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The Graying of America’s Prisons
Loaded on Dec. 15, 2010
by James Ridgeway
published in Prison Legal News
December, 2010, page 1
Frank Soffen, now 70 years old, has lived more than half his life in prison, and will likely die there.
Filed under:
Geriatric Classification,
Furloughs,
Systemic Medical Neglect,
Medical Expenses,
Crime/Demographics,
Statistics/Trends,
Overcrowding,
Rehabilitation/Recidivism,
Parole,
Pardons/Clemency,
Americans with Disabilities Act,
Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
Locations:
California,
Florida,
Louisiana,
Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania,
Texas,
United States of America.
Sentenced to life for second-degree murder, Soffen has suffered four heart attacks and is confined to a wheelchair. He has lately been held in the assisted living wing of Massachusetts’ ...
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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 James Ridgeway:
- Audit of Solitary Confinement in Federal Prisons: An Inside Job Reaches Foregone Conclusions, Oct. 26, 2015
- Under Fire, the Federal Bureau of Prisons Audits its Use of Solitary Confinement - and Buys a New Supermax Prison, Dec. 15, 2013
- Solidarity and Solitary: When Unions Clash with Prison Reform, June 15, 2013
- Fortresses of Solitude, April 15, 2013
- The Other Death Sentence: More than 100,000 Americans are destined to spend their final years in prison. Can we afford it?, Nov. 15, 2012
- God’s Own Warden: If you ever find yourself inside Louisiana’s Angola prison, Burl Cain will make sure you find Jesus – or regret ever crossing his path, June 15, 2012
- No Budget Cuts for Federal Prisons, June 15, 2012
- The Graying of America’s Prisons, Dec. 15, 2010
- Sotomayor for the Prosecution, July 15, 2009
More from these topics:
- Failures Brought to Light in Arizona Prison System’s COVID-19 Response, March 1, 2025. Centurion, Systemic Medical Neglect, COVID-19.
- New Mexico Corrections Department Continues Pattern of Abuse With Contract Medical Provider Wexford Health Sources, Feb. 15, 2025. Wexford Health Services, Systemic Medical Neglect, Malpractice, Settlements, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- Tennessee DOC Found in Violation of ADA With Failure to Accommodate Hearing Impaired Prisoners, Feb. 15, 2025. Deaf Prisoners, Americans with Disabilities Act, Class Actions, Policy Considerations.
- $9.9 Million Paid to Washington Prisoner Whose Misdiagnosed Cancer Is Now Terminal, Feb. 15, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Cancer, Malpractice, Settlements.
- Harvey Weinstein Files Notice of Claim Over Rikers Island Detention, Feb. 15, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Conditions of Confinement, State Law Claims.
- $150,000 Settlement But No Charges After Schizophrenic Florida Detainee Killed by Jail Guards, Feb. 15, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Among World Nations, Individual U.S. States Near Top of List for Per Capita Incarceration, Feb. 15, 2025. Statistics/Trends, Prisoners-International, Effects of Mass Incarceration.
- DOJ Directs BOP, U.S. Marshals to Improve Suicide Prevention, Feb. 15, 2025. Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Civil Rights Violations.
- Oregon DOC Investigation Puts Top Medical Officials on Leave, Feb. 15, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Malpractice, Staffing, Mental Health, Official Investigation.
- California Governor Pardons Former Prisoner Podcaster of “Ear Hustle”, Feb. 15, 2025. Pardons/Clemency, Prisoner Media.