Ball & Chain

Community Sentencing More Favorable Than Short Prison Sentences on Reoffending Rates

2008-09-06T23:40:00.001-07:00

An article on the positive statistical results of community corrections in comparison with short prison stays:Perhaps most significantly, the figures also show a substantial drop in reoffending by adults who are given non-custodial sentences, with 36% of adults given community sentences now reoffending within one year. This contrasts favourably with short prison sentences, with nearly three out

Georgia's Fast Track Facilities

2008-09-06T23:31:00.000-07:00

Georgia has funded new facility designs - termed "Fast Track" - in order to deal with the prison population increase. From the Valdosta Daily:Designed to house 256 inmates, the Fast Tracks were funded by the General Assembly four years ago to address the growth in the prison population and optimize current prison infrastructure, according to a press release from the Department of Corrections.

New Inmate Vocational Training Program: Murder

2008-09-03T21:26:00.001-07:00

O, the drama...From the Wisconsin State Journal:A Wisconsin prison guard solicited an inmate to kill her former son-in-law, then framed him for prison rules violations when he refused to do it, the inmate claimed in a $2 million federal civil rights lawsuit filed Wednesday.There are so many great parts to this story. First, the payment: $2500 and a plane ticket to Hawaii, where the murder was to

More Uses for Old Prisons: Museum

2008-09-03T21:22:00.001-07:00

Iraq is going to reopen Abu Ghraib as a museum - not of US prison abuses, as one might suspect, but of crimes under Saddam Hussein. Hmmm, not sounding like a real crowd pleaser, if you ask me...

A Vote for Open Prisons

2008-09-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

Article and comments in favor of the use of open prisons in Scotland - or at least in favor of not holding the prison service responsible for the crimes committed by prisoners released on furlough. The author makes a good point that if the prison services were to be held accountable for inmates released "negligently," no inmate would ever be released. To be critical, in this argument, he does

Case Note: Turner v. Burnside

2008-08-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Eleventh Circuit, in an amazing decision, holds that “a prison official's serious threats of substantial retaliation against an inmate for lodging in good faith a grievance make the administrative remedy ‘unavailable,’ and thus lift the exhaustion requirement” of the PLRA. Facts: “According to [Turner’s] complaint, a prison employee supervising inmates forced Turner to clean an oven even

Las Vegas Considering New Prison Design

2008-08-28T10:52:00.001-07:00

Check out this excerpt from the Las Vegas Sun:"The head of the state prison system said he’s willing to stake his career on the design for a proposed Southern Nevada prison that would be built without guard towers.Fencing is more effective than towers,” prisons chief Howard Skolnik told the state Public Works Board on Tuesday. “Every escape has been the result of human error.” The fences would

Inmates Versus Flood Recovery - Who Wins?

2008-08-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

The Des Moines Register reports that Republican lawmakers are considering canceling plans for a $131M max security facility to fund flood recovery. "Reallocating funds in the time of crisis is an absolute necessity because we don't want to pile a fiscal disaster on top of a natural disaster," said Rep. Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha.In a political twist, the Democratic legislators are

NM Inmates Escape

2008-08-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Eight NM inmates escaped from a county jail by cutting a hole in the roof with handmade tools near the skylight. Check out the story here.I love the blurbs at the bottom about past escapes - in July, a female inmate escaped by hiding in a food cart (the article just says that she hid a food cart, but I think that's a typo b/c otherwise I can't see how that would help her). And in 2006 an inmate

Aging Inmates Raising Prison Costs

2008-08-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Another article on the rising costs of providing geriatric inmate care. Any insurance salesman could tell you that older persons generally have greater healthcare costs than younger persons - but when it comes to inmates, the taxpayers are footing the bill for the person's genetic disorders or poor health choices. The question is, given the high costs of providing the constitutionally-required

Indian Gangsters Living Large Behind Bars

2008-08-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

An Indian newspaper reports that Indian gangsters are as active behind bars as they are on the outside. Well, surprise of surprises...

Sexual Abuse Part of the Punishment?

2008-08-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

Another day in prison life...a sheriff is getting 43 months to 15 years for sexually abusing three female inmates in his custody during transport. What a charmer.

