More from this issue:

1. New York’s Sex Offender Civil Commitment Program Proves Expensive, Problematic, by Matthew Clarke
2. Eleventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal of BOP Failure to Protect Suit
3. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
4. Texas Jail Guards Smuggle Contraband in Tacos, Ramen Noodles
5. $725,000 Award in Negligent Medical Care Suit Involving Poisoned New York Prisoner
6. Oregon Jail Suicides Lead Grand Juries to Fault Prevention Efforts, Staff Training, by Mark Wilson
7. Alabama Sheriff Capitulates to ACLU in Challenge to Denial of Attorney Visits
8. Incapacitation Good Cause for Untimely Exhaustion Under PLRA
9. Federal Court Rules on Exhaustion Issues for Joined Plaintiffs in Lawsuit Against CCA
10. California Appellate Ruling Holds Court Fee Inapplicable to Pre-2009 Convictions
11. Ninth Circuit Holds Serious Risk to Prisoner’s Health Posed by Year-Long Denial of Outdoor Exercise “Obvious” as a Matter of Law, by Michael Brodheim
12. PLN Files Censorship Suit Against NYDOCS
13. U.S. Supreme Court Holds Civil Contemptor Facing Incarceration Requires Procedural Safeguards Absent Counsel
14. Former Judges in “Cash for Kids” Scandal Sentenced, by Derek Gilna
15. $370,000 in Annual Phone Revenue at Ohio Jail
16. PLN Sues Jails in Louisiana, Washington State Over No-Publication Policies
17. Ninth Circuit Holds That Absconding Tolls Supervised Release for Federal Parolees
18. Settlement Reverses Virginia DOC’s Ban on Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook, by David Reutter
19. Summary Judgment for CCA Reversed in Filthy Jail Conditions Case, by David Reutter
20. Hawaii Ex-prisoner Awarded $83,000 for Being Held 83 Days Past Release Date
21. Requests for Hawaiian Prisoner Workers Soar Due to Poor Economy, by David Reutter
22. Boulder, Colorado Jail’s Postcard-Only Correspondence Policy Ends with Settlement
23. Ninth Circuit Rules Right to Court Access Violated When Lockdown Prevents Prisoner from Researching Issues Related to Direct Appeal, by Michael Rigby
24. Nevada DOC’s Ban on Male Supervisors at Women’s Prison Invalidated
25. No Qualified Immunity for Guard Who Transported Prisoner in Dog Cage
26. Ninth Circuit Rules California’s Proposition 115 Not Unconstitutional
27. Ninth Circuit: California Prisoner Need Not Appeal from Satisfactory Grievance Response in Order to Exhaust Administrative Remedies, by Michael Brodheim
28. Report Blasts Sex Party at New York Juvenile Facility
29. Ninth Circuit Holds California Prison Officials Responsible for Providing Reasonable Accommodations to Disabled Prisoners and Parolees Held in County Jails
30. New York Court Sentences Rabbi to Four Years in Prison
31. Iowa Supreme Court Rules That Sex Offender Treatment Program Requires Due Process Protections
32. Colorado Prison Culinary Program Caters to Local Community
33. Conditions at New York Juvenile Facilities Deficient; State and Federal Officials Settle Lawsuit
34. Ten Years of Sham Segregation Reviews Result in $4,846 Damage Award for Arkansas Prisoner
35. Courts Cannot Order Federal Prisoners to Participate in IFRP
36. Ohio Prisoner Escape and Hostage-Taking Results in Lawsuit Against CCA, Settlement
37. Tenth Circuit Rules Denial of Halal Diet May Violate RLUIPA, by Michael Brodheim
38. Tenth Circuit Rules Oklahoma Prisoner Exhausted Administrative Remedies
39. Eighth Circuit Upholds Denial of Qualified Immunity on Medical Claims Against CMS
40. Florida Jail Offers Video Visits to Profiteer More From Prisoner Families
41. ICE, CCA Settle ACLU Lawsuit Regarding Health Care for Immigration Detainees, by Derek Gilna
42. California: New Postsentence Rehabilitation Credits Inapplicable to Sentences of Convicted Murderers
43. “Public Concern” Test Does Not Apply to Prisoner Retaliation Claims; Speech Must be Consistent with Status as a Prisoner, by Brandon Sample
44. Pennsylvania Councilman Takes Private Prison Company’s Donation, then Opposes Detention Center
45. Prospect of Prison Rape Used to Deter DUIs in South Africa, by Brandon Sample
46. Washington Community Custody Violators Entitled to Time Served
47. Second Circuit Holds BOP Correct in Not Granting Good Conduct Credits for Time Spent in State Custody, by Brandon Sample
48. Incarceration Alone Insufficient to Terminate Parental Rights in Michigan
49. Does Less Punishment Mean Less Crime?
50. BOP Evidence-Handling “Grave Miscarriage of Justice”; Charges Dismissed by Federal Judge
51. PLN Wins Partial Victory, Attorneys Fees in FOIA Video Tape Suit Against U.S. Attorneys’ Office, by Brandon Sample
52. Ninth Circuit: PLRA Precludes Award of Attorney Fees Where Violation of Prisoner’s Rights is Not Affirmatively Established
53. News In Brief:

