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Pennsylvania Prison Crowding, Parole Crisis Result in New Laws, Parole Suspension
by Matt Clarke
On September 29, 2008, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell ordered a moratorium on paroles. Three weeks later he lifted the suspension of paroles for non-violent offenders, and the moratorium was completely withdrawn last December. These are the latest developments in a crisis caused by overcrowding in Pennsylvania’s prison …
On September 29, 2008, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell ordered a moratorium on paroles. Three weeks later he lifted the suspension of paroles for non-violent offenders, and the moratorium was completely withdrawn last December. These are the latest developments in a crisis caused by overcrowding in Pennsylvania’s prison …
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More from this issue:
- Economic Crisis Prompts Prison Closures Nationwide, but Savings (and Reforms) are Elusive, by David Reutter
- Illinois Governor Bases Prison Closure Decision on Politics, by Derick Limberg
- Pennsylvania Prison Crowding, Parole Crisis Result in New Laws, Parole Suspension, by Matthew Clarke
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Prisons Flush Drugs, Contaminate Water Supply, by Mark Wilson
- Prisoner Self Care: Hypertension, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
- Releasing The Disease: Is Overcrowded Cook County Jail Responsible For The Rise Of MRSA On The Outside?, by Kelly Virella
- Illinois Guards Protest Prison’s Failure to Treat Scabies Outbreak
- Court Monitor Criticized Care to Michigan Dialysis Treatment Afforded Prisoners, by David Reutter
- California Class-Action Suit Reinstates $1.5 Million Illegally Siphoned From County Jail Inmate Welfare Fund, by John Dannenberg
- California Juvenile Parolees Entitled to Two-Step Revocation Process; Case Settles, by John Dannenberg
- Texas Prison Authority OK’s Illegal Use of Prison Labor, but PIE Contract Not Renewed, by Gary Hunter
- California Female Parole Supervisor Awarded $859,000 for Gender Discrimination by Female Superior
- Let Freedom Ring: A Collection of Documents from the Movements to Free U.S. Political Prisoners, by Matt Meyer, by Ian Head
- Minnesota Sex Offenders’ Requisite Disclosure in Treatment Can Violate Fifth Amendment
- BJS Report Finds 53% of Prisoners Are Parents, by Mark Wilson
- BJS Report Reveals Parole Supervision Characteristics, by Mark Wilson
- CA Supreme Court Capitulates, Rewrites "Unworkable" 2005 Dannenberg Lifer Judicial Parole Review Standards
- Federal Prisoner’s §2241 Petition Dismissed for Non-Exhaustion; Prisoner Sought Sentence Reduction for Revealing Weapons
- This Valentine’s Lingerie Is Brought to You By the Prison Industrial Complex, by Beth Schwartzapfel
- Numerous Prison Systems Sign Up for Free Christian TV Programming, by Matthew Clarke
- Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Procedures Found Lacking, by David Reutter
- Colorado: When Suing Private Prison under Common Law Tort, Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Not Required
- Bureau of Justice Report on Sexual Violence in Juvenile Prisons, by Gary Hunter
- BOP Amends Policy On Shackling Of Pregnant Prisoners
- Thousands Sought Pardons or Commutations from Bush, but Few Were Fortunate, by Brandon Sample
- Indiana Law Requiring Former Prisoners to Consent to Search and Monitoring of Their Computers Held Unconstitutional, by Brandon Sample
- $7.5 Million Fine Recommended in Florida Jail Phone Overcharges, by David Reutter
- California: Restitution Fine Unlawful for Accessory to Murder
- Elected Judges More Punitive Just Before Elections, by Gary Hunter
- Pennsylvania Contractor Prohibited from Using State and Federal Funds for Religious Purposes, by Bob Williams
- $100,000 Settlement In Death of Diabetic California Prisoner
- Missouri Prisoner Wins $25,000 in Police Excessive Force Case; Attorney Fees Limited to $37,500 by PLRA
- Felony Disenfranchisement Reforms Restore Voting Rights to 760,000, by Mark Wilson
- Texas, New Jersey Prison Staff Prosecuted for Cell Phone Smuggling
- North Carolina Audit Finds Deficiencies in 
