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How to Fail at Running a Prison During a Pandemic
A firsthand account from FCI Seagoville in Texas, one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic
by Anthony W. Accurso
[Editor’s note: As of July 22, the Bureau of Prisons website reported 1,220 prisoners had tested positive for coronavirus at Seagoville, the highest number at any BOP prison. ...
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More from this issue:
- Coronavirus in Prison: The Cruel Reality, by Christopher Zoukis
- Survey of 8,000 Prisoners’ Political Views Finds Surprising Results, by David Reutter
- “Collateral Consequences” of Convictions Hinder Chances of Post-Prison Success, by Dale Chappell
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- How to Fail at Running a Prison During a Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
- New Initiatives from Philadelphia, Koch Industries, Work to Get Ex-Offenders Jobs, by Anthony Accurso
- Medical Director of California Prison System Removed After Dubious Transfers Spike COVID-19 Counts, by Derek Gilna
- Judge Awards $273,246 Payment to New York Prisoner Beaten by Guard, by David Reutter
- Prison Postcards: “I feel as though I was either in a car accident or beaten by a baseball bat.”, by Ken Silverstein
- Utah State Auditor Finds Grave Deficiencies in Prisoner Placement Program, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
- Justice Department and GEO Group Challenge California’s Ban on Private Prison and Detention Facilities, by Matthew Clarke
- Nevada Court Rules Prison Officials Withheld Evidence from Prisoner, by David Reutter
- U.S. District Court Says Rhode Island Department of Corrections Violated “Morris Rules”, by Douglas Ankney
- Injunction Orders Protection for Prisoner Witnesses in California Disability Lawsuit, by David Reutter
- Lockdowns Follow “Coordinated” Gang Fights at Oklahoma Prisons, by David Reutter
- Texas Execs Sentenced for Providing Bad Food to BOP, by Edward Lyon
- California Scrambled to Staff Wildfire Crews After Firefighting Prisoners Locked Down Due to COVID-19, by Dale Chappell
- Colorado Parole Board Cannot Confine Parolee Beyond Statutory Max, by Anthony Accurso
- Coronavirus Will Not Be Controlled in Country Until It Is Controlled in Prisons and Jails, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
- Prisoner Law Consultant in Michigan Pleads Guilty to Defrauding BOP, by David Reutter
- Interview: Jessica Sandoval of Unlock the Box on Solitary Confinement, by Ken Silverstein
- $5,400 Payout by Montana DOC Over Ex-Prisoner’s Claim of Religious, Gender Discrimination, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit: Transfer of Indiana Prisoner Based on Substance of Grievances Not Retaliatory, by David Reutter
- Captain at Jail Where Epstein Died Offered New Position of Authority; Warden Remains on Desk Duty, by Kevin Bliss
- $110,000 Settlement Reached in Ohio Prisoner’s Excessive Force Suit, by David Reutter
- Alabama DOC Report: Staff Beat, Hog-Tied, and Denied Medical Care to Fatally Injured Prisoner Seeking Help; Then Covered It Up, by Matthew Clarke
- New Study Documents Startling Spread of COVID-19 in American Prisons and Jails, by Sharon Dolovich, Brendan Saloner
- Commitment to New Jersey’s “Special Treatment Unit” a Potential Death Sentence, by Kevin Bliss
- Coronavirus Shuts Down Ramen Soup Plant; Prisoners in Michigan Limited on Purchase Amounts, by Dale Chappell
- Families Accuse Arkansas Prison of Poor Communication on COVID-19 Prisoners, by Kevin Bliss
- Sixth Circuit: Courts Must Construe Pro Se Notice of Appeal as Motion for Extension of Time to Appeal, by Dale Chappell
- Kansas Prison Dental Instructor Sentenced to 32 Months for Molesting Female Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Michigan Prisoner’s Malicious Prosecution Claim Survives Summary Judgment, by David Reutter
- Oregon Court Holds Prison Litigation Reform Act Exhaustion Tolls Statute of Limitations, by Mark Wilson
- Book Review: The Habeas Citebook: Prosecutorial Misconduct Is an Invaluable Resource for Challenging Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Dale Chappell
- Bad Behavior: Key to Getting Promoted for Alabama Prison Officials, by Dale Chappell
- San Quentin Had Zero COVID-19 Cases Until California Officials Sent Infected Prisoners, Triggered Wildfire, by Douglas Ankney
- Due to Steps Taken by New Mexico Officials, Only Sex Offenders Present When Prison Overwhelmed by COVID-19, by Matthew Clarke