CT Housing Juveniles in Adult Max Unit

2008-08-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Connecticut has been criticized for placing teenage girls in the state prison for women. At the time of Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein’s report, 37 girls between the ages of 15 and 17 were housed in the female state prison’s maximum security unit. The problem of housing juveniles with adults is a huge problem in prisons with both current and past implications. In the 1800s, the housing of

Pizza Party for Overtime Lords

2008-08-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

There's been a crackdown in the Sydney prison system for guards earning way above their salary in overtime. According to the Daily Telegraph, this crackdown is part of an overall reform of the prison system due to excessive economic abuse, which costs taxpayers $20 mill per year.The prison guards run a competition for those who break $100,000 in overtime (based on a $55,000 annual salary). For

Afghani Women Jailed For Being Rape Victims

2008-08-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

I have to keep posting about this issue because I find it so disturbing. Women are imprisoned in Afghanistan for having illegal sexual relations - with no discrimination for whether the relations were consensual or forced. Report from the Independent.Pretty classy.

TX Inmates Phoning Home

2008-08-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

"The Texas Board of Criminal Justice approved a contract Thursday that will allow prisoners to use telephones on a prepaid and collect call basis, ending the last ban on state prisoner phone use in the nation."I have no comment, other than acknowledgment of the well-known extortion of inmates and inmates' families by the telephone companies. It borders on the criminal.

Deadly Summer Heat

2008-08-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

The Pueblo-Chieftain reports on the third inmate death in four months at a high security U.S. prison. According to the article,"Baker, who had been transferred to the prison just a couple of months ago, was playing cards with inmates in a prison common area when another inmate approached him from behind and stabbed him twice in the neck. The inmate walked away then came back and stabbed Baker

Case Note: Fegans v. Norris

2008-08-12T22:03:00.001-07:00

2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 17072 Another one of those pesky I’m-religious-and-I-want-my-beard-darn-it cases. Fegans, an inmate, claims First and Fourteenth Amendment violations, as well as makes a claim based on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). For the curious, he is a devotee of the Assemblies of Yahweh, a Christian sect that requires its adherents to follow Old

Singapore Prisons: Strict Yet Humane?

2008-08-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

There are few things I am more interested in reading than accounts of international prisons to see the different ways that countries are experimenting with corrections. In this Straits Times article on Singapore prisons, the reporter portrays Singapore prisons as incredibly spartan, but humane. No beds here, just cement floors - and the prison officials the inmates would sleep on the floors

French Prisons an Embarassment

2008-08-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it's nice to know that the US is not alone in this. I had never heard of France's problems with prison conditions, but apparently they have more than a few. Right now, they are battling overcrowding. Welcome to the club.However, French courts are seemingly a little more responsive in regard to humane conditions - one court awarded damages to a convicted sex offender who alleged that he

State Sobriety Program Credited With Reducing Overcrowding

2008-08-10T18:12:00.001-07:00

South Dakota has seen a drop in the number of men entering its prison system for two years. Credit is given to the 24/7 Sobriety Project, a program that allows second-time DUI offenders to avoid jail by submitting to two breathalyzer tests per day, seven days a week, to demonstrate their sobriety. The program also utilizes a remote alcohol monitor ankle bracelet. According to prison staff, the

Suggestions for Prison Uses

2008-08-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

Can't decide what to do with that recently-closed prison? Think it's a pretty piece of real estate, but has so much bad kharma you'd have to pay someone to take it? The asbestos getting you down?Well, here are a few suggestions for you:(1) hotel - hey, if it's good enough for Alcatraz and Boston...(2) haunted house - not only is this PA county jail turning into the state's largest prison, but

Case Note: Monroe v. Beard

2008-08-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

Following on yesterday’s post on inmate fraud…2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 15991“In 2004, security staff at various DOC institutions reported that inmates were receiving information and documents concerning the filing of liens under the UCC. Additionally, in June 2005, the DOC discovered that a Pennsylvania inmate had filed a fraudulent lien against a state court judge, a superintendent, and DOC

Inmates Strike Back

2008-08-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Inmates gave false information about a 63 year old female guard smuggling drugs into the prison, resulting in her 13.5 hour detention by police, suspension, search, and bodily rectal exam. The authorities did find some pot in her house, but no evidence of smuggling. The guard's defense? She thought it was lawful to smoke pot in her own home. Riiiight.The news article reporting on the incident

Inside Iraq's Only Women's Prison

2008-08-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

CBS reports on Iraq's women's prison. As in Afghanistan, women often have their children with them. They also often do not know their charges; or they are imprisoned because their husbands were charged. They are subjected to abuse, even raped.I also have to comment on the pathetic public posts that follow the news story. They completely focus on the war in Iraq - plight of the women inmates

Afghani Mothers Keep Their Children With Them In Prison

2008-08-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

Interesting ABC News article on the number of children Afghani mothers keep with them in prison. Although some of the mothers acknowledge the poor life that their children lead in prison, they are more fearful of the consequences of leaving their children to fend for themselves on the outside. Poverty is a main issue - at least in prison they know the children will have food. But even family

Bangkok Prison Trying to Keep Drugs Out

2008-08-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Another prison system trying to beat the influx of drugs through the use of new technology. The prison won't release any other details than cell phone blocking - but assures that high tech measures will be taken. Hmmm, guess we'll see.

