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PLN Wins Public Records Ruling Against California Prison System
by Matt Clarke
On December 23, 2009, a California superior court ruled that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) had to produce records requested two years earlier by Prison Legal News.
PLN made the request for documents related to “Paid Adult Legal Claims” from 2002-2007 resulting in payments …
On December 23, 2009, a California superior court ruled that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) had to produce records requested two years earlier by Prison Legal News.
PLN made the request for documents related to “Paid Adult Legal Claims” from 2002-2007 resulting in payments …
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More from this issue:
- The Graying of America’s Prisons, by James Ridgeway
- $10.5 Million Settlement in Tennessee Juvenile’s Death Caused by Guard’s Chokehold
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Audits of Tennessee DOC Reveal Deficiencies, by Mark Wilson
- Washington State Federal Court: Unconstitutional to Shackle Prisoner in Labor, by Matthew Clarke
- $1.5 Million Settlement in Suffolk County Jail Class Action Toilet Suit
- Breaking Free: Prisoners Find Voice in Zines, by Danielle Maestretti
- Florida Prison Guards Plead Guilty to Federal Cocaine Charges
- $1.8 Million Settlement in New Mexico Woman’s Attempted Jail Suicide, by David Reutter
- Virginia Grand Jury Finds Misconduct at County Jail, by Michael Brodheim
- Washington Commission Finds AT&T is Prison Collect Call Provider, by Mark Wilson
- Colorado Closes Boot Camp Program, by David Reutter
- Massachusetts Clerk Magistrates and Assistants Pocket Millions in After-Hours Fees, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Sues Former Prisoner Over Unauthorized Practice of Law, by Matthew Clarke
- Oregon Jail Beating Nets $500 Jury Award Plus $27,500 in Attorney Fees, by Mark Wilson
- $4 Million Settlement in R&B Singer’s Death from Drug Withdrawal in Ohio Jail for Failure to Pay Child Support
- Illinois Eliminates Computer, Business Classes for Prisoners
- Class Certification Upheld for Louisiana Toxic Train Derailment Near Prison
- Over $26 Million Owed for Forfeited Bail Bonds in Harris County, Texas, by Matthew Clarke
- New York Prison Officials Ordered to Produce Prisoner’s Grievances in Discovery
- Steep Surcharges for Driving Violations Clog Texas Courts, Create Criminals, by Michael Rigby
- Three Top Illinois DOC Officials Sacked; Director Resigns
- Maryland Law Counts Prisoners According to Pre-Incarceration Residence, by Michael Rigby
- Florida: Judgment for Female Prison Staff Alleging Sexual Harassment by Prisoners Affirmed
- Wexford Pays $300,000 in Illinois Prisoner’s Death
- Suspected Norovirus Strikes Oregon Women’s Prison
- Failure of CMS Nurses and Doctor to Properly Treat Broken Leg Overcomes Summary Judgment
- Wisconsin Law Prohibiting Hormone Treatment for Prisoners with Gender Identity Disorder Found Unconstitutional, by Matthew Clarke
- Sixth Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment for Dentist Who Failed to Provide Temporary Filling
- Indian Jail Opens Private Outsourcing Program, by Matthew Clarke
- Former Utah Prison Guard Ordered to Pay Over $1.4 Million for Raping Prisoner, by Derek Gilna
- Taser Timeout, by Kelly Virella
- California: 15% Work Credit Limitation Based on Stayed Violent Convictions Applies to Non-Violent Controlling Offense, by John Dannenberg
- New Jersey Prison Supervisory Officials Found Liable for Prisoner Abuse Claims, by Derek Gilna
- California: Gilmore Injunction Over Prison Libraries Terminated After 38 Years
- Ohio: Former Corrections Director Prohibited from Consulting on Jail Issues for 12 Months After Retirement
- California: Prison Industry Board Not Exempt from Civil Service Rules, by Michael Brodheim
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Eighth Amendment Prohibits Life Without Parole for Juveniles Not Convicted of Homicide, by Brandon Sample
- U.S. Prison Population Declines in Second Half of 2009
- Iowa Prisoners Perform Private Sector Work for Parole Board Member
