More from this issue:

1. Corruption in Orange County, CA Sheriff’s Department Revealed; Sheriff Resigns, Convicted on Criminal Charges, by Marvin Mentor
2. Second Chance Act Signed Into Law, But Not Yet Funded, by Brandon Sample
3. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
4. Private Prison Companies Not Forthcoming About Immigration Detainee Deaths
5. BOP Suspends Use of Ion Spectrometry Drug Detection Devices, by Brandon Sample
6. Officials Agree To Cap Population at D.C. Jail, by Michael Rigby
7. Sixth Circuit Upholds Partial Denial of Qualified Immunity for MI Jail Guards’ Failure to Protect Sex Offender; Case Settles for $190,000
8. Jose Medellin Executed; Vienna Convention Controversy Lives On, by Matthew Clarke
9. Changes in Texas Parole Laws Violate Ex Post Facto Clause, by Matthew Clarke
10. Department of Justice Report on Prison Rape Elimination Act, by Matthew Clarke
11. Fifth Circuit: § 1983 Nominal and Punitive Damages Allowed Absent Physical Injury
12. Report Criticizes Conditions in U.S. Immigrant Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, by David Reutter
13. Notwithstanding Federal Healthcare Receiver, California Prisoners Can Still Use State Habeas Corpus to Redress Medical Complaints
14. Washington DOC Restarts Private Industry Prison Jobs Following State Constitutional Amendment, by John Dannenberg
15. Ohio Settles Actual Innocence Claim For $1,500,000
16. Alaskan Prisoner in Arizona Can Enforce CCA Contract
17. Supreme Court of Canada: No Wage Loss Compensation While in Prison Caused by Sexual Assault by Staff
18. GAO Report Critical of BOP’s Methodology for Comparing Costs Between BOP and Private Facilities, by Brandon Sample
19. $400,000 Award in Failure to Protect Connecticut Suicidal Prisoner
20. BOP Agrees to Provide Wine to Prisoner for Religious Rituals, by Brandon Sample
21. Nominal Damages for Atlanta Georgia Jail’s Ban on Magazines, Books and Newspapers
22. Utah Sex Offender Internet Registry Statute Violates First Amendment, by Mark Wilson
23. Texas Awards Prison Phone Contract, by Matthew Clarke
24. Jury Awards Almost $900,000 to Dallas County Jail Stroke Victim, by Gary Hunter
25. Alameda County, CA Settles Jail Suicide Suit for $800,000
26. Former California Prison Doctor Admits Negligence, Gets Probation; CDCR Medical Care Issues Still Unresolved, by John Dannenberg
27. No Private Cause of Action for Businesses Complaining that Competitor Unfairly Used Prison Labor, by John Dannenberg
28. More Damages, Costs & Attorney Fees Awarded in NH False Disciplinary Case
29. Writ Writer: One Man's Journey for Justice, by David Preston
30. Ex-Mayor Returned to Prison After Misleading BOP to Enter Drug Program, by Brandon Sample
31. Ninth Circuit: Orange County Jail PLRA Injunction May Not be Terminated as to Ongoing Violations
32. Prisoner Litigation Swamps California Eastern District Court; Ninth Circuit Recruits Other Judges to Help, by John Dannenberg
33. Kitsap County, Washington Jail Settles Public Records Act Suit for $125,000
34. Los Angeles Sheriff Department Report: Prisoner Lawsuits Slowed, But Payouts Grew, by John Dannenberg
35. Corpus Christi Pays $50,000 to Settle Jail Prisoner’s Excessive Force Claim
36. Washington State Deputy Sheriff Not Entitled to Quasi-Judicial Immunity
37. TDCJ Employee Wins $1,505,000 for Texas Prison System’s Failure to Accommodate
38. Wisconsin Claims Board Awards Almost $110,000 for Wrongful Rape Conviction, Attorney Fees
39. Behavior Modification Training to Become Part of Washington State DOC
40. Class Action Disability Discrimination Suit Certified Against Cook County Jail in Illinois
41. Oregon Parolee Negligent Supervision Case Reinstated
42. $4.5 Million Settlement in New Jersey Jail Strip Search Lawsuit
43. Denial of Allocution Right on Supervised Release Resentencing Requires Remand
44. Transgender Idaho Prisoner Receives Hormone Therapy Pending Trial
45. Governments, Not Prisoners, Must Pay Cost of Transporting Prisoner Witnesses
46. Ohio DNA Specimen Law Ruled Not Retroactive
47. Unemployment Compensation Denied to Guard Who Failed to Stop Prisoner Assault
48. PLRA Requires Grievance Exhaustion for ADA/RA Claims
49. Sixth Circuit Outlines Exceptions to Heck Favorable-Termination Doctrine
50. California Sex Offender’s Probation Travel Restrictions Abated, by John Dannenberg
51. Washington Classification Reassessment Requires Notice and Hearing
52. Arbitrator Awards Hawaii Prisoner $7,500 for Injuries Sustained While Working in Kitchen
53. Kentucky Jails’ Seizure of Funds for Booking, Room and Board Fees Upheld
54. Pennsylvania Prisoner Appointed Counsel on Retaliation / MRSA Infection Claims
55. Retroactive Residency Restrictions for Missouri Sex Offenders Unconstitutional, by Matthew Clarke
56. Washington Prisoner Suit for “Prevailing Wages” from Private Employer Fails, by John Dannenberg
57. News in Brief:
58. South Carolina Jail Pays Prisoners $80,000 for Failure to Prevent/Treat MRSA
59. No Prison Guinea Pigs: President Obama Should Act Now To Ensure Prisoners Aren’t Used For Medical Research, by Allen M. Hornblum
60. Deceased New York Prisoner Wins Barber/Cosmetology Licensing For Ex-Cons
61. $1.5 Million Settlement in Alabama Probation Officer's Sex Scandal

