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California Prisoners Still Forced to Drink Arsenic-Laced Water
by David M. Reutter
Prisoners at California’s Kern Valley State Prison in Delano are being slowly poisoned through their drinking water. The “state of the art” facility opened at a cost of $379 million in 2005; the water problem was discovered within weeks of the prison’s opening, but years later …
Prisoners at California’s Kern Valley State Prison in Delano are being slowly poisoned through their drinking water. The “state of the art” facility opened at a cost of $379 million in 2005; the water problem was discovered within weeks of the prison’s opening, but years later …
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More from this issue:
- Prison Legal News Interviews Former Prisoner and Famous Actor Danny Trejo, by Paul Wright
- Illinois Federal Court Denies Prisoner Release Order at Cook County Jail, by Derek Gilna
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Treasury Department Finds Prisoners’ Fraudulent Tax Returns Taxing, by Derek Gilna
- Prosecutors Who Commit Misconduct Are Rarely Disciplined, by Matthew Clarke
- Habeas Hints: Expert Testimony in Habeas Cases, by Kent A. Russell
- Idaho: Prison Doctor’s Treatment Fell Below Standard of Care, by David Reutter
- California DOC Complies With Population Reduction Order in Plata v. Brown, by John Dannenberg
- Ninth Circuit Reverses Grant of Injunctive Relief in Ex Post Facto Challenge to Marsy’s Law, by Michael Brodheim
- Habeas Unavailable for Federal Prisoners’ Medical Claims
- State Secrets Doctrine Requires Dismissal of Suit Involving CIA Torture Flights
- Merger Creates Largest Private Prison Medical Provider in U.S., by David Reutter
- $4,000 Settlement for Arkansas Prisoner Pepper Sprayed by Guards
- Virginia DOC Settles Lawsuit to Improve Communication for Deaf Prisoners
- U.S. Supreme Court: No Monetary Damages Against States Under RLUIPA
- Placement in Maximum Security Facility May Trigger Due Process Protections; Religious Diet Claims Remanded
- $1.2 Million Awarded Against PHS After Florida Jail Prisoner Paralyzed
- Fifth Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Habeas Challenge to Texas Parole Changes
- Report Finds Prior Incarceration Hinders Upward Economic Mobility, by Matthew Clarke
- California Prisoners Still Forced to Drink Arsenic-Laced Water, by David Reutter
- Judge Rejects Challenge to BOP’s Special Administrative Measures, by Brandon Sample
- Supreme Court Allows § 1983 Challenge to Texas Post-Conviction DNA Testing Law
- Washington Supreme Court Upholds Decision Against State Attorney General for Failure to Comply with Public Records Act
- Provision in Florida Law Prohibits Compensation to Wrongfully Convicted, by David Reutter
- U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Wrongful Conviction Suit Against New Orleans DA, Vacates $14 Million Judgment, by Derek Gilna
- Oklahoma Gladiator Discipline Results in Prisoner’s Death
- Ohio Prison Industry Cranks Out Crappy Toilet Paper, by David Reutter
- U.S. Department of Justice Seeks $28.2 Billion Budget
- Prison Records Officer Entitled to Qualified Immunity; No Evidence of Deliberate Indifference to Sentencing Errors, by Mark Wilson
- Washington Prison Guards Sue Prisoners, by Brandon Sample
- $17.5 Million Verdict for Diabetic Prisoner in New York
- Louisiana Attorney Permanently Disbarred but Not Criminally Charged for Pimping Child to Jail Prisoners, by David Reutter
- Insider Trading Charges Against Private Prison Consultant Rejected, by David Reutter
- Voting Rights Must Be “Earned” Back, Says Iowa Governor, by Brandon Sample
- Hawaii State Auditor Blasts Private Prison Contracting; State Renews Contract Anyway
- New York Prisoners Man Call Centers
- Fifth Circuit Upholds $355,000 Award Against Dallas County in Jail MRSA Case
- Federal Court Dismisses PLN’s Texas Prison Censorship Suit; Appeal Pending
- State Ordered to Reimburse Prisoner Who Was Not Allowed to Complete College Classes
- Texas Prison Phones and Emails Generate Less Revenue Than Expected
- Washington State Regulatory Agency Finds AT&T Failed to Disclose Prison Collect Call Rates, by Brandon Sample
- American “Corrections”, by Mumia Abu-Jamal
- Oregon Jail Pneumonia Death Lawsuit Settles for $905,000, by Mark Wilson
- Los Angeles Jail Guards Beat Prisoner in Front of ACLU Monitor, by David Reutter
- Terminated South Carolina Wardens Awarded a Total of $882,000, by Mark Wilson
- Sixth Circuit Reinstates Michigan Prisoner’s Denial of Toothpaste Suit
- California: Court Monitoring of Conditions at Pelican Bay State Prison Terminated
- Illinois Prison Guards Scam Workers’ Comp, by Brandon Sample
- Seventh Circuit: Court May Not Revoke Supervised Release via Videoconference, by Matthew Clarke
- Big Win for Open Government in Vermont Legislature: Attorney Fees Now Mandated for Prevailing Plaintiffs in Public Records Lawsuits, by Allen Gilbert
- Ninth Circuit Upholds Arizona’s Felon Disenfranchisement Law, by David Reutter
- $450,000 Settlement in Alabama Jail Prisoner’s Death, by David Reutter
- News In Brief
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Maryland Pays $314,000 for Stonewalling Public Records Requests in Prisoner’s Dehydration Death, Oct. 1, 2026. DOC/BOP misconduct, Water, Attorney Fee Awards, Settlements, Public Records Act.
- $3.75 Million Paid by Wisconsin After Mentally Ill Prisoner Dies of Dehydration, Oct. 1, 2026. Water, Settlements, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Deliberate Indifference.
- Leak at Iowa Prison Leads to 15 Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals, Oct. 1, 2026. Toxic Fumes/Chemicals.
- Airconditioning Failure at Troubled ICE Detention Center in New Jersey, Aug. 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Food, Water, Sanitation, Exposure to Heat.
- BOP Orders Prison Closures Amid Infrastructure Decay and Staff Shortages, Aug. 1, 2026. Transfers, Toxic Fumes/Chemicals, Staffing, Guard Unions.
- SCOTUS Continues to Hack Away At First Step Act, July 1, 2026. Conditions of Confinement, PLRA, Post-release, ex-offender, re-entry, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Compassionate Release.
- California Supreme Court Limits Money Bail for Nonviolent Charges, July 1, 2026. Conditions of Confinement, Sentencing, Due Process, Constitutional Challenges/Law, Pretrial Detention and Detainees.
- ICE Stops Reporting Deaths of Recently Released Detainees, July 1, 2026. Misconduct/Corruption, Medical, Conditions of Confinement, Immigration Law/Offenses, Civil Rights Actions or Offenses/Bivens Actions.
- Free Phone Calls Saved Prisoners and Their Families More than $600 Million, Report Finds, July 1, 2026. Conditions of Confinement, PLRA, Prisoner Privileges, Rehabilitation/Recidivism, Telephones.
- New York Governor Appoints Ex-Prisoner to State Oversight Role, July 1, 2026. Classification, Misconduct/Corruption, Conditions of Confinement, Prison Legal News documents, Prisoners' Rights.

