Articles by David Reutter | Prison Legal News

Florida Guards Murder Another Prisoner, Get Another Acquittal

Loaded on Aug. 15, 2002 by David Reutter published in Prison Legal News August, 2002, page 12

Filed under: Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Crime/Demographics, Criminal Prosecution, Prison/Jail Murders, Excessive Force, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Juries, Death Row. Location: Florida.

by David M. Reutter

A state jury has acquitted three Florida prison guards in the murder of death row inmate Frank Valdes. The guards, Captain Timothy Thornton, Sgt. Jason P. Griffis, and Sgt. Charles A. Brown, were exonerated of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery on a prisoner, official ...

Court Criticizes PLRA Attorney Fee Cap

Loaded on Aug. 15, 2002 by David Reutter published in Prison Legal News August, 2002, page 26

Filed under: PLRA, Attorney Fees (PLRA). Location: Michigan.

by David M. Reutter
( A federal district court for the Eastern District of Michigan (EDM) has held the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) caps attorney fees in prisoner civil rights cases, but criticized that holding. Michigan prisoner Blaine Sallier was awarded damages of $13,000 by a jury for a ...

Court Issues TRO Protecting Constitutional Right to Family Relationships

Loaded on July 15, 2002 by David Reutter published in Prison Legal News July, 2002, page 10

Filed under: Preliminary Injunctions/TRO's, Probation, Family, Marriage, Fathers in Prison, Mothers in Prison. Location: New York.

by David M. Reutter

A federal district court in New York has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) barring enforcement of a condition of probation prohibiting a female probationer from having contact with her child's father, DaShawn Johnson. Probationer Julie Tremper pled guilty to criminal possession of a weapon, resulting ...

Hitching Post Unconstitutional

Loaded on March 15, 2002 by David Reutter published in Prison Legal News March, 2002, page 10

Filed under: Gang Policies, Work, Prison Labor, Chain Gangs, Eighth Amendment, Toilets, Water, Exposure to Heat, Restraints, Qualified Immunity. Location: Alabama.

The Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has held that handcuffing a prisoner to a hitching post for prolonged periods violates the Eighth Amendment, but granted guards qualified immunity. Alabama prisoner Larry Hope was assigned to the chain gang at Limestone Correctional Facility (Limestone) in 1995 .On two occasions ...

Court Modifies Education Plan for Rikers Island Youth

Loaded on May 15, 2000 by David Reutter published in Prison Legal News May, 2000, page 40

Filed under: Disabled Prisoners, PLRA, Injunctions (PLRA), Education, Interpreters. Location: New York.

by David M. Reutter

In continuing its enforcement of an "Education Plan" for the Rikers Island Academies, a New York federal district court has made modifications to the Plan because it is "deficient in many respects." PLN previously reported upon the previous ruling in this case. See PLN November 2000. ...