by David Reutter
A Tennessee state court judge has reversed course on a controversial sentence reduction program following an uproar from civil rights and prisoners’ rights advocates. He later received a public letter of reprimand from the Board of Judicial Conduct.
White County General Sessions Judge Sam E. Benningfield, Jr. ...
by David Reutter
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held that a Virginia state prisoner had stated a claim for violation of his constitutional rights when guards gave him a “rough ride” in a prison van in retaliation for filing grievances and lawsuits.
Paul C. Thompson was placed in handcuffs, ...
by David M. Reutter
After two North Carolina prisoners died in county jails, lawsuits filed by their families resulted in settlements. Under state law, the details of those agreements should have been public record; in fact, in the absence of accepted standards for jail health care or strong regulatory oversight, ...
by David M. Reutter
Three Kentucky River Regional Jail guards have been sentenced to federal prison terms for beating prisoners in two separate incidents – including one where a prisoner died.
In 2013, guards Damon Wayne Hickman and William C. Howell entered the cell of Larry Trent, 54, to remove ...
by David M. Reutter
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that removal proceedings against an alien must be terminated because Coast Guard officers committed an egregious Fourth Amendment violation, plus violated an immigration regulation when they seized him based on his Latin ethnicity alone.
Louis E. Sanchez, 45, entered ...
by David M. Reutter
On October 10, 2017, a federal district court in Arizona issued an order requiring officials with the Department of Corrections (DOC) to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of a 2014 court-enforced settlement agreement. U.S. Magistrate Judge David K. Duncan also threatened ...
By David Reutter
Two white Georgia law enforcement officers were forced out of their positions after racist and sexist remarks they exchanged on Facebook were uncovered.
The officers were McIntosh County Sheriff deputies when the comments were exchanged. One joke referee to "colored people" and the other used the ...
by David Reutter
The First Circuit Court of Appeals held that the plaintiff’s failure to oppose the defendant’s motion for summary judgment in a timely fashion could not be considered excusable neglect.
Patrick Skrabec was arrested in December 2012 for threatening to commit a crime and disturbing a school assembly. ...
by David Reutter
The Supreme Court of Alabama held that prison officials acted under protection of state-agent immunity and that a prisoner did not show any facts exempting either from liability. The court granted mandamus and ordered the trial court to enter a summary judgment in favor of the defendants. ...
by David Reutter
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the certification of two subclasses in litigation alleging that GEO Group violated federal forced labor and Colorado unjust enrichment laws at its Aurora, Colorado, immigrant detention center.
The complaint alleged GEO implemented two programs that are at the heart of ...
