Former Minnesota Prisoner’s Inadequate Health Care Suit Settled for $275,000
by Matt Clarke
In July 2011, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) settled a lawsuit brought by a former state prisoner over allegedly inadequate medical attention after he suffered a severe reaction to a medication given to him while he ...
Prisoner Beating in Erie County Results in Guard's Conviction and Settlement
by Matt Clarke
A guard at the Erie County Holding Center (ECHC) in Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty to involvement in a prisoner beating and was convicted in federal court of misdemeanor charges of deprivation of civil rights under ...
The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice released a December 2012 report entitled "Mortality in Local Jails and State Prisons, 2000-2010 - Statistical Tables." The report showed that 4,150 state and local prisoners died in 2010, with local jail prisoner deaths accounting for 918 of them. ...
Internet Pornographer Operates Business from Detroit Jail Cell
by Matt Clarke
For over a year and a half, Francis A. Sharrak, 45, managed his multimillion-dollar Internet pornography and strip club business from a downtown Detroit VIP isolation jail cell using a laptop equipped with a cell phone he was not ...
Maryland Jury Awards $5.6 Million for False Arrest and Detention
by Matt Clarke
On October 25, 2012, a Maryland jury awarded a man $5.6 million for damages incurred after he was arrested in Washington, D.C. on an invalid computer entry indicating an active bench warrant from Prince George's County.
Christopher ...
Fifth Circuit Holds Prison Officials Need Not be Named in Grievances
by Matt Clarke
On November 15, 2013, in an unpublished decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the summary dismissal of a Texas prisoner’s civil rights action, holding that he did not have to name the defendants in ...
Florida Court of Appeals: Prison Guards Can Raise “Stand Your Ground” Defense
by Matt Clarke
On March 28, 2014, a Florida Court of Appeals held that a former Department of Corrections guard charged with aggravated battery for assaulting a prisoner was entitled to pursue a “stand your ground” defense pursuant ...
Fifth Circuit: Sleep Deprivation May Violate Eighth Amendment
by Matt Clarke
In an unpublished ruling, the Fifth Circuit held on April 1, 2014 that a Texas prisoner’s sleep deprivation-based challenge to the security schedule used by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) may state a valid claim for violation ...
Consent Decree and Remedial Plan End Lawsuit Challenging Conditions in Illinois Juvenile Facilities
by Matt Clarke
On September 12, 2012, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) helped juvenile offenders held in secure facilities operated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) file a class-action federal lawsuit alleging that conditions ...
Texas Prison Population Drops as Guard Shortage Persists
by Matt Clarke
In spite of a three-year downward trend, Texas continues to lead the nation with the largest state prison population. At the same time, the state has pursued a variety of incentives to address a chronic shortage of prison guards. ...