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Federal Civil Commitment Statute Lawfully Enacted, by Brandon Sample
- 7,000+ Federal Prisoners Given Pink Slips, by Mark Wilson
- Florida Disciplinary Record Must Prove Constructive Possession of Contraband
- $195,000 Award for Injury Resulting from NY Prison Garbage Detail
- Michigan Prison System Exceeds Budget, Again
- Maricopa County, Arizona Settles Prisoner Suicide Claim for $125,000
- $850,000 Verdict in Nebraska Prisoner’s Suicide
- PLN Wins Public Records Ruling Against California Prison System, by Matthew Clarke
- AMA Passes Resolution Prohibiting Shackling of Pregnant Prisoners in Labor
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Significant Injury Unnecessary for Excessive Force Claims, by Brandon Sample
- News In Brief:
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Federal Court Grants HRDC Preliminary Injunction Against Mail Censorship at New Mexico Jail, May 1, 2026
- Faced with Record-Breaking Jail Deaths, L.A. County Supervisors Tell Sheriff’s Department to Improve Access to Naloxone, Camera Monitoring, and Security Checks at California Jail, May 1, 2026
- Federal Court Places Medical Care in Arizona Prisons Under Receivership, May 1, 2026
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Liability but Reverses Damages in Lawsuit Over Illinois Warden and Investigator Using Prisoner as Bait to Catch Staff Member Raping Her, May 1, 2026
- Texas Moves to Restrict Cashless Bond and Reverse Federal Court-Ordered Misdemeanor Bail Reform, May 1, 2026
- In Texas, Harris County Commissioners Approve $1.2 Million for Fourth Study of Jail Since 2020 After Dozens of Abuse Allegations, April 1, 2026
- Texas Attorney General Clarifies Scope of Statute Requiring Outside Agency Investigation of Jail Deaths, April 1, 2026
- D.C. Judge Blocks Transfer of Biden-Commuted Federal Death Row Prisoners to “Supermax,” Citing Lack of Meaningful Due Process, April 1, 2026
- Eighth Circuit Revives Lawsuit Over Iowa Jail Detainee’s Suicide, April 1, 2026
- Groundbreaking Statistical Study of Pregnant Texas Jail Detainees Finds Over 400 Monthly, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Oklahoma Supreme Court: Jail Trust Cannot Withhold Requested Records under Law Enforcement Exemption of ORA, May 1, 2026. Summary Judgment, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act, Statutory Construction/Interpretation.
- California Oversight Agency Hasn’t Finished a Single Review of Jail Deaths, Feb. 1, 2026. Corrections Audits, Medical Records, Disclosure of Records, State Legislation.
- Over $222,000 in Legal Costs and Fees Awarded to HRDC in Florida Records Suit Against Centurion, Dec. 1, 2025. Attorney Fee Awards, Costs, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act.
- $1.8 Million Settlement Reached Following CDCR Data Breach, Nov. 1, 2025. DOC/BOP misconduct, Medical Records, Settlements, Class Certification, Disclosure of Records, Class Notice, Public Records, Restitution, Trust Accounts.
- Nearly $60,000 Awarded to Mother Of Dead Missouri Prisoner In Suit For His DOC Records, July 15, 2025. Medical Records, Disclosure of Records, Public Records Act.
- Over 100,000 Criminal Records Sealed Under Colorado’s “Clean Slate Act”, March 1, 2025. Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Criminal Records.
- ‘Fictional Pleas’ and ‘Hidden Departures’: Failure to Collect Data on Binding Federal Plea Bargains Hinders Researchers, Feb. 15, 2025. Databases, Disclosure of Records, Public Records Act, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- California Court of Appeal Announces Defendants May Obtain Brady Evidence From Police Officers’ Personnel Files in Advance of § 1172.6 Hearing Requesting Vacatur of Conviction and Resentencing for Certain Types of Murder Convictions, Feb. 15, 2025. Disclosure of Records, Police, Brady Violations, Murder/Felony Murder, Resentencing, Prior Conviction/Sentence/Incarceration, Evidence - Admissibility.
- Understanding Timestamps in Digital Forensics, Jan. 15, 2025. Videotaping, Media, Forensic Sciences.
- Recovering Deleted Messages, Dec. 15, 2024. Media, Forensic Sciences, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet.

