More from this issue:

1. Life Without Parole, by Beth Schwartzapfel
2. News in Brief
3. Legislation Removes Secrecy from Georgia Parole Board’s Proceedings, Decisions, by David Reutter
4. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
5. Delaware: Drop in Prison Phone Rates Called a “Drop in the Bucket”, by Derek Gilna
6. Is Texas Poisoning Prisoners with Contaminated Water?, by Panagioti Tsolkas
7. Texas County Pays Prisoner’s Family $214,500 for Wrongful Death
8. Mandamus Improper Remedy to Challenge Illinois DOC’s “Violating at the Door” Policy, by David Reutter
9. Prisoners Pay Millions to Call Loved Ones Every Year. Now this Company Wants Even More, by Ben Walsh
10. Jails in Trouble as IRS Investigates Tax-Exempt Bonds, by Matthew Clarke
11. Nevada: Federal Suit over Shackling of Pregnant Prisoner Settles for $130,000 and Policy Changes, by Matthew Clarke
12. BOP Ordered to Pay Prisoner’s Attorneys $41,703 for Discovery Abuses, by Derek Gilna
13. British Banking Giant Fined for Laundering Mexican Drug Money Through U.S. Banks, by Matthew Clarke
14. Two Reports Find at Least 54 Countries Complicit in Secret CIA Prisons, by Matthew Clarke
15. Alabama: Settlement to Integrate HIV-Positive Prisoners Finalized, by David Reutter
16. Former New York Prisoner Receives $3,375,000 Settlement for Wrongful Conviction, by Derek Gilna
17. $290,000 Judgment for Failure to Treat Ruptured Appendix Affirmed, by David Reutter
18. Mental Health Care in South Carolina Prisons Found Unconstitutional, by David Reutter
19. Ninth Circuit Orders New Trial in “Pink Underwear” Lawsuit; Case Settles for $240,000, by Mark Wilson
20. Social Impact Bonds in Criminal Justice: A Deal We Can’t Refuse?, by Jennifer R. Zelnick
21. Oregon Workgroup Recommends Strategies to Deal with Prison Medical Care Costs, by Mark Wilson
22. Federal Court Orders Cameras to Cover Blind Spots at North Carolina Prison, by David Reutter
23. Rejecting Foreign Language Letters after Interpretation May Violate Prisoner’s Rights, by David Reutter
24. $400,000 Settlement in New Jersey Juvenile Solitary Confinement Suit, by Derek Gilna
25. Illinois Supreme Court Affirms Supervised Release Period Despite Sentencing Omission, by Derek Gilna
26. Vermont Newspaper Defends Hiring Reporter with Sex Offense Conviction, by Matthew Clarke
27. Former Illinois Drug Court Judge Gets Prison Time Following Fellow Judge’s Fatal Overdose, by Joe Watson
28. How U.S. Prison Officials Rubberstamped a CIA Torture Chamber, by Carl Takei
29. Seventh Circuit Upholds Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Fee, Names John Doe Plaintiffs, by Derek Gilna
30. Fourth Circuit Finds Strip Searches and Delousing of Arrestees Constitutional, by Lonnie Burton
31. Prison Legal News Wins FOIA Appeal Against BOP, by Derek Gilna
32. Washington Prisoner Granted Injunction Ordering Outside Orthopedic Evaluation, by Mark Wilson
33. Seventh Circuit: New Trial for Wrong Legal Standard in Jail Death Case, by Mark Wilson
34. Texas Prisoner Held in Prison 35 Years after Conviction Vacated, by Matthew Clarke
35. Corporations You’ve Never Heard of are Making Millions from Mass Incarceration, by James Kilgore
36. Illinois University Faculty Member and PLN Contributor Fights for His Job after Opposing New County Jail, by Joe Watson
37. Vice President’s Son Discharged from Navy Due to Drug Use, by Christopher Zoukis
38. Michigan: Perjured Testimony at Trial Results in Habeas Relief, but Reversed on Appeal, by David Reutter
39. Court Denies Challenge to D.C. Sex Offender’s Website on Registry Officials
40. Terrorism Suspect Moves to Suppress Statements Made to FBI due to Torture Threats, by Matthew Clarke
41. Tennessee Jail Considers Charging for Toilet Paper, Underwear, by Christopher Zoukis
42. Automatic Placement of Death Row Prisoner in Segregation Does Not Violate Due Process, by David Reutter
43. ACLU Awarded $50 Million to Help End Mass Incarceration, by Christopher Zoukis
44. Seventh Circuit Reverses Verdict when Prisoner Not Allowed to Poll Jury, by Derek Gilna
45. Liability against Taser for Negligence Upheld but $5.5 Million Damages Award Reversed, by David Reutter