I Like The Mountain State Corrections Commissioner

2008-08-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

Great article from The Register Herald out of West Virginia regarding the rapid rise in WV's prison population, particularly its female prison population, in the last year. In comparison to a nationwide increase of 3%, WV faced an 8% increase. And in contrast with the 4.5% increase in women, WV had a 19% increase. Interestingly, GA, RI, NH, and VT's rate of increase surpassed even WV.The

Demographic Analysis of Prison Impact

2008-08-03T08:03:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm not sure this is entirely "news," but a new report has been published that examines the impact of prison on demographics. A social scientist finds that the boom in prison population hides a decrease in fertility and an involuntary migration to rural areas of the country. There is also greater exposure to infectious diseases, such as AIDS and hepatitis. And, surprise of surprises,

Sexual Violence in Juvenile Facilities

2008-08-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Bureau of Justice Statistics published a report in July on the prevalence of sexual violence, as reported by juvenile correctional facilities nationwide. Some statistical highlights:Slightly over 2,000 allegations of sexual violence in both 2005 and 2006.State juvenile systems reported a higher rate of sexual violence than private and local facilities.In 2005 and 2006 combined, there were an

Messianic Jews Want To Have Their Jesus And Eat Kosher, Too

2008-07-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

From my home state of Ohio: Messianic Jew inmates (Jews who believe in Jesus) are protesting the revocation of kosher meals. The Protestant Religious Services Administrator of the OH Dept of Rehab and Corrections revoked the kosher meals after consulting with a rabbi, who said that the meals were not necessary, and in consideration of the prohibitive cost of the meals (hmm, which do you think

Same-Sex Prison Marriage?

2008-07-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Fascinating article from NPR: now that CA has legalized same-sex marriages, the question arises as to what to do with inmates who want to marry one another? Currently, same sex sexual activity is prohibited in every state in the nation (at least that I know of). The question of how to deal with inmates who want to marry one another is quite the conundrum.I'm not actually in favor of inmate

Empty Prison in Iraq a $40M Failure

2008-07-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

I posted a month or so ago about a similar prison failure in Afghanistan, built by the UK.BAGHDAD - In the flatlands north of Baghdad sits a prison with no prisoners. It holds something else: a chronicle of U.S. government waste, misguided planning and construction shortcuts costing $40 million and stretching back to the American overseers who replaced Saddam Hussein.The article details the

Case Note: Carolyn Phillipps v. Roane County

2008-07-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

I always say it can't be done and yet here is a case where the veil of qualified immunity was finally pierced. Litigants, take note.Carolyn Phillips, executor of Sonya Phillips' estate, sued several governmental officials, including correctional officers, on behalf of the latter for their violation of Phillips' Eighth Amendment rights. Sonya Phillips died on December 8, 2000 for untreated

Okla. Linking Prison Breaks to Lack of Staffing

2008-07-24T18:51:00.001-07:00

The OK DOC has reported 18 prison breaks so far this year, compared to 16 for all of last year. The spokesman blames it on overcrowded and understaffed prisons."Inmates may have the perception that well, there are not as many officers as there should be, not as many staff, so I may have a better chance if I walk out and I don't see anybody looking over my shoulder."

Canada Funding Reentry for Women

2008-07-24T18:46:00.001-07:00

The Canadian federal government has provided $150,000 for women's reentry programs. The group will assist women to receive counseling, even providing for transportation and child care.Pretty impressive in these poor economic times.

Prison Deaths From Starvation in the Congo

2008-07-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

Copied from ABC News:"The United Nations says it is alarmed by the number of deaths in a prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 26 inmates have died from acute malnutrition at the main prison in the city of Mbuji Mayi in Kasai Oriental province since February. Four inmates died of hunger last week alone. The UN says it is particularly concerned because no measures are being taken

Budget Cuts in MI Prison System Linked to Increase in Violence

2008-07-23T18:47:00.001-07:00

The Michigan Corrections Organization (read: union) protests the recent $50 million in budget cuts the legislature has imposed on the department of corrections. The main cause for alarm: the decrease in staff.According to the MCO, there are the same number of prisoners as six years ago and 1,000 fewer corrections officers. The MCO links the lack of staff to the rising incidence of violence in

