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 Michael Brodheim:

• California: Prisoner Not Entitled to Points Reduction in Classification Score Unless Actually Participating in Programs, Aug. 24, 2016
• CDCR Adopts New Contraband Rules on Obscene, Gang-related Materials, July 7, 2015
• Arizona Department of Corrections Adopts Same-Sex Marriage Policy, July 7, 2015
• California Prison Officials Ordered to Provide Qualified Sign Language Interpreters for All Deaf Prisoners, July 7, 2015
• Plata Court Authorizes Force-Feeding of Hunger-Striking California Prisoners, July 2, 2015
• June, 2013 Proves To Be Deadly Month for California Prisoners, June 12, 2015
• California: Commission Recommends Reforms for Jail Overcrowding, Sentencing, June 12, 2015
• Nevada Jail Charges Prisoners for Meals, Medical Care to Defray Costs, June 3, 2015
• Pennsylvania Jail Guard Who Assaulted Prisoner Gets Home Confinement, Probation, June 3, 2015
• California Pays $585,000 to Settle Suit by Prisoner Who Lost Eye Due to Poor Medical Care, May 6, 2015

More from these topics:

• Colorado Pays $245,000 to Muslim Former Prisoner Shaved by Same Guard Who Cost DOC Earlier Settlement with Jewish Prisoner Denied Kosher Meals, Aug. 1, 2026. Religious Discrimination, Overdetention, Religious Diet, Religious Practices, Immunity - Absolute and Qualified.
• ICE Jails Denied Muslim Detainees’ Right to Celebrate Ramadan, April 1, 2026. Religious Diet, Religious Practices, Religious Property, Immigration Detention, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
• SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments on Rastafarian Hair-­Cutting Case, Jan. 1, 2026. RLUIPA, Religious Practices, Damages - Compensatory, Wrongful Use of Force, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
• Ninth Circuit Reinstates Religious Exercise Claim from Arizona “Christian-Israelite” Prisoner Denied Passover Meal, June 1, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Religious Diet, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights.
• $100,000 Settlement Reached For Tennessee Detainee 
Baptized to Get Out of Traffic Ticket, June 1, 2025. Arrestee Searches, Religious Freedom, Automobile Searches/Seizures.
• Fifth Circuit Reinstates Baha’i Texas Prisoner’s Dietary Claim, June 1, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Religious Diet, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
• Fourth Circuit Revives West Virginia Prisoner’s RLUIPA Claim Over Religious Diet with Soy He Can’t Digest, Jan. 15, 2025. State Law Claims, RLUIPA, Religious Diet.
• Ninth Circuit Greenlights Muslim Hawaii Prisoner’s Challenge to Early-Served Ramadan Meals, Jan. 15, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Religious Diet.
• Muslim New York Prisoner’s Free Exercise of Religion Claim Reinstated, Jan. 15, 2025. State Law Claims, Religious Freedom, Denial of Religious Services, Religious Freedom/Worship.
• Sixth Circuit Revives Ohio Prisoner’s Retaliation Claim That Guards Got Him Kicked Out of Religious Group, July 1, 2024. Religious Discrimination, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, RLUIPA.