State-Funded Youth Programs, by Derick Limberg
- Oregon Prison Chief’s Pay Raise Revoked; He Must Survive on Only $14,500 a Month, by Brandon Sample
- Taliban Break 870 Prisoners Out of Afghan Prison
- Imprisoned Connecticut Politician Gets Special Privileges, by Matthew Clarke
- Conditions on Federal Death Row “Horrendous,” ACLU Finds, by Brandon Sample
- Cornell Defrauded of $13 Million in Prison Construction Scam
- Suit Filed Over Minnesota Jail’s Secret Recording of Privileged Phone Calls, by Matthew Clarke
- Arizona DOC Deporting Prisoners to Save Money, by Gary Hunter
- North Carolina DOC Pays $750,000 for Sex Between Guard and Female Prisoner
- News in Brief:
- $1.5 Million Settlement for CA Jail Prisoner’s Broken Leg
More from Matthew Clarke:
- In Texas, Harris County Commissioners Approve $1.2 Million for Fourth Study of Jail Since 2020 After Dozens of Abuse Allegations, April 1, 2026
- Texas Attorney General Clarifies Scope of Statute Requiring Outside Agency Investigation of Jail Deaths, April 1, 2026
- D.C. Judge Blocks Transfer of Biden-Commuted Federal Death Row Prisoners to “Supermax,” Citing Lack of Meaningful Due Process, April 1, 2026
- Eighth Circuit Revives Lawsuit Over Iowa Jail Detainee’s Suicide, April 1, 2026
- Groundbreaking Statistical Study of Pregnant Texas Jail Detainees Finds Over 400 Monthly, April 1, 2026
- Unsafe Drinking Water at Multiple Texas Prisons Highlights Lack of Transparency, April 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Holds Federal Prisoner Does Not Earn First Step Act Time Credits While in Transit Between Prisons, March 1, 2026
- Missouri Judge Heavily Sanctions DOC for “Deliberate Disregard for the Authority of This Court” in Suit Over Prisoner’s Suicide, March 1, 2026
- Texas State Jails Fail: Institutions Conceived as Safe Spots for Rehabilitation After Minor Drug Convictions Now Flooded With Drugs and Major Felons, March 1, 2026
- Dissenter Excoriates SCOTUS for Denying Certiorari in Challenge to Constitutionality of Nitrogen Hypoxia Execution, Feb. 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- California Spends $300 Million Each Year Incarcerating Senior Citizens in Women’s Prisons, April 1, 2026. Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Totality of Conditions, Parole, Life without Parole (LWOP), Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Idaho Struggles to Respond to Devasting Report of Widespread Prisoner Sex Abuse, April 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Prison Rape Elimination Act, State Legislation, Public Records Act.
- New Illinois State Law Requires Prisons to Submit Annual Hospice Reports, April 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Cancer, Failure to Treat, State Legislation, Inadequate Health Care Facilities.
- Death of Washington Jail Standards Bill Risks Repeat of $2.5 Million Settlement That Closed One County’s Jail, April 1, 2026. Staffing, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Suicides, Staff Training, State Legislation.
- Colorado Law Intended to Reduce Prison Population Hasn’t Improved Conditions, March 1, 2026. Overcrowding, Parole, halfway houses, Reduction of Prison Population.
- New Jersey Governor’s Order Allows People with Prior Felony Convictions to Serve on Jury Duty, March 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, State Legislation, Restrictions, discrimination, Jury Selection.
- Maine Was the First State to Abolish Parole. Incarcerated Mainers, Advocates Hope to Bring it Back., March 1, 2026. Rehabilitation/Recidivism, Parole, Post-release, ex-offender, re-entry, Probation, Parole & Supervised Release, De Facto Life Sentence.
- One in 10 Prison Admissions Is Now for Technical Parole Violation, March 1, 2026. Parole Conditions, State Legislation, Restrictions, discrimination, Revocation Proceedings.
- New York Governor Pulls Plug on Prison Watchdog Funding, March 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Prison Reform, Conditions of Confinement, Guards/Staff, State Legislation.
- Colorado Lawmakers Approve Prison Bed Funding, Despite DOC Understaffing, March 1, 2026. Overcrowding, Staffing, Parole, Overdetention, Reduction of Prison Population.

