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West Memphis Three Released, but Justice Not Served and Questions Remain
In August 2011, a trio of Arkansas state prisoners, widely known as the West Memphis Three, walked out of prison after serving more than 18 years for a brutal triple homicide they did not commit. They were not exonerated, however, and are still seeking justice.
In May 1993 the bodies …
In May 1993 the bodies …
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More from this issue:
- Momentum Builds to End Prison-Based Gerrymandering, by Peter Wagner
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Oregon DOC Gets Tiny Cut of $3.34 Million Pfizer Settlement
- CCA Ceases Operations at Mississippi Prison, County Jail
- Florida DOC Program Targets Incarcerated Veterans
- PLN Settles Public Records Suit Against PHS in Vermont, Obtains Settlement Payout Information, by Alex Friedmann
- Washington Jail Prisoner Settles Retaliation Claim for $10,000
- Transgender Prisoner’s Lawsuit Sparks BOP Policy Change, by Derek Gilna
- Fifth Circuit Upholds Former Texas State Judge’s Bribery-Related Convictions
- States Create Special Commissions to Study Flat-Fee Indigent Defense, by Joe Watson
- GAO Report Examines Contraband Cell Phone Use in BOP Facilities, by Derek Gilna
- Former New York DOCS Food Director Pleads Guilty to Grand Larceny, by Joe Watson
- Texas Slashes Prison Education Budget, by Matthew Clarke
- Misconduct at U.S. Army Lab Taints Hundreds of Military Prosecutions, by Derek Gilna
- Oregon DOC Did Not Report 78 Prisoner Deaths in 2010-2011
- Virginia Prison Policy Prohibiting Secular, Non-Religious CDs Held Unconstitutional
- America Eats its Young: Arizona Communities Embrace Use of Private Prison Employees in Drug Raids at Public Schools, by Beau Hodai
- Report Criticizes New Hampshire’s Treatment of Female Prisoners; Lawsuit Filed, by Joe Watson
- Fifth Circuit Reverses $250,000 Award to Mississippi Prisoner Held too Long, by Matthew Clarke
- U.S. Sentencing Commission Calls Federal Mandatory Minimums “Excessively Severe”, by Derek Gilna
- Arkansas Prison Director Suspended by Board of Corrections
- Texas Federal Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Prohibiting Sex Offender Parole Conditions; Case Settles for $52,000, by Matthew Clarke
- Federal Court Upholds Maryland Law that Reclassifies Prisoners for Redistricting, by David Reutter
- Fifth Circuit Holds Mailbox Rule Applies to Legal Mail Rejected Under Bogus Prison Rule
- New North Carolina DOC Hospital Promises Better Healthcare for Prisoners, by Joe Watson
- Michigan DOC Taser Experiment Touted; Prison Perimeter Patrols to End
- Missouri County Ordered to Present Civil Detainees Before Court within 27 Hours; $75,000 Damages Settlement
- Organizations Submit Letters to FCC Urging Action on Prison Phone Rates, by Mel Motel
- West Memphis Three Released, but Justice Not Served and Questions Remain, by Joe Watson
- Oregon Re-Sells Unused Execution Drugs
- Philadelphia Women Prisoners Sue for Being Housed with a Man
- California: Jail Nurse Receives $703,957 in Retaliation Suit Against County, PHS
- Puerto Rico DOC Fires 97 Guards, Suspends More Than 100
- News in Brief
More from Joe Watson:
- 3 Murders in 10 Months at Oklahoma Prison Run by CCA, Jan. 3, 2018
- Missouri’s Release of Pot Dealer Doing LWOP Gives Hope to Nonviolent Drug Offenders Incarcerated Nationwide, Nov. 28, 2017
- Former Sheriff Arpaio Guilty of Criminal Contempt, Receives Presidential Pardon, Nov. 6, 2017
- IRS Audit Prompts New Mexico County to Convert Bonds Used for ICE Facility, Oct. 10, 2017
- TN Prison Counselor Suspended for Posting Insults on Facebook, Aug. 30, 2017
- Wiccan Prisoner Settles with NV DOC Over Denial of Hardbound Religious Books, Aug. 7, 2017
- Settlement for IN Man Deprived of Critical Meds While Incarcerated in County Jail, Aug. 7, 2017
- NV Prisoner with Hand Injury Settles for Used TV, Medical Evaluation and $40.70 in Copying Fees, Aug. 7, 2017
- IN Woman Settles Wrongful Arrest Lawsuit, Aug. 7, 2017
- $7,500,000 Class-Action Settlement for Illegal Strip-Searches in Camden, NJ , Aug. 7, 2017
More from these topics:
- Michigan Claws Back $1.2 Million Paid to Wrongfully Convicted Former Prisoner, Feb. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Imprisonment, Qualified Immunity, Forensic Sciences, Fabrication of Evidence.
- Exonerated Former Prisoner Wins Election for Chief Record Keeper in New Orleans, Jan. 1, 2026. Prisoner Legal Assistance, Juries, Public Records, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Chicago Pays Exonerated Prisoners $7.5 Million, Bringing Total to $33.75 Million for Wrongful Convictions, Jan. 1, 2026. Wrongful Conviction, Bribery/Extortion/Theft, Fabrication of Evidence, Withholding of Exculpatory Evidence, Withdrawal.
- Ex-Wife of Minnesota DOC Commissioner Sentenced for Poisoning Attempt on Son, Dec. 1, 2025. Out of State Transfers, Sentencing, Conspiracies, Attempts, Solicitations, Confessions and Statements of Defendant, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- SCOTUS Overturns Oklahoma Prisoner’s Death Sentence After More than 25 Years on Death Row, Nov. 1, 2025. Ex Post Facto, Good Time, Wrongful Conviction, Habeas Corpus, Wrongful Imprisonment, Pardons/Clemency, First Step Act, Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), Specific Offenses, Controlled Substances, Weapons, Accuracy of Information, Depraved Indifference Murder, Evidence - Circumstantial, Theft, Failure to Disclose, Perjury/Perjured Testimony, Evidence - Failure to Disclose, New Trial - Motions for, Pleas Linked to Cooperation, Evidence - Destruction/Fabrication/Manipulation of, Selective Prosecution/Enforcement, Improper Comments, Official Report, Withholding of Exculpatory Evidence, Exculpatory Evidence - Disclosure Obligations.
- DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions in Texas Juvenile Detention, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Sentencing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Juvenile Prisons.
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $45 Million Verdict for Wrongfully Convicted Former Ohio Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Two Exonerated Illinois Prisoners Win Settlements Totaling $14.5 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Fourth Circuit Revives Wrongful Conviction Claim of Exonerated Maryland Prisoner, State Pays Him $3.1 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- $22.5 Million Verdict Arrives Too Late for Wrongfully Convicted Illinois Prisoner, July 15, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Confessions - Coerced, Confessions and Statements of Defendant.

