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Articles by David Reutter

Montana Agrees to Change Policies for Treatment of Mentally Ill Juveniles in Adult Prison

by David M. Reutter

To settle a lawsuit filed by a juvenile prisoner, the Montana State Prison (MSP) has agreed to adopt or change policies that regulate the care and treatment provided to prisoners under the age of 18.

The plaintiff who filed the suit, Raistlen Katka, can only be ...

Michigan County Sanctioned for Defrauding Federal Court in Prisoner Death Case

by David M. Reutter

On April 4, 2012, a Michigan federal district court imposed sanctions against Wayne County for committing fraud and misrepresentation upon the court and opposing counsel in a prisoner’s wrongful death suit.

The lawsuit was filed by the personal representative of John C. Fahner, who was murdered ...

Ninth Circuit: Idaho Ordered to Allow Viewing of all Stages of Execution

by David M. Reutter

In reversing and remanding an Idaho federal district court's denial of a preliminary injunction, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals directed the lower court to enter an order requiring the State of Idaho to allow witnesses to observe a prisoner's execution "from the moment [he] enters ...

Pennsylvania Prison Guards, Sergeants Out-earn Supervisors

by David M. Reutter

Life in prison has alwayss been far different than life in the free world. An investigation by the Pittsburgh-Gazette into the wages of Pennsylvania prison employees revealed one of those differences – an Alice-in-Wonderland quality to the Department of Corrections' (DOC) pay scale.

Typically, an employee's ...

Georgia Prison Doctor Sued for Illegally Importing Drugs Used to Execute Troy Davis

by David M. Reutter

On June 20, 2011, the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) filed a complaint with the Georgia Composite Medical Board against Dr. Carlo Musso, seeking the revocation or suspension of his medical license for illegally importing and distributing sodium thiopental, one of the three drugs used ...

$17.75 Million Settlement for Victims of Pennsylvania “Kids for Cash” Scandal

by David M. Reutter

Several of the defendants in a “widespread scheme and subversion of the Luzerne County juvenile justice system” in Pennsylvania have agreed to a $17.75 million settlement to resolve a class-action federal lawsuit. The scheme involved the building of two private juvenile detention centers and payments to ...

Seventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Case Challenging Conditions in Illinois Jail where Mentally Ill Prisoner Died

Seventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Case Challenging Conditions in Illinois Jail
where Mentally Ill Prisoner Died

On March 20, 2012, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court’s grant of summary judgment to the defendants in a case claiming inhumane conditions of confinement at a county jail; the ...

Restoration of Voting Rights a Mixed Bag

by David M. Reutter

Disenfranchisement of ex-felons has always been a huge issue for civil rights activists. Lately, a few victories have been obtained in the area. The question is, however, how effective have the gains been in empowering ex-felons to vote?

In Florida, the process is slow. Yet, much ...

Newly Installed Florida Prison Chief Sacked

by David M. Reutter

After campaigning on a theme of reeling in wasteful spending, Rick Scott wasted no time as governor in tapping Edwin Buss as Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC). At the time, Buss was Indiana’s Commissioner of Corrections. Along with his experience in reducing recidivism, ...

Aramark Food Contract with Kentucky under Scrutiny

by David M. Reutter

An October 2010 report issued by Kentucky’s Auditor of Public Accounts concerning the $12 million food service contract between Aramark Correctional Services (Aramark) and the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDOC) found a lack of oversight, overpayments and a failure to provide the service required by the ...