- Darren Rainey Died in Scalding Prison Shower Eight Years Ago Today, Still No Charges Filed, by Jessica Lipscomb
- $135,000 Settles Sexual Orientation Discrimination Suit by Former Michigan Prison Guard, by Matthew Clarke
- Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign Files Suit Seeking to Sever University’s Financial Ties With Prison Industrial Complex, by Douglas Ankney
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Trafficking Victims Protection Act Applies to CoreCivic “Voluntary Work Program”, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama Says It Will Reform Prisons, the Nation’s Deadliest, by Bill Barton
- New York: Prisoner Kills Himself After Brutal Beating by Guards, by Chad Marks
- COVID-19 Causes Public Defenders to Change How They Handle Cases, by Dale Chappell
- $140,000 Settlement in Ohio Jail Beating, Retaliation Case, by David Reutter
- Jury Award $700,000 to Maryland Prisoner Assaulted by Guards, by Chad Marks
- IRS Blocks Prisoners from CARES Stimulus Checks, by Derek Gilna
- Seventh Circuit: Totality of the Circumstances Must be Considered to Show “Policy or Custom” by Government Agency Caused Injury for Monell Claim, by Dale Chappell
- Former Prisoners Are Running for Office In 2020, by Daniel A. Rosen
- $122,000 Payout as Utah Settles Suits Claiming Daggett County Jail Torture, by Dale Chappell
- Jewish Michigan Prisoners Win Injunction for Religious Sabbath and Holiday Meals, by David Reutter
- Texas Prison System Bans Greetings Cards, Postcards, Colored Paper in Mail, by Matthew Clarke
- News in Brief
More from Anthony Accurso:
- D.C. Circuit Holds Compelling Suspect to Unlock Cellphone With Thumbprint Is ‘Testimonial’ Act and Violates Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-Incrimination, Feb. 15, 2025
- $220,000 Settlement After Woman Dies in Ohio Jail From Drug Withdrawal, Feb. 15, 2025
- Colorado Supreme Court Holds Defendant Was in ‘Custody’ for Miranda Purposes Because She Had Hands Bagged and Zip Tied, Commanded Not to Remove Them, and Questioned Alone in Interrogation Room With Door Closed, Feb. 15, 2025
- First Circuit Holds No Emergency-Aid Exception to Warrant Requirement Where Police Have Information That Subject Is Already Deceased, Feb. 15, 2025
- Police Departments Are Now Using AI to Write Reports, Feb. 15, 2025
- Illinois Supreme Court Announces Odor of Burnt Cannabis Alone Is Insufficient to Establish Probable Cause for a Warrantless Vehicle Search, Feb. 1, 2025
- Mass Spectrometry Being Studied as Way to Analyze Overlapping or Weak Fingerprints, Feb. 1, 2025
- 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
- Childhood Trauma Incidence Higher Among Those Incarcerated, Jan. 15, 2025
- Nevada Supreme Court Announces Incorporated Probable Cause Affidavit Cannot Broaden Scope of Warrant’s Description of Places and Persons to be Searched or Items to Be Seized, Dec. 1, 2024
More from these topics:
- Failures Brought to Light in Arizona Prison System’s COVID-19 Response, March 1, 2025. Centurion, Systemic Medical Neglect, COVID-19.
- 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. COVID-19, Confrontation Clause/Rights, Practitioner Exception.
- Identities Stolen From Virginia Jail Detainees For $341,205 COVID-19 Fraud, Nov. 15, 2024. COVID-19, Financial Institution - Definition, Identity Theft.
- Ninth Circuit Provides Cover to Oregon Governor for Prioritizing Guards Over Prisoners for COVID-19 Vaccine, Oct. 15, 2024. Systemic Medical Neglect, COVID-19, Guards/Staff.
- U.S. Sentencing Commission Publishes Data Report on Compassionate Release in FY 2023, Oct. 1, 2024. COVID-19, Statistics/Trends, Compassionate Release, Official Report.
- Legal Noose Tightens Around Necks of CDCR Officials Whose Botched Transfer Sparked San Quentin COVID-19 Outbreak, May 1, 2024. Transfers, COVID-19.
- Wyoming Supreme Court Grants Immunity to DOC in Prison COVID-19 Vaccine Mix-Up, May 1, 2024. Medication, COVID-19, Immunity/Liability.
- $2,000 Paid to Former Arkansas Jail Detainees Given Horse Dewormer for COVID-19, April 1, 2024. Medication, Medical Experiments/Exploitation, COVID-19.
- North Carolina Prison Official Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Program Fraud, March 1, 2024. Government Misconduct, COVID-19, Fraud and Deceit, Fraud and Theft Loss.
- Oklahoma Prisoner Uses COVID-19 Stimulus Check to Overturn Conviction, Jan. 1, 2024. COVID-19, Informants, Wrongful Conviction.