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.
Flores argues that juror bias and improper witness testimony denied him a fair trial in the 1996 case
The We Will Act Act law lets corrections officers and police use legal means — including jamming and hacking — to neutralize drones near prisons and other protected areas
Mark Holdren, 41, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and Johnathan Walters, 33, was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the assault in the Southern Regional Jail
They alleged officials used pepper spray excessively and kept juveniles in solitary confinement for weeks or months at a time
A judge wrote that new evidence seemed to “undermine the entire prosecution case and point unerringly to innocence or reduced culpability”
The city is using a grant to prepare inmates for jobs in environmental work, culinary arts and fork-lift operation
Eight other states have similar legislation, referred to as “Ban the Box” in reference to the area on an application that asks about crime
The hearing comes before Thursday’s deadline set by the corrections department to announce which two of five possible prisons will be closed
Despite chronic overcrowding, the state hasn’t built and opened a new prison or jail in Hawaii since 1987
Family members of COs who die on duty could qualify for at least $50,000 from the state
An inmate who was imprisoned for 35 years while waiting for a new trial after a court overturned his murder conviction should be set free, an appeals court ruled
Quality writing, demonstrated need and staying within the financial parameters are critical in determining whether or not you win an award
Obama said there’s “simply no justification beyond politics” to keep Guantanamo open
Inmates are “taking great pride in knowing that they contributed to something so meaningful”
Obama emphasized that he had commuted Manning’s sentence, he did not grant a pardon
Lawmakers say there is bipartisan support for reforming the state’s mental health care system and the way inmates receive treatment
Inmates had to cover themselves at night with bed sheets and blankets on laundry days
With a violent ex-con threatening a federal prosecutor, the U.S. Marshals Service is making a rare request to outfit him with a shock belt during his upcoming trial
The governor says Ricky Gray had a “fair and impartial trial” and that he has found no reason to intervene in the matter
Gov. Jay Inslee and AG Bob Ferguson announced a proposal to abolish the death penalty in Washington state
Prison officials were concerned the books could instruct inmates how to negatively manipulate people
The inmate whose murder case inspired the movie “Boys Don’t Cry” has joined a fellow inmate in challenging Neb.'s three-judge method for determining death sentences
The program allows inmates to work with dogs from the shelter, teaching them to become more sociable and friendly and hopefully easier for others to adopt them
Lee Boyd Malvo’s attorney is asking a judge to toss his life sentence because he was convicted as a juvenile
The legislation is an attempt to block future contraband drops
The law allows sexually violent predators to be indefinitely committed to mental institutions
Newly-introduced legislation would turn various trafficking offenses into more serious felonies
More than 50 people sent a letter to the governor asking him to support Ricky Gray’s request to have his sentence commuted to life in prison
A judge weighing whether Ohio’s new execution method is constitutional ordered the state to clear up whether its supply of three lethal injection drugs is enough
Attorneys asked the judge for a delay to enable Ricky Gray to challenge the state’s plan to use lethal injection drugs from a secret compounding pharmacy
The bill would bring back lethal injection as a punishment option for convicted killers of COs, police and children
Rudy Hermann Guede is serving a 16-year sentence for the murder of Meredith Kercher
The union wants a bill passed that would make compensation similar to police and firefighters injured on duty
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