More from this issue:

1. Jail Suicides in Massachusetts Point to National Crisis: Challenging Legislatures to Say Not One More, by Jennifer Honig
2. Government Refuses to Follow Federal Court’s Discovery Order After Being Caught Recording Attorney Meetings with Prisoners at Leavenworth, by Dale Chappell
3. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
4. Mississippi Joins Illinois and Few Other States Prioritizing Vaccination of State Prisoners to Slow Spread of COVID-19, by Derek Gilna
5. Pandemic Medical Update: “Herd Immunity” at Prisons?, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
6. Texas Winter Storm Freezes Plumbing, Power and Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
7. Massachusetts Governor Ends Good Time Offer for Prisoners Taking COVID-19 Vaccine, by David Reutter
8. Connecticut Lawmakers Refuse to Address Corrections Issues During Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
9. Confidential Settlement in Case Involving Alleged Pattern of Racist Misconduct in Michigan Prisons, by Casey Bastian
10. California Trans Women Struggle For Protection Under Prison Rape Elimination Act, by Edward Lyon
11. Oklahoma Prisoners Call for Better Nutrition, by Kevin Bliss
12. Florida Jail Administrators Fired After Woman Gives Birth in Cell, by Daniel A. Rosen
13. Holiday Cards for Prisoners: Let’s End Collective Punishment in U.S. Prisons, by Sandy Rozek
14. Virginia Settles Two Lawsuits Over Misuse of Solitary Confinement, by Daniel A. Rosen
15. COVID-19 Inspired Ban on Prison Visits in Texas Ends, by Chad Marks
16. Activist, Political Prisoner, and Journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal Diagnosed With COVID-19, Energizing Calls for His Release, by Juliette LaMarr
17. COVID-19 Pandemic Makes Job Hunting Especially Difficult for Ex-Offenders, by Kevin Bliss
18. U.S. Sues Alabama Over Prison Conditions, by David Reutter
19. Florida Prison Guard Indicted in Prisoner Death by Blunt Force Trauma, by David Reutter
20. Michigan Begins Video Visits During Coronavirus Pandemic, by David Reutter
21. Hawaii Fails to Provide Video of Two Prison Disturbances, by Edward Lyon
22. California Prison Factories Fined For Exposing Unwitting Workers to COVID-19, by Mark Wilson
23. Sixth Circuit Upholds Prisoner’s 18 U.S.C. § 111 Conviction for Assaulting Federally Contracted Private Prison Guard, by Matthew Clarke
24. "Conservative New York County Enacts Progressive Transgender Prisoner Policy", by Mark Wilson
25. COVID-19 Depletes State Prison Staffs Nationwide, Forcing Consolidation of Facilities and Increasing Risk to All, by Derek Gilna
26. After 36 Years in a Louisiana Prison for a Rape He Didn’t Commit, Archie Williams Wins Freedom — and a TV Show Spotlight, by Casey Bastian
27. COVID-19 Continues Rampage Through Pennsylvania State Prisons, by Derek Gilna
28. $105,000 Settlement in Wisconsin Prisoner’s Excessive Force Claim, by David Reutter
29. Alabama Jails and Prisoners Swamped With COVID-Related Problems, by Daniel A. Rosen
30. How States Exclude People With Criminal Records From Jury Service, by Dale Chappell
31. Study Shows Misaligned Economic Incentives Fuel Mass Incarceration, by Matthew Clarke
32. California Enacts Legislation Strengthening Protections for LGBTQ Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
33. Baltimore Demolishes Maryland’s Oldest Penitentiary, Burying Its Nostalgia And Nightmares, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
34. Books: “Let The Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty”, by Robert Dunham
35. Florida Senator Wants to Keep Ex-Prisoners from Earning the $15 Minimum Wage Increase, by Kevin Bliss
36. Former Prisoner Becomes Activist for LBGTQ Rights in California Prisons
37. Parnall Correctional Facility in Michigan Copes with Scabies Outbreak, by Kevin Bliss
38. Fourth Circuit: Deaf North Carolina Prisoner Should be Allowed Direct Videophone Calls to Communicate with Deaf Community, by David Reutter
39. People in jails are using more phone minutes during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite decreased jail populations, by Andrea Fenster
40. Ransomware Attack on GEO Group Exposes Sensitive Information, by Matthew Clarke
41. Hundreds of Virginia Inmates Await Parole Consideration Under New Law, by Daniel A. Rosen
42. Colorado’s Governor Bows to Pressure in Denying State Prisoners Priority COVID-19 Vaccinations, by Derek Gilna
43. More Than 40 Immigrants Have Died in ICE Custody, by Anthony Accurso
44. Experts Divided on Drug Court Effectiveness, by Kevin Bliss
45. Secrecy Surrounded Flurry of Late-Term Federal Executions Under Donald Trump, by Derek Gilna
46. New Advocacy Group for New Mexico Prisoners Created, by Dale Chappell
47. Vermont Prisoner’s Death Under Investigation: Did Implicit Bias Play Role?, by Kevin Bliss
48. News in Brief

