×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
The Graying of America’s Prisons
Loaded on Dec. 15, 2010
by James Ridgeway
published in Prison Legal News
December, 2010, page 1
Frank Soffen, now 70 years old, has lived more than half his life in prison, and will likely die there.
Filed under:
Geriatric Classification,
Furloughs,
Systemic Medical Neglect,
Medical Expenses,
Crime/Demographics,
Statistics/Trends,
Overcrowding,
Rehabilitation/Recidivism,
Parole,
Pardons/Clemency,
Americans with Disabilities Act,
Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
Locations:
California,
Florida,
Louisiana,
Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania,
Texas,
United States of America.
Sentenced to life for second-degree murder, Soffen has suffered four heart attacks and is confined to a wheelchair. He has lately been held in the assisted living wing of Massachusetts’ ...
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Prison Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- The Graying of America’s Prisons, by James Ridgeway
- $10.5 Million Settlement in Tennessee Juvenile’s Death Caused by Guard’s Chokehold
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Audits of Tennessee DOC Reveal Deficiencies, by Mark Wilson
- Washington State Federal Court: Unconstitutional to Shackle Prisoner in Labor, by Matthew Clarke
- $1.5 Million Settlement in Suffolk County Jail Class Action Toilet Suit
- Breaking Free: Prisoners Find Voice in Zines, by Danielle Maestretti
- Florida Prison Guards Plead Guilty to Federal Cocaine Charges
- $1.8 Million Settlement in New Mexico Woman’s Attempted Jail Suicide, by David Reutter
- Virginia Grand Jury Finds Misconduct at County Jail, by Michael Brodheim
- Washington Commission Finds AT&T is Prison Collect Call Provider, by Mark Wilson
- Colorado Closes Boot Camp Program, by David Reutter
- Massachusetts Clerk Magistrates and Assistants Pocket Millions in After-Hours Fees, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Sues Former Prisoner Over Unauthorized Practice of Law, by Matthew Clarke
- Oregon Jail Beating Nets $500 Jury Award Plus $27,500 in Attorney Fees, by Mark Wilson
- $4 Million Settlement in R&B Singer’s Death from Drug Withdrawal in Ohio Jail for Failure to Pay Child Support
- Illinois Eliminates Computer, Business Classes for Prisoners
- Class Certification Upheld for Louisiana Toxic Train Derailment Near Prison
- Over $26 Million Owed for Forfeited Bail Bonds in Harris County, Texas, by Matthew Clarke
- New York Prison Officials Ordered to Produce Prisoner’s Grievances in Discovery
- Steep Surcharges for Driving Violations Clog Texas Courts, Create Criminals, by Michael Rigby
- Three Top Illinois DOC Officials Sacked; Director Resigns
- Maryland Law Counts Prisoners According to Pre-Incarceration Residence, by Michael Rigby
- Florida: Judgment for Female Prison Staff Alleging Sexual Harassment by Prisoners Affirmed
- Wexford Pays $300,000 in Illinois Prisoner’s Death
- Suspected Norovirus Strikes Oregon Women’s Prison
- Failure of CMS Nurses and Doctor to Properly Treat Broken Leg Overcomes Summary Judgment
- Wisconsin Law Prohibiting Hormone Treatment for Prisoners with Gender Identity Disorder Found Unconstitutional, by Matthew Clarke
- Sixth Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment for Dentist Who Failed to Provide Temporary Filling
- Indian Jail Opens Private Outsourcing Program, by Matthew Clarke
- Former Utah Prison Guard Ordered to Pay Over $1.4 Million for Raping Prisoner, by Derek Gilna
- Taser Timeout, by Kelly Virella
- California: 15% Work Credit Limitation Based on Stayed Violent Convictions Applies to Non-Violent Controlling Offense, by John Dannenberg
- New Jersey Prison Supervisory Officials Found Liable for Prisoner Abuse Claims, by Derek Gilna
- California: Gilmore Injunction Over Prison Libraries Terminated After 38 Years
- Ohio: Former Corrections Director Prohibited from Consulting on Jail Issues for 12 Months After Retirement
- California: Prison Industry Board Not Exempt from Civil Service Rules, by Michael Brodheim
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Eighth Amendment Prohibits Life Without Parole for Juveniles Not Convicted of Homicide, by Brandon Sample
- U.S. Prison Population Declines in Second Half of 2009
- Iowa Prisoners Perform Private Sector Work for Parole Board Member
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Federal Civil Commitment Statute Lawfully Enacted, by Brandon Sample
- 7,000+ Federal Prisoners Given Pink Slips, by Mark Wilson
- Florida Disciplinary Record Must Prove Constructive Possession of Contraband
- $195,000 Award for Injury Resulting from NY Prison Garbage Detail
- Michigan Prison System Exceeds Budget, Again
- Maricopa County, Arizona Settles Prisoner Suicide Claim for $125,000
- $850,000 Verdict in Nebraska Prisoner’s Suicide
- PLN Wins Public Records Ruling Against California Prison System, by Matthew Clarke
- AMA Passes Resolution Prohibiting Shackling of Pregnant Prisoners in Labor
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Significant Injury Unnecessary for Excessive Force Claims, by Brandon Sample
- News In Brief:
More from James Ridgeway:
- Audit of Solitary Confinement in Federal Prisons: An Inside Job Reaches Foregone Conclusions, Oct. 26, 2015
- Under Fire, the Federal Bureau of Prisons Audits its Use of Solitary Confinement - and Buys a New Supermax Prison, Dec. 15, 2013
- Solidarity and Solitary: When Unions Clash with Prison Reform, June 15, 2013
- Fortresses of Solitude, April 15, 2013
- The Other Death Sentence: More than 100,000 Americans are destined to spend their final years in prison. Can we afford it?, Nov. 15, 2012
- God’s Own Warden: If you ever find yourself inside Louisiana’s Angola prison, Burl Cain will make sure you find Jesus – or regret ever crossing his path, June 15, 2012
- No Budget Cuts for Federal Prisons, June 15, 2012
- The Graying of America’s Prisons, Dec. 15, 2010
- Sotomayor for the Prosecution, July 15, 2009
More from these topics:
- Washington’s Continuing Competency Crisis Strains Jails, June 1, 2025. Medication, Systemic Medical Neglect, Conditions of Confinement, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Eighth Circuit Excuses Missouri Prisoner’s Failure to Exhaust Remedies While He Was In a Coma, June 1, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Administrative Exhaustion (PLRA).
- Retired California Prison Guard Killed in Colorado Jail, June 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Oklahoma Supreme Court Kills One Jail Death Suit, Threatening Settlement of Another, June 1, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Private Contractors, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- $875,000 Award for Illinois Prisoner’s Delay in Getting Hernia Surgery, June 1, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Hernias.
- $500,000 for Colorado Detainee Dropped On His Face by Jailers, June 1, 2025. Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Ninth Circuit Revives Complaint Over Sloppy Cell Checks Before Psychotic Detainee’s Death at L.A. Jail, June 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides.
- Kansas Pays $150,000 for Prisoner Killed by Cellmate, Centurion Settlement Confidential, June 1, 2025. Classification, Failure to Protect (General), Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- $1.2 Million in Settlements Reached in Suit Over Sacramento Jail Murder, May 1, 2025. Settlements, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Former Prisoner Appointed President’s Pardon “Czar”, May 1, 2025. Pardons/Clemency, Appointments Clause.