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 court found that extended isolation and continuous sleep deprivation posed a clearly established risk of serious harm, allowing an inmate’s Eighth Amendment claim to move forward
An inmate’s habit of exposing himself to officers didn’t stay in the past — the court used that pattern to uphold a conviction
One Pennsylvania CO testified that Mangione was in a specialized housing unit because the prison “did not want an Epstein-style situation” as he awaited transfer to New York
Unlimited phone access has created unintended consequences, including decreased engagement in rehabilitation services and security concerns, the Bristol County sheriff said
A man was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for mailing narcotics-laced books to Grafton Correctional Institution
Court testimony reveals that youth are again urinating in bags and gloves due to inadequate overnight staffing at Barry J. Nidorf
The Oregon DOC initially released inmates after interpreting a Supreme Court ruling as requiring credit for jail time on each count
Two former corrections officers received 22 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter, while two others were sentenced for lesser charges
The verdict includes damages, back pay and attorney’s fees following claims of misconduct and surveillance by Passaic County officials
Bare Hill Correctional Facility will close in early 2026 due to underuse and staffing redistribution needs
Stephen Bryant, convicted of killing three people in 2004, was the seventh inmate executed in South Carolina since the state resumed capital punishment in 2024
The CO planted a sharpened 4.5-inch piece of plexiglass in an inmate’s cell, then filed four false reports, the DA said
The court ruled against David Gambino, who claimed Niagara County Jail staff violated his First Amendment rights by serving tainted kosher meals
A former inmate and three others, including two ex-corrections officers, conspired to steal personal data from 18 inmates using jail computers and contraband phones, the DA said
The Lorain County corrections officer will return to duty and receive $30,000 in back pay following a use of force dispute
Paul Kendrick remains on death row for the 2018 attack that led to Sgt. Mark Baserman’s death inside SCI-Somerset
Gov. Kevin Stitt cited the victim’s family’s forgiveness in granting clemency to Tremane Wood, convicted in a 2002 murder
The bill follows the budget rollback of the 72-hour notice rule and would prevent MDOC from reinstating it in the future
Damon Landor, a Rastafarian, alleges his religious rights were violated when Raymond Laborde Correctional Center corrections officers forcibly shaved his head
Of the 24 Walker County Jail employees charged in Tony Mitchell’s death, eight have formally pleaded guilty
New welfare check protocols at the Otter Tail County Jail require staff to assess visibility, signs of life, mental health and access to water
Ralph Baze was sentenced to death in 1994 for killing Powell County Sheriff Bennett and Deputy Briscoe, but Gov. Beshear has declined to sign a death warrant citing legal hurdles
A city oversight board found correction officers failed to secure cells, notify medical staff and conduct rounds in several fatal incidents
Lawmakers across the U.S. are advancing more than 100 bills to expand or limit capital punishment, even as executions reach their highest total since 2012
One corrections officer was permanently blinded after being stabbed with a piece of steel in 2020 at USP Allenwood
Cortlen Flax was convicted of official misconduct and simple assault after striking an inmate who later filed a civil rights lawsuit
Dr. Beth Fischgrund alleged she was fired and defamed after reporting safety threats and staff misconduct at Salinas Valley State Prison
A body scanner revealed a concealed firearm in Arquishia Brown’s bra after she was booked at Bay County Jail
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