UN Applauding Training of Haiti Prison Guards

2008-07-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Scoop Independent News reports that more than 200 guards have been trained to improve prison conditions in the country."The graduates received training in law, ethics, anti-corruption values, human rights and first aid, as well as the more usual areas of police studies. This is part of a rule of law campaign by the Haitian National Police (HNP), and backed by MINUSTAH, to improve the training of

Case Note: Sharpe v. Costello

2008-07-20T13:07:00.001-07:00

2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 15019 PLRA strikes again. Facts: “Sharpe alleged that the chaplain tried to touch his penis through his clothing when they were alone together in the chapel area. Sharpe completed and submitted a grievance in connection with the incident. Thereafter, he was placed in the Special Housing Unit pending an investigation of the chaplain, and urged to withdraw his grievance. The

Open Scottish Prisons Catching Flak

2008-07-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

The open Scottish prisons are taking heat. They've had a recent spate of absconders, including one who escaped (for the second time) and raped a schoolgirl. The prison has defended itself by stating that only a few people abscond, the vast majority maintaining the trust, and of those that do, most do not commit violent crimes.I'm definitely of two minds about this. On the one hand, my first

What, Drug Smuggling is Illegal?

2008-07-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Gee willikers, I guess crime really doesn't pay. From the Miami Channel 7 News:"Five guards at a Miami-Dade County prison are charged with smuggling drugs into the facility. Federal indictments also charge them with taking cash from inmates in return for helping to deliver the drugs inside the prison."The arrests were part of an FBI sting called "Operation Birdcage" (oh, those FBI agents - quite

Successful Prison Farm in Tenn.

2008-07-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

Prisoners in a Tenn. prison farm on 90 acres, growing tomatoes, corn, radishes, cantaloupe, and watermelon. They not only feed themselves (and offset the cost of housing them) but have enough abundance to give the food to neighboring prisons as well.I have yet to understand the economics that caused the downfall of the prison farm. Did we stop farming because of security reasons? Because of

PA Inmate Actually Charged for Exposing Himself

2008-07-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

This is simply shocking. An inmate held in a PA prison exposed himself to guards and other inmates, used toothpaste to write on the window, and flipped off the guards, and he was charged for it! I am all in favor of prosecutors charging inmates for crimes committed behind bars, which are all too often overlooked in prosecutors' busy schedules, and if you give me a minute, I might even be in

Court Reduces Award in Lesbian Corrections Officer's Case

2008-07-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

A NY appellate court reduced the $850,000 award that a lesbian corrections officer received for alleged harassment and discrimination to $200,000. The original $850,000 had been awarded by an administrative law judge at the Division of Human Rights."Humig was the only female guard working in her section of the prison at the time and her sexual orientation was well known among the officers. A

Case Note: Burnette v. Taylor

2008-07-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

Yet another reason to just say no. Facts: “Buster Burnette was arrested on 11 September 2003, based on his stepfather's statement that Buster had broken into the stepfather's house and stolen some prescription Duregesic patches that the stepfather used to treat chronic back pain. Before the arrest, Buster's stepfather had gone to the Bacon County Sheriff's Department and met with Defendant

Case Note: Young v. Beard

2008-07-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

Inmates just can’t catch a break. Basic facts: “Young, an inmate serving a life sentence at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Graterford, participated in the prison's recreational independent band program and was a member of an independent inmate band that, in 2002, was featured in a VH-1 documentary entitled "Music Behind Bars."” In Graterford, there were ten independent

Sex Predator Says He'll Reoffend; Released

2008-07-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

This brings back memories of Manson, who also was in and out of prison for decades and asked not to be released. We all know where that led. Apparently certain British probation officials don't, though.From the Mail On Sunday:"A violent sex attacker who warned he would strike again raped a woman just days after being released from prison.While serving a prison sentence for rape David Harrison,

Officer's Death Sparks National Campaign

2008-07-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Copied from the Miami Herald:"The stabbing death of a U.S. Penitentiary Atwater correctional officer has sparked a national campaign to overhaul failed safety policies across the federal prison system.On Thursday, USA Today ran a full-page ad featuring a photo of the slain correctional officer, Jose Rivera, and an open letter from his family blaming his death on overcrowding and inadequate

British Prison Service to Stifle Drug Trafficking

2008-07-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

The Westmoreland Gazette reports on measures that the British Prison Service is taking to stifle drug trafficking. The nation is pouring 80 million pounds into high tech security measures, such as cell phone blockers so that inmates can't make drug deals while in prison and scanners that can scan within a person's body for drugs. I really like the creative thinking by the Brits. US prison staff

