More from this issue:

1. News in Brief
2. Lawsuit Challenging Phone Kickbacks at Massachusetts Jail Survives Motion to Dismiss
3. Kentucky Prison Guards Settle Sexual Harassment Suit for $1.5 Million, by David M. Reutter
4. Wisconsin State Prison Sergeant Rats Out Prisoner Informants, by Edward Lyon
5. Teachers’ Unions Divest Stock Holdings in Private Prisons, by David Reutter
6. Delaware: Inadequate Medical Care Results in Prisoner’s Death, by Kevin Bliss
7. California State Retirement Systems Split on Decision to Divest 
from Private Prisons, by Scott Grammer
8. Former Rikers Island Prisoner Awarded $500,000 Plus Attorney Fees, by Dale Chappell
9. Colorado: $190,000 Settlement for Prisoners Ordered Released but Kept in Jail for Inability to Pay $55 Fee, by Matthew Clarke
10. Scabies Outbreak at Michigan Women’s Prison Under Corizon Health, by Edward Lyon
11. The Lackawanna County Seven: And Then There Were Five, by Mumia Abu-Jamal
12. Settlement Reached over Visitation, Communication with Prisoners’ Children at Indiana Jail, by Scott Grammer
13. Corizon Health Strikes Out in Arizona, by Edward Lyon
14. Warden Turns Whistleblower, Claims Misconduct, Retaliation by Colorado’s DOC Director, by Dale Chappell
15. New York City Settles Kalief Browder Lawsuit for $3.3 Million, by Matthew Clarke
16. Strip and Body Cavity Searches: Looking for Contraband in all the Wrong Places, by Matthew Clarke
17. Connecticut Sued to End Prison Gerrymandering, by Scott Grammer
18. Securus Files Suit Alleging FDOC Improperly Entered into Prison Phone Contract, by Chad Marks
19. Seventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal in Prison Gang Assault Case, by Edward Lyon
20. New York City Pre-trial Detainees Exposed to Freezing Temperatures at Federal Jail, by Edward Lyon
21. $4.75 Million Settlement for Pennsylvania Teenager’s Withdrawal Death in Jail, by David M. Reutter
22. Middlesex County, New Jersey Settles Solitary Confinement Suit, by Dale Chappell
23. Conflict of Interest in Texas Rangers’ Investigation of Deaths at LaSalle-Operated Jails?, by Matthew Clarke
24. Michigan Prisoner Obtains $2,000 Settlement in Group Strip Search Suit, by Scott Grammer
25. Georgia Pays More Than $3 Million to Settle Prison Medical Negligence Suits, by Kevin W. Bliss
26. Tennessee County Settles Jail Prisoner’s Excessive Use of Force Claim for $160,000, by Douglas Ankney
27. New York: Federal Court Certifies Class-Action Suit Against Jail for Providing Insufficient Diet, by Dale Chappell
28. Women Prisoners Disciplined More than Men, but Staff Training is Changing That, by Dale Chappell
29. New York Muslim Prisoner Wins Injunction to Pray on Recreation Yard
30. Mitigating Factors Counter Government’s Interest in Forced Psychotropic Medication
31. Minnesota Lawmakers Look at Prison Reforms, by Chad Marks
32. New Jersey DOC Settles Sexual Abuse Suit, but More Cases are Pending, by Derek Gilna
33. For Years, Errors in Iowa’s Felon List Have Disenfranchised Eligible Voters, by Matthew Clarke
34. San Bernardino County, California Sheriff’s Office Settles Civil Rights Suit, by Derek Gilna
35. New Mexico Medical Technician Wins $150,000 Jury Award for Abuse by Jailers, by Edward Lyon
36. Nevada: Muslim Prisoner Awarded $39,260 in Damages Plus Attorney’s Fees
37. Arkansas Governor Addresses Prisoners at College Graduation Ceremony, by Scott Grammer
38. 2018 Awards for Activism, Advocacy Against the Private Prison Industry
39. Iowa: Prisoners Entitled to Full Hearing on Termination of Parental Rights, by David Reutter
40. Oregon Prison Industry Program Nets Record $28.5 Million as Prisoners Earn $1.25/Hour, by Mark Wilson
41. $1.1 Million Fee Award in California Prison Segregation Lawsuit
42. Ex-Prisoner Awarded $1.06 Million for Sexual Assault by Former Nebraska Jailer, by Dale Chappell
43. California Jail Settles Class-Action Lawsuit Over Conditions of Confinement, by Derek Gilna
44. Pennsylvania DOC, Mental Health Contractor Settle Wrongful Death Suit for $27,500, by Derek Gilna
45. Texas Prisons, We’ve Got Some Questions About Your Commissary Vendors, by Stephen Raher
46. Alabama DOC Stonewalling Federal Investigation; Eight Prisoners go on Hunger Strike, by Douglas Ankney
47. Georgia: Court Certifies Class Action for Prisoners Held Beyond Their Release Date, by Derek Gilna
48. Wisconsin Prisoner Not Due Credit for Time Spent Free after Erroneous Release, by Scott Grammer
49. Alabama DOC Refuses Muslim Spiritual Adviser in Execution Chamber, by Kevin W. Bliss
50. Ohio: Mandamus Action Moot Where Relief Has Been Granted
51. Class Certification in Missouri Prisoners’ Hepatitis C Suit Upheld
52. Mugshots.com Operators Arrested, Face Extradition to California, by Chad Marks
53. California Prison Psychiatrists Blow Whistle on Poor Mental Healthcare, Falsified Records, by Steve Horn
54. For Journalists Covering Prisons, the First Amendment is Little Help, by Jonathan Peters
55. Study Says Mass Incarceration Contributes to Poverty and Hunger, by Derek Gilna
56. “It Smelled Like Death”: Reports of Mold Contamination in Prisons and Jails, by Panagioti Tsolkas
57. Congressional Report Finds Misconduct by BOP Administrators Often Ignored, by Matthew Clarke
58. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
59. Hawaii Supreme Court: Pretrial Solitary Wrong, but Warden Protected by Qualified Immunity, by Derek Gilna
60. Ohio County Jail Settles PLN Censorship Suit for $45,000, by Steve Horn
61. Incorrigible: The First Step Act and the Carceral State, by Marie Gottschalk