More from these topics:

• Eleventh Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Six Female Alabama Jail Detainees’ Sexual Assault Suit, Jan. 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Summary Judgment, Limitations, Municipal Liability, Criminal Sexual Abuse.
• Ninth Circuit Grants Equitable Tolling Under AEDPA Where Attorney Abandoned Prisoner by Failing to Communicate for Nine Months and Prison Officials Delayed Processing Filing Documents, Dec. 15, 2025. Attorney Misconduct, Legal Materials, Law Library Access/Adequacy, Limitations, AEDPA.
• First Circuit: District Court Abused Discretion by Sua Sponte Raising Statute of Limitations Defense to Habeas Petition After Respondents Had Intelligently “Waived” It by Being Aware of Availability but Failing to Assert It, Nov. 15, 2025. Defenses, Limitations, Habeas Corpus, Double jeopardy, Knowingly and Intelligently.
• Eighth Circuit Announces § 2255 One-­Year Limitations Period Begins to Run in Deferred-­Restitution Criminal Case When Subsequent Amended Judgment Finalizes Amount, Nov. 15, 2025. Limitations, Habeas Corpus, Restitution, AEDPA.
• Appeals Court Rules Michigan’s Tolling Provision Is Not Inconsistent with the PLRA, Nov. 1, 2025. Administrative Exhaustion (PLRA), Limitations, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Tolling of Statutes of Limitations and Laches.
• Ninth Circuit Reaffirms Longstanding Precedent That District Court Cannot Sua Sponte Dismiss Untimely Habeas Corpus Petition Without Giving Petitioner Prior Notice and Opportunity to Respond, Oct. 15, 2025. Limitations, Habeas Corpus, Summary Disposition, Tolling of Statutes of Limitations and Laches, Denial of Due Process.
• Harvey Weinstein Files Notice of Claim Over Rikers Island Detention, Feb. 15, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Conditions of Confinement, State Law Claims.
• Eleventh Circuit Tells BOP Prisoner in Georgia: Bivens Is On “Endangered Species List”, Feb. 15, 2025. Staffing, Immunity/Liability, Staff Training, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Civil Rights Actions or Offenses/Bivens Actions.
• Minnesota Supreme Court Announces No Duty to Retreat When Using Reasonable Force in Defense of Another and Provides Framework for Analyzing Such Claims, Feb. 1, 2025. State Law Claims, Wrongful Use of Force, Firearms.
• The Murky Waters of Parole, Feb. 1, 2025. Parole/Probation Searches, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Parole Liability, Probation, Parole & Supervised Release.