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Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: Sheriff May Not Charge Jail Fees
by Matt Clarke
On January 5, 2010, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts held that the Sheriff of Bristol County could not charge fees for certain jail services.
In 2002, prisoners at the Bristol County House of Correction and Jail in Dartmouth, Massachusetts filed a complaint in state Superior Court …
On January 5, 2010, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts held that the Sheriff of Bristol County could not charge fees for certain jail services.
In 2002, prisoners at the Bristol County House of Correction and Jail in Dartmouth, Massachusetts filed a complaint in state Superior Court …
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More from this issue:
- Celebrity Justice: Prison Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, by Matthew Clarke
- California Uses $1.08 Billion in Federal Stimulus Funds to Pay Prison Guard Salaries, by Michael Brodheim
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- New Medical Director at Texas Jail Previously Sanctioned
- U.S. Supreme Court to Review California Prison Population Reduction Orders, by John Dannenberg
- Florida Prison Psychiatrist Resigns; License Revoked Over Sex with Patient, by David Reutter
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- Florida’s Civil Rights Restoration Process Insufficiently Funded, by David Reutter
- Convictions Upheld in Appeal of Lynne Stewart, Attorney to Blind Sheikh, but Case Remanded for Resentencing, by Justin Miller
- Texas Youth Commission Ombudsman Resigns Following Smuggling Indictment, by Matthew Clarke
- Kentucky Lethal Injection Protocol Adopted in Violation of APA, by Brandon Sample
- Pennsylvania County Jail Settles Medical Indifference Suit for $55,000
- Eighth Circuit Upholds $2,501 Retaliation Judgment Against Arkansas Prison Guard
- Indiana Sex Offender Registration Law Can Not Be Retroactively Applied
- Valley Fever Cases at California Prison Increase in 2009
- Release Conditions Requiring Defendant to Tell Probation Officer about Romantic Relationships Vacated
- Only Three States in Compliance with Unfunded Federal Sex Offender Mandates, by Matthew Clarke
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- Guilty Pleas in Angola Horse Selling Scheme, by David Reutter
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- News in Brief:
More from Matthew Clarke:
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- California Appeals Court Holds Defendant Cannot Be Penalized for Failing to Appear at Sentencing When He Was Being Held in Another County’s Jail on Preexisting Charges, July 1, 2026
- SCOTUS Reverses Mississippi Capital Conviction, July 1, 2026
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- Texas Prison System Bans Prisoners from Receiving Hardback and Used Books, July 1, 2026
- CoreCivic’s Long Record of Abuse and Neglect in Tennessee, June 1, 2026
- Dallas County Jail Deaths, Many Preventable, Dramatically Increase Under Sheriff Marian Brown, June 1, 2026
- Ninth Circuit Lets Stand Ruling That Federal Prisoners’ Gradually Accumulated Savings Are Subject to Restitution Turnover, June 1, 2026
- Seventh Circuit Reinstates Illinois Prisoner’s Lawsuit Against Prison Dental Staff, June 1, 2026
More from these topics:
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- $450,000 Paid for Michigan Jail Detainee’s Fentanyl Death, Incarcerated Husband Prevails in Claim for Part of Payout, Feb. 1, 2026. Drug Overdose, Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Deliberate Indifference.
- Fifth Circuit Rules Against Louisiana Prisoner Seeking to Recoup Money Made at Angola Prison Rodeo, Jan. 1, 2026. Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Trust Accounts, Qualified Immunity, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights.
- HRDC’s Washington Jail Debit-Release Card Suit Survives Summary Judgment, Nov. 1, 2025. Summary Judgment, Class Certification, Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Official Report, HRDC Litigation.
- Special Digital Currencies Issue: Bitcoin and CBDCs What Is Bitcoin? The Answer to Government Surveillance and Control Through Money An Essential Introduction, Glossary of Multidisciplinary Terminology, and Colorful History, Aug. 15, 2025. Money/Property, Police State-Surveillance, Electronic Surveillance, Money Laundering/Structuring.
- From the Editor, Aug. 15, 2025. Money/Property, Police State-Surveillance, Electronic Surveillance, Money Laundering/Structuring.
- Central Bank Digital Currencies: Trojan Horses Delivering Mass Surveillance Under the Guise of Monetary Innovation, Aug. 15, 2025. Money/Property, Police State-Surveillance, Electronic Surveillance, Money Laundering/Structuring.
- Review: “Reforming the Shadow Carceral State”, Aug. 1, 2025. Reviews, Criminal justice system reform, Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Fines.
- $815,000 Settlement in Nevada Class-Action Suit Over Debit Release Cards, Aug. 1, 2025. Money/Property, Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Trust Accounts.
- Kentucky Supreme Court Voids Prisoner’s $10,972 Jail Fee, July 15, 2025. Booking Fees, Supervision Fee, Ability to Pay.

