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.
The new law raises wages for incarcerated firefighters from about $1 an hour to the federal minimum, with $10 million in state funding to support the increase
Robert Kessler, a former CO who took a plea deal, described in court how officers repeatedly hit and pepper-sprayed Robert Brooks before he died at a Utica hospital
Fred Singleton, 81, was ruled incompetent to be executed in 1993 but was never resentenced
Officer Andrew Lansing’s death has prompted a legislative push to address safety gaps in the state prison system
Rafael Caro Quintero, extradited from Mexico in 2022, appeared in Brooklyn court as feds weigh capital charges for the torture and murder of Agent Enrique Camarena
After breaking free from another CO’s grasp, inmate Paul Kendrick returned to attack Sgt. Mark Baserman, kicking him in the head “with so much force that Kendrick went airborne”
The three are the first of over 20 former DOCCS corrections officers expected to laterally transfer into the Rensselaer County jail amid a major hiring push
New DA Nathan Hochman reverses former DA George Gascón’s directive, citing the need for accountability in the most extreme murder cases
Montgomery County Deputy Charles Rivette was killed after being ejected from the patrol SUV and struck by a passing vehicle; the inmate sustained injuries
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order aimed at striking corrections officers will not be renewed, but peace officer recertification is required before fired COs are hired
A gang-led operation allegedly used “drug mules” who intentionally got arrested to deliver narcotics into the Riverside County detention facility, authorities say
The three-year prison program, created by lawmakers in 2016, is open to inmates convicted of certain crimes they committed when under the age of 21
The judge said the Bureau of Prisons must also continue to provide them with hormone therapy treatment for gender dysphoria
Colette Peters, Biden’s former BOP director, is tasked with creating a plan to fix chronic understaffing and prevent inmate suicides in state prisons
Corrections Officer Corey Clark says Kelvin Vickers planned the attack in advance, vowing to harm the first CO to open his cell at Coxsackie Correctional Facility
In late 2024, Aaron Gunches asked the Arizona Supreme Court to schedule his execution as soon as possible, saying his death sentence was “long overdue”
The state had not carried out an execution in 15 years due to legal challenges and difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s hiring ban extends to local governments by temporarily suspending laws that would allow agencies to hire the COs; it also strips COs of their peace officer status
Court documents claim the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center officer’s calls for backup were ignored, allowing the attack to continue
County sheriffs say hiring fired COs could help alleviate jail staffing shortages, but Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order blocks them from government jobs
The woman spent 85 days in DuPage County jail awaiting a mental health transfer before dying, with medical neglect cited as a contributing factor to her death
Prosecutors allege the suspects used deadly weapons to carry out the killings, which were linked to gang activity within Ely State Prison
Gov. Kathy Hochul is enforcing consequences for fired striking corrections officers, saying, “You’re not working in our state workforce, ever”
District Attorney Nathan Hochman called Lyle and Erik Menendez’s self-defense claims false and insists they do not meet the standards for rehabilitation or resentencing
The California State Sheriffs’ Association says the bill could create significant fiscal pressure on counties that are required to pay the higher wage
Brad Sigmon, who killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat, was shot by three volunteer Broad River Correctional Institution employees
The charges include multiple stabbings, smuggling attempts and a scheme to bring weapons into the facility inside a Doritos bag
Antoine R. Fielder pleaded guilty in exchange for a life sentence, avoiding the death penalty for killing Wyandotte County Deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer
A new committee to review HALT Act changes and 12-hour shifts until normal operations resume are key components of the state’s proposal
Video shows the moment the DeSoto County inmate seized a TASER and used it on a jailer during a struggle in the facility
More than 8,000 COs continue to hold the line, stating the tentative deal fails to address key safety concerns
In Gillman v. City of Troy, the 6th Circuit ruled on qualified immunity for failure to provide medical care to a detainee in withdrawal
The Mid-State Correctional Facility inmate died at a hospital in Utica; New York State Police are investigating the inmate’s death
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