More from David Reutter:

• Philadelphia Agrees to $9.1 Million Settlement for Wrongful Murder Conviction, Feb. 15, 2025
• ‘Fictional Pleas’ and ‘Hidden Departures’: Failure to Collect Data on Binding Federal Plea Bargains Hinders Researchers, Feb. 15, 2025
• First Circuit: Two-Level Enhancement Under § 3B1.1(c) for Leadership or Managerial Role Vacated Because Government Failed to Prove Defendant’s Order Was Actually ‘Obeyed’ by Fellow Criminal Participant, Feb. 15, 2025
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Holds Witness Wearing Surgical Mask During Pandemic Is Denial of Sixth Amendment Right to Face-to-Face Confrontation and No General Exception to This Right for Pandemic or ‘Other Global Events’ Such as Wars and Natural, Feb. 15, 2025
• The Murky Waters of Parole, Feb. 1, 2025
• California Prisoner Awarded Over $1.26 Million in Suit Challenging Withheld Legal Mail Which Resulted in Habeas Loss, Jan. 15, 2025
• Muslim New York Prisoner’s Free Exercise of Religion Claim Reinstated, Jan. 15, 2025
• Fourth Circuit: Baltimore County Prisoners May Qualify as Employees under FLSA, Jan. 15, 2025
• In Failure-to-Treat Claims, Wellpath Denied Dismissal in Virginia, Settles in Pennsylvania, Dec. 15, 2024
• Trends Show Mortality Risks Increase with Higher Jail Turnover Rates, Dec. 15, 2024

More from these topics:

• Sixth Circuit Revives Challenge by Kentucky Prisoner Left Three Weeks in “Rancid” Paper Undershorts, Feb. 15, 2025. Informants, Clothing, Sanitation, Summary Judgment, Deliberate Indifference.
• Third Circuit Grants Habeas Relief to Prisoner on Confrontation Clause and Ineffective Assistance Claims Based on Trial Court Reading Entire Criminal Information Into the Record of Co-Conspirator Who Pleaded Guilty, Feb. 15, 2025. Habeas Corpus, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Exculpatory No Doctrine, Confrontation Clause/Rights, Witnesses - Prior Statements/Testimony, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Grants Habeas Relief in ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’ Case, Feb. 1, 2025. junk science, Habeas Corpus, Forensic Sciences, Child Abuse/Abusers, Evidence - Admissibility.
• California Prisoner Awarded Over $1.26 Million in Suit Challenging Withheld Legal Mail Which Resulted in Habeas Loss, Jan. 15, 2025. Settlements, Habeas Corpus, Mail Regulations, Legal Mail.
• Georgia Supreme Court Grants Habeas Relief Where Both Trial and Appellate Counsel Provided Ineffective Assistance by Failing to Challenge Indictment for Residential Burglary That Failed to Allege Defendant Illegally Entered a ‘Dwelling’, Jan. 15, 2025. Habeas Corpus, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Constitutional Challenges/Law.
• Ninth Circuit Holds District Courts Have No Authority Under Rule 4 of Rules Governing § 2254 Cases to Dismiss Habeas Petition on the Merits, Dec. 15, 2024. Habeas Corpus, Dismissal, Authority and Jurisdiction.
• Ninth Circuit Grants Habeas Relief to California Prisoner on Napue Claim Because Prosecution Failed to Correct Informant’s False Testimony That He Did Not Receive Any Benefit In Exchange for His Testimony, Dec. 1, 2024. Informants, Habeas Corpus, Informants and Paid Witnesses, False Testimony.
• Public Defender Files Habeas Petitions for Detainees at “Horrific” Baltimore Lockup, Nov. 15, 2024. Failure to Treat, Conditions of Confinement, Hygiene Supplies, Disclosure of Records, Habeas Corpus.
• Ninth Circuit Denies Habeas Relief to Prisoner Who Invoked Fifth Amendment Right to Counsel During Custodial Interrogation but Made Incriminating Statements to Undercover Informant Posing as Fellow Prisoner Because Right to Counsel Not Violated, Nov. 1, 2024. Habeas Corpus, Custodial Interrogations/Statements, Counsel - Right to.
• Georgia Supreme Court Grants Habeas Where Defense Counsel Failed to Understand State Self-Defense Statute Provides Complete Defense to Felony Murder Based on Felon-in-Possession Charge, Oct. 1, 2024. Habeas Corpus, Felon in Possession Statute, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Murder/Felony Murder.