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:

• Maine Supreme Court: Defense Counsel Ineffective for Opening Door to Otherwise Inadmissible Evidence of Bad Character, April 15, 2024. Parental rights, Counsel - Effective Assistance of, Strickland Standard, Failure to Preserve Challenge, Failure to Consult/Investigate/Raise, Battered Child/Spouse Evidence, Character/Reputation/Propensity, Bad Acts Evidence.
• North Carolina Court of Appeals Reinstates Parolee’s Parental Rights, Says Parole Conditions Barred Him from Visiting Minor Daughter, April 1, 2024. Parole Conditions, Fathers in Prison, Parental rights, Conditions of.
• Parents Losing Children Because They Can’t Repay Foster Care Costs Incurred During Incarceration, March 1, 2023. Parental rights, Children of Prisoners, Parent/Child Privilege.
• Law Passes Requiring Parents in New York Prisons to be Housed Close to Their Children, June 1, 2021. Parental rights, Children of Prisoners.
• New Tennessee Legislation Will Destroy Hundreds, Probably Thousands, of Families, Feb. 19, 2020. Family, Fathers in Prison, Mothers in Prison, Parental rights, Children of Prisoners.
• Double Punishment: After Prison, Moms Face Legal Battles to Reunite With Kids, April 11, 2018. Mothers in Prison, Parental rights, Children of Prisoners.
• Washington Supreme Court Reverses Prisoner’s Parental Termination Order, Nov. 6, 2017. Fathers in Prison, Parental rights.
• Ohio Supreme Court Declares Poor Relative Not Suitable to Adopt Her Nephew, Oct. 24, 2017. Conditions of Confinement, Juveniles, Family, Mothers in Prison, Parental rights.
• Decision to Terminate Parental Rights of Incarcerated Father Vacated After His Conviction Overturned on Appeal, March 14, 2017. Fathers in Prison, Parental rights, Children of Prisoners.
• Texas Court of Appeals Upholds Termination of Prisoners’ Parental Rights, March 9, 2017. Fathers in Prison, Mothers in Prison, Parental rights, Children of Prisoners.