Sexual Victimization Rate in Prison

2008-07-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Follow-up to my prior post regarding Parsell's memoir, Fish. The Bureau of Justice Statistics put out a report in December 2007 regarding the rates of sexual victimization in state and federal prisons as part of its PREA requirements (Prison Rape Elimination Act). It surveyed 146 adult confinement facilities, collecting data directly from inmates via an Audio Computer-Assisted Self Interview

Prison Abuse Charge in Moscow

2008-07-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

From MoscowTimes.com:"Eight employees at a Chelyabinsk region prison have been arrested in connection with a riot at the institution in May that ultimately led to the deaths of four inmates.Prosecutors said that four inmates had attacked employees with razors and makeshift blades, and that they were ultimately subdued by prison guards with rubber truncheons.A doctor examined the four shortly

Syria Prison in "Terrorist" Riot

2008-07-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

Copied from Yahoo News:"Syrian authorities on Sunday blamed inmates for provoking riots in a prison for political detainees during which human rights groups said at least 25 people were killed.Official SANA news agency said security forces took action to put down a violent protest which broke out on Saturday by prisoners in Saydnaya jail -- one of Syria's largest -- without making clear if order

Book Review: Fish

2008-07-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

Fish is T. J. Parsell's memoir of his conviction at age 17 for "armed robbery" (he had a toy gun) of a Photomat. He was sent to an adult prison and quickly pressured into a series of sexual relationships - almost all of which would be classified as rape. T. J. Parsell has taken this experience and used it to help others in his situation by serving as President of Stop Prisoner Rape and acting as

Mental Health Court: The New/Old Wave of the Future

2008-07-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Sasha Abramsky, coauthor of the Human Rights Watch Report "Ill-Equipped" (which is a must-read if you're interested in the intersection of mental health and the prison system) has written a related article for The American Prospect. The article concerns states' experimentation with mental health courts as a method of diverting the mentally ill from prison and to treatment.As discussed in the

Baseball: The New Rehabilitation Method

2008-07-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

You can forget your anger management training, your AA, your cognitive behavior management. America's favorite pastime may be all that's required to rehabilitate the nation's wrongdoers. Check out this great article re the San Quentin Giants, a team made up of inmates."To prison officials, organized sports is a way to keep inmates occupied and perhaps teach a few lessons on getting along with

Tragedy in the MD Prison System

2008-06-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

Inmates are dropping like flies in the MD prison system. This time, the victim was just a detainee who hadn't even come up for trial yet. He was stabbed to death inside the city's detention center. Prison staff had recently been criticized by a Carroll County judge for failing to protect the inmates once they're inside the system. Coming right on the heels of that is, frankly, embarrassing.

Well, That's One Way To End a Strike...

2008-06-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

"Prison guards at an Egyptian jail near the Mediterranean city of Alexandria beat up 17 inmates to force them to end a hunger strike, their lawyer said on Sunday."The inmates were on the hunger strike to protest conditions at their prison. I guess the guards figured they'd really give them something to protest about...

Case Note: United States v. Conley

2008-06-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 13472First Circuit case involving the monitoring of a prison inmate's phone calls. Of note is the justice issuing the opinion: Hello, Sandra Day O'Connor. I'm guessing this decision wasn't exactly difficult for her. The facts are ridiculous: an inmate's coconspirator calls him in the prison and brags over the phone line about lying to a grand jury. And he's

Just What TX Needs...Another Prison

2008-06-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

The community support that prison building gets is no joke - as judged by the desperate fight of the Pontiac prison employees to save their prison. But that's an employer that's already in town and people are already dependent. What amount of support exists to bring the prison in at the ground level?Apparently, a lot. A businessman in TX has a plot of empty land and the community's abuzz at

An End to the Pontiac Prison Saga

2008-06-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

I've been following and blogging about the drama surrounding the Pontiac Prison closure threatened by the IL Governor due to state budget deficits. Today, it is officially at an end.Pontiac prison was actually the second choice of the governor, who originally eyeballed Stateville prison. But the Stateville employees had a big protest, so the governor backed down, casting his sights then on

Afghanistan Prison Officials Taking Notes From SC

2008-06-24T18:06:00.001-07:00

Afghan prison officials are visiting South Carolina to learn about its prison system. Seriously? Of all the prison systems, SC is the one to visit? Here I thought American prison systems were reviled worldwide and now a foreign country wants to model its own prisons on SC.Here's a sad concession: "South Carolina officials say their agency is a good model for Afghan's prisons because the agency

My, Them Drugs Just Walked Themselves On In...