More from Dale Chappell:

• The Death of the Savings Clause, May 15, 2024
• Federal Habeas Corpus: Understanding Second or Successive Petitions for State Prisoners, April 15, 2024
• Fourth Circuit Reinstates Relief From Death Penalty, Citing State’s Forfeiture of Argument Against Relief, May 15, 2023
• Federal Habeas Corpus: The Evidentiary Hearing for Federal Prisoners, April 15, 2023
• Federal Habeas Corpus: How to Raise a Fourth Amendment Claim, Feb. 15, 2023
• Will Overturning Roe v. Wade Kill the Right to Abortion Under BOP Policy?, Jan. 1, 2023
• Federal Habeas Corpus: How to Raise an Actual Innocence Claim, Dec. 15, 2022
• Federal Habeas Corpus: Role of the Magistrate Judge, Nov. 15, 2022
• Federal Habeas Corpus: Obtaining Habeas Relief After a Guilty Plea, Oct. 15, 2022
• Government Snitches Rake in Millions as Their Testimony Is the Leading Cause of Wrongful Convictions, Sept. 15, 2022

More from these topics:

• Louisiana Supreme Court Springs Prisoner From Death Row, April 1, 2024. Capital Punishment, Exculpatory Materials, Perjury/Perjured Testimony, Evidence - Failure to Disclose, Withholding of Exculpatory Evidence.
• Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Failure to Disclosure Mental Health Report Showing Key Witness Was a Sociopath Constitutes Brady Violation That Prejudiced Defendant, March 15, 2024. Brady Violations, Brady Rule violations, Evidence - Failure to Disclose.
• Michigan Reaches $1.03 Million Settlement with Exonerated Prisoner, March 1, 2024. Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment, Brady Violations, Evidence - Failure to Disclose.
• South Carolina Supreme Court Denies Prisoner’s Challenge to DOC Policy Restricting Visitors to People He Knew Before Incarceration, Nov. 15, 2023. Visiting, Video Visitation.
• The Lecturer at the Lockup: Maine Prisoner Is First to Teach College Courses from His Cell, Sept. 15, 2023. Education, Video Visitation.
• Prolonged COVID-19 Visitation Restrictions Net Georgia Jails Over $1.5 Million in Telecom Kickbacks, Aug. 15, 2023. COVID-19, Cost of Prison Systems, Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Telephone Rates, Video Visitation.
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Trial Court Deprived Defendant of Opportunity to Present Complete Defense, June 15, 2023. Appeals/Appellate Jurisdiction, Best Evidence Rule, Evidence - Failure to Disclose, Prosecutorial Misconduct.
• Ohio Supreme Court: Defendant Has Reasonable and Legitimate Basis to Withdraw Guilty Plea Before Sentencing When He Discovers Evidence That Would Have Affected Decision, Feb. 15, 2023. Evidence - Failure to Disclose, Grounds For Withdrawal.
• Seventh Circuit: Defendant Entitled to Present Entrapment Defense Where ‘Some Evidence’ Exists of Government Inducement and Lack of Predisposition to Commit Crime, Feb. 15, 2023. Government Deception and Trickery, Evidence - Failure to Disclose.
• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Where Trial Counsel Believed, Erroneously, He Had Ethical Duty to Tell Prosecution Location of Key Incriminating Evidence Not in Counsel’s Possession, Jan. 15, 2023. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Erroneous Rejection of Challenge, Evidence - Failure to Disclose.