More from David Reutter:

• 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
• Colorado Supreme Court Announces Defendant Must Be Competent Before Undergoing Mental-Condition Examination Under § 16-8-107(3)(b), April 1, 2026
• California Court of Appeal Announces Plea Agreements Cannot Bar § 1172.1 Resentencing, Holds Merit-Based Denial of Petition Is Appealable, April 1, 2026
• Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies That Failure to Object to Ineligible Juror Does Not Constitute Waiver Unless Party Knew or Could Have Discovered Ineligibility Through Ordinary Diligence, April 1, 2026
• Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026
• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds Motion Judge Abused Discretion by Denying Evidentiary Hearing on IAC Claim Where Plea Counsel’s Affidavit Was Not Inherently Inconsistent With Colloquy Statements Regarding Immigration Advice, March 1, 2026
• Washington Supreme Court Clarifies Double Jeopardy Analysis for Multiple Assault Convictions, Holding That Assaultive Acts Occurring Over Short Time Period in Same Location Without Intervening Events Constitute Single Course of Conduct, March 1, 2026
• New Jersey Supreme Court Reverses Drug Convictions Under Cumulative Error Doctrine, Holding Combined Effect of Improper References to Television Series, Gun Violence, and Search Warrants Deprived Defendant of Fair Trial, March 1, 2026
• New York Court of Appeals Announces Coercive Police Tactics Compelling Suspect to Exit Home Constitute “Constructive Entry” Violating Payton, Holds Attenuation Analysis Applies to Third-Party Consent, March 1, 2026

More from these topics:

• 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.
• 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. Disciplinary Hearings, Due Process, Procedural Default/Error, Evidence - Admissibility, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
• HRDC Wins Injunction to Halt New Mexico Prison Censorship, July 1, 2026. Injunctions, Publications/Books, Censorship, First Amendment, rights, HRDC Litigation.
• Texas Prison System Bans Prisoners from Receiving Hardback and Used Books, July 1, 2026. Reading Materials, Legal Materials, Publications/Books, Banned Book Lists, Censorship.
• Wisconsin Bans Recording of Prison Phone Calls with Journalists, July 1, 2026. Access to Media, Censorship, First Amendment, First Amendment, rights, Recorded Calls.
• Eighth Circuit Revives Prisoner Lawsuit over Conditions of Confinement, July 1, 2026. Conditions of Confinement, Due Process, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Prisoners' Rights, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
• Illinois Jail Reprimanded for Denying Detainees Mail Based on Media Content, P.O. Box Return Address, Settles Detainees’ Suit with $111,825 Payment of Legal Fees, May 1, 2026. Publications/Books, Mail Regulations, Censorship, First Amendment, rights, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
• Federal Court Grants HRDC Preliminary Injunction Against Mail Censorship at New Mexico Jail, May 1, 2026. Injunctions, Publications/Books, Due Process, Censorship, HRDC Litigation.
• HRDC Sues Colorado Jail for Prohibiting Dozens of Magazines and Books, May 1, 2026. Publications/Books, Due Process, Censorship, Constitution, state, HRDC Litigation.
• Like Prisoners, Most Jail Detainees Now Banned from Receiving Physical Mail, March 1, 2026. Jail Specific, Mail Regulations, Legal Mail, Censorship, Digital Devices, Private Phone Contractors.