2008-06-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

In Indiana, a contract nurse at a prison was arrested on a charge of trafficking. We're not talking hardcore drugs - these were just packs of cigarettes. But in the smokefree world of prisons, cigarettes can be worth mad money - can even be worth someone's life.So what was this genius mastermind's grand plan? Tin foil. He wrapped six cigarette packs in tin foil and then hid them in a TV

Prison Guard Dies From Inmate Assault

2008-06-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

Yahoo News has reported that a prison guard has been stabbed to death by two inmates with homemade weapons in a federal facility in CA. No further details were provided.Getting attacked in prison is an expected cost of the job. In an analysis of Ohio prisons from Nov 2004 through Oct 2005, 545 assaults by inmates on staff were reported. CIIC Report, at 10. In the maximum security prison alone

Case Note: Grinter v. Knight

2008-06-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

All this over a red spot?Grinter alleges that Knight, a guard, came to his cell to investigate an incident report that he had filed. They had a disagreement over the addition of witnesses. Shortly thereafter, guards dressed in full riot gear came to his cell without a nurse present and strapped him down in four-point restraints (hands and feet tied to the four corners of the bed). He sustained

Astonishing Newsflash: Prisoners Want More Sex

2008-06-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

From CNN.com:"Paraguayan officials have put down a prison riot by agreeing to inmates' demands for more sex. Justice Minister Derlis Osorio said Friday the riot at the Esperanza industrial prison ended after four hours without deaths or injuries. Officials said they'll let the inmates have conjugal visits after daytime work hours. They also promised to improve the behavior of guards."Huh. I

Will That Be One Mint Or Two On Your Pillow?

2008-06-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

Hello, Summer Vacation '09: Alcatraz is being converted into a hotel by the National Park Service. I had a tour of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio (where Shawshank Redemption was filmed) and it was very interesting. Seeing the tiny cells and the dangerously-constructed cellblocks really made the reality of the inmates' lives more clear. The prison was shut down in the 90s and they

Home is Where the Heart Is...

2008-06-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

Fascinating article about an inmate in India's Chennai Central Prison who, after serving a juvenile sentence, decided that prison would be his home. Without a community on the outside to provide support, the prison became Iyer's refuge "and the other inmates are [his] relatives."To keep his barred home, he committed petty crimes every time he was released by impersonating people (apparently,

Beleaguered CA Prison System Scrounging for Cash

2008-06-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

I almost have to feel sorry for the CA prison system. It's just one bad day after another for it. Even after approving a $7.8 billion plan to build 53,000 cells to deal with its well-publicized and criticized overcrowding, rising costs now mean that 12,400 fewer prison cells and 3,000 fewer jail cells will be built. Higher construction costs are given the official blame.(Note: I say "official"

VA: Stop Pimping Your Beds!

2008-06-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

In the ongoing saga of VA renting out prison beds and ticking off the sheriffs in the state who have overstuffed jails, the Governor has ordered the VA DOC to stop the practice following the lawsuit by one of those ornery sheriffs. Check it out at WashingtonPost.com.

Trials and Tribulations of Being a Sex Offender

2008-06-18T17:25:00.001-07:00

Great article from Prison Legal News regarding the plight of sex offenders who have been legislatively prohibited from most of civilization. Outside Miami, sex offenders are literally dropped off under a causeway. Nothing says "welcome home" like the overpass.

Racial Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System

2008-06-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

From the Washington Post:"The nation's juvenile justice system metes out harsher punishment to black and Latino youths, locks up thousands of children for relatively minor offenses and ultimately makes them more dangerous, according to a national study released yesterday."Another apocalyptic report about how we're imprisoning our children at disastrous rates. Thanks to the Sentencing Project for

When You'd Literally Give Your Eyeteeth...

2008-06-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

From NBC News:"SACRAMENTO -- The director of California's prison health care programs said he's ending a controversial policy that forced some female inmates to get their teeth pulled to earn stays with their children. Jeffrey Thompson tells the San Jose Mercury News that he's halting the "dental clearance" program that came under fire this week from senators during Thompson's confirmation

Mazel Tov! Kosher Kraze in Prison

2008-06-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

Lawsuits over the provision of kosher food to practicing Jewish inmates have forced the CA prison system to hire more rabbis to oversee the provision of kosher cuisine (because the CA prison system is so flush with money right now).As mentioned in the article, I've heard that requesting the kosher cuisine in a prison is a definite survival strategy because the food is of better quality...funny,

Rumble in VA

2008-06-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

I posted before about the sheriffs being a tad unhappy about VA renting out beds to other states' inmates even while VA's own jails are packed to the gills--or, bars. Well, one of 'em grew a pair and decided to do something about it - namely, sue the VA DOC. VA cut the two-year $18.5 million deal with the Wyoming DOC (like they don't have enough space out there to build some more facilities) to

