having an expert witness examine her before the trial
The Trump administration released a list of 206 cases of immigrants released from custody before federal agents could intervene
The inmates argued they should not be executed because they are intellectually disabled
The proposed legislation would create a new category of non-violent offenders called “young adults”
Alabama is the only state that allows a judge to override a jury’s sentence recommendation in capital murder cases
Virginia has kept its felony bar at $200 since 1980, when that money had the same buying power as nearly $600 does today
Richard Steeves told the Governor’s Board on Executive Clemency that he’s rehabilitated himself
Under the proposal, pregnant women and juveniles are banned from being placed in solitary confinement
The bill would allow nonviolent felons to vote one year into their probation or parole
“You can’t have several hundred dangerous inmates in one place because the officers are just unable to monitor”
Saundra Floyd instead urged Gov. John Carney to respond to her family’s demands for the autopsy report on Steven Floyd and details on how he died
Superior Court Judge Laura Priver released Andrew Leander Wilson after prosecutors conceded he did not get a fair trial
Tommy Arthur’s lawyers said the state has refused to turn over records related to the state’s last two executions
The construction plan is an attempt to relieve prison overcrowding
T.J. O’Neill, who was sentenced to prison for drugs and drunk driving, credits the challenges and structure of firefighting for saving his life
Deputy DA Erika Jerez said there were errors in the case against Andrew Leander Wilson, now 62
The bill would eliminate mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles
Among other things, the bill would also authorize a $350 million state bond issue to build one new prison and renovate others
The recently amended legislation says state authorities can notify ICE officials 60 days before violent felons are released from state prisons or local jails
Under the new bill, Florida will now require a unanimous jury recommendation before the death penalty can be imposed