Prison Growth Slows

2008-06-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's not like it's reduced to zero, so don't get too excited, but the DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that prison growth slowed during the first half of 2007 (I know, this seems way out of date, but this is the latest population report out). The prison population growth rate slowed to a *mere* 1.6%, as opposed to the usual 2%. Of course, the decrease is due to an overall

Crime Prevention Efforts Work

2008-06-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

From the Penn State Prevention Research Center:"According to a report released today by the Penn State Prevention Research Center, a $60 million investment by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) over the last decade in evidence-based programs across the state has resulted in a $317 million return on just seven of those programs." "Study results

TX ACLU Sues Youth Prison

2008-06-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

The ACLU of Texas has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of five girls held at the Brownwood State school, a high security youth prison. The ACLU alleges that the girls are subjected to "unwarranted solitary confinement, routine strip searches, and brutal physical force."Girls are allegedly placed in punitive solitary confinement in cold, empty, concrete cells - often for minor offenses or

Book Review: A Commonwealth of Thieves

2008-06-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Subtitled “The Improbable Birth of Australia,” this book details the political situation and prison overcrowding in Britain that led to the export of inmates to New South Wales and then follows the fledgling penal colony from birth to awkward adolescence. Here are some notes that I took from it: 1. 1. Prisoner law is tougher than greater society’s

Case Note: Carver v. Lehman

2008-06-10T21:21:00.000-07:00

2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 12323 Question Presented: whether Washington state law creates a liberty interest in an inmate's early release into community custody that is protected under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? Facts: Sex offender inmate was sentenced to 54 months of incarceration; in addition, the law required that he be transferred to community custody as soon as released

Another One Bites The Dust...

2008-06-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

James Q. Wilson, criminologist, has posted some interesting thoughts on incarceration on the Volokh Conspiracy. However, more interesting is how he's ripped a new one by the bloggers. I have sympathy for him - obviously he's not used to think-they're-geniuses lawyers b/c he gets really testy about it. I will guiltily admit to liking the drama (when it's directed toward another victim).

Bill Cosby Speech at RI Prison Graduation

2008-06-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Bill Cosby spoke at the graduation ceremony of inmates at an RI Prison who earned their GEDs. Check out the blogpost at BlackAmericans.com.

The New Prison Hot Spot

2008-06-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Probation Officers in England has reported that drug-addicted inmates are making special requests to be sent to Wandsworth prison because drugs are "so freely available there." It's like Studio 54 for the criminally-inclined.

Rehab Success Story

2008-06-08T10:55:00.001-07:00

Uplifting article on a post-release rehabilitation success story about an ex-convict who checked into a clean-and-sober-living Salvation Army halfway house and has turned his life around. Granted, he's a recent graduate of the program, but I like to think positive.

Case Note: Mayfield, Part II

2008-06-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Same facts as before. According to the Fifth Circuit, RLUIPA imposes a higher burden than the First Amendment because it requires prison officials to establish stronger justifications for regulations the impinge on prisoners’ religious practices. Under RLUIPA, “No government shall impose a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined to an institution…even if

You Gotta Have Faith, Faith, Faith!

2008-06-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

The Kingman prison in AZ is a minimum security prison that "offers a unique combination of drug treatment, education and spirituality to help prisoners change their lives for the better." It's a total package type of prison to equip prisoners for success upon release.Volunteers from a variety of religions come into the facility to worship with the inmates, so the services are not specifically

Pelican Bay Riot

2008-06-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Another day, another race-based riot in the American prison system...From the San Diego Union-Tribune:"CRESCENT CITY – State corrections officials are investigating what caused a violent inmate riot at Pelican Bay State Prison near Crescent City. A prison spokesman says more than 40 inmates were involved in a brief, but chaotic fight in the maximum security prison's outdoor exercise yard Friday

Case Note: Mayfield v. Tex. Dep't of Crim. Justice

2008-06-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 11600 Mayfield is a practitioner of the Odinist/Asatru faith. According to him, “Odinism is the ancestral folk religion of Northern Europe and a polytheistic, nature-based faith that worships a variety of gods and goddesses.” My only experience with Asatru is that it was a favorite of the Aryan Brotherhood, but I’ll put that aside for the purpose of this case. Mayfield

Case Note: Tatta v. State

2008-06-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is a small case from an appellate court in NY, but I think it highlights an important issue: confidentiality re medical conditions.The pro se inmate, Tatta, filed a grievance protesting his failure to receive his medication. Although the grievance was favorably resolved, it resulted in a report that made reference to the inmate's underlying condition. The inmate filed his claim alleging

(Another) Prison Health Services Failure

2008-06-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

From Boston.com:"Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the state prison.Joseph Crowley was found dead in his cell Tuesday morning during a routine check at the Adult Correctional Institutions.Family members say Crowley was not given the medication he needed after his arrest Friday on drug charges. The 29-year-old West Warwick man had been a patient at a methadone clinic."The

...You're Outta Here! Prison Football Team Gets The Boot

2008-06-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

A prison in England has had a football (soccer) team for 26 years...and they just got booted by a landslide vote. Apparently, the other teams objected to the dog-sniffing security measures. And the "alleged" intimidation by the prison team fans. Are you kidding me? It's a sport. If there aren't antagonistic fans, something is wrong. I thought England was serious about its sports. Too bad

What's Better Than Federal Prison? Brazilian Prison

2008-06-03T19:07:00.001-07:00

That's if you're a big-time drug trafficker, that is. Brazilian authorities raided Genilson Lino da Silva's cell and found a plasma TV, a DVD player, $180,000 in cash, gym equipment, two refrigerators, and a couple of guns. Nice life, I guess, if you can get it. Up until the whole "raid" part. Except for the fact that given his social status, da Silva had to know about it, which means it was

The US Is Taking Prison Old-School...Like 1800s Old School

2008-06-02T17:53:00.001-07:00

The US has reportedly "been secretly detaining terrorism suspects aboard floating 'prison ships,'" a British charity charges. Well, the Brits would know. Prior to the exportation of inmates to Australia, Great Britain used to use prison ships (called "hulks") to hold prisoners. Having the eyesores on the water and the relative ruckus that the inmates caused is what led to the pressure to

Letters from "P#$$y Prison"

2008-06-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

So, maybe I need to rethink all my sympathy for inmates...for federal inmates, at least. Craig Gile, former Wall Street trader, wrote letters home about the hardship of his year in federal prison. Hardship like Wednesday Nacho Night and Movie Night twice a week. He plays softball and reads in his cell. In yet another episode of government-sponsored torture, he was forced to watch "Nanny

New Study: Drug Courts Can Save State Money

2008-06-01T19:23:00.001-07:00

From the Daily Journal Online:"It would cost the United States $14 billion to create a national network of drug courts to steer criminals into addiction treatment rather than prison. But the investment could ultimately save the public $46 billion over the long run, according to a new study released here Friday."“'This is not a war on drugs,' [former U.S. Drug Czar] McCaffrey said. 'This is a

VA Renting Out Prison Beds

2008-06-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

From the Washington Post:"Virginia's cash-strapped government plans to rent 1,000 prison beds to other states to raise millions of dollars while it leaves hundreds of its own inmates in crowded local jails waiting to be moved."The Post reports that this has angered some sheriffs. Hmm, y'think?So, the state doesn't have enough beds for its own prisoners and yet still finds a way to rent space to

Fashion Workshop for Filipino Male Inmates

2008-05-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

Really interesting article on a fashion workshop held in a men's prison in the Philippines. The workshop is led by fashion director Puey Quinones and the work has been worn by local stars. The inmates handpaint dresses, skirts, blouses, and wraps. They are paid by the piece and are even able to help economically support their families on the outside.I just love the idea of allowing inmates to

Case Note: Falciglia v. Erie County Prison

2008-05-31T17:50:00.000-07:00

Three rounds for another award-winning Circuit decision. A state prisoner filed a civil rights complaint alleging denial of access to the law library, retaliative placement in segregation, and failure to provide him with a diabetic diet.Let's break this down. The case was passed to a magistrate, who "concluded that the Prison was immune from suit, that Falciglia did not demonstrate an actual

Case Note: Walker v. Bowersox

2008-05-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

This case is a real humdinger. Walker, the inmate, appealed the summary judgment on his 1983 action. Walker took off his handcuffs (first question: who exactly put these handcuffs on him? The Reno 911 police?) and refused to put them back on because he did not want to move to a two-man cell (he objected to the cellmate, which raises a whole 'nother set of questions). In response to that

California Still Trying to Solve Its Prison Problems

2008-05-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

The CA legislators have been playing around with a settlement of the overcrowding lawsuit against the prison system. The worst case scenario is that the federal judge will simply order a cap on the prison population and demand the immediate release of prisoners. Legislators are trying to work out a less dramatic solution but, of course, they can't come to an agreement. Fancy that